To enable vote kicking in Don’t Starve Together, set vote_kick_enabled = true in the persistent configuration for the correct server cluster and shard, save the file, and restart that server or shard. A managed host may provide the same setting as an Enable Vote to Kick
switch. The setting gives players a way to vote out disruptive players when no administrator is present; it does not remove an administrator’s ability to kick, ban, or stop a vote directly.
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What vote_kick_enabled does
vote_kick_enabled is the dedicated-server setting that controls whether players can start a vote to remove another player. The documented form is vote_kick_enabled = [true | false]. Set it to true to allow the feature or false to disable it.
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Public documentation does not establish one universal vote threshold, quorum, cooldown, or immunity rule for every current game version and hosting setup. If those mechanics matter to your community, verify them against the version and host documentation you actually use rather than assuming that a threshold from another server applies.
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Before you edit the server
- Identify the affected cluster. A machine can host more than one cluster, and each cluster has its own persistent data.
- Identify the shard. Cluster layouts can contain separate shard configurations. Edit the configuration read by the shard on which you want the setting to apply.
- Plan a restart. The server must reread its configuration after the change. Schedule a restart or stop the server before editing so that a running process does not overwrite your change.
- Confirm your access method. Self-hosted servers normally use the persistent configuration files; managed providers may expose a control-panel switch instead.
- Keep a rollback copy. Save a backup of the file before changing it, especially on a live community server.
Enable vote kicking in a self-hosted server
The exact directory is not universal. It depends on the operating system, the cluster name, whether the server uses multiple shards, and any alternate persistent-storage location you selected. The dedicated-server documentation covers alternate persistent storage and shard-specific configuration (Dedicated Server documentation).
- Stop the affected server, or prepare a controlled restart. Do not edit a file while the server is actively rewriting its configuration. If you run multiple shards, note which process will be restarted.
- Open the persistent-storage directory for the cluster. Start from the storage location configured for your dedicated server, then open the cluster you intend to change. Do not assume that a similarly named test cluster is the live one.
- Open the shard’s persistent configuration. In a multi-shard installation, select the configuration belonging to the relevant shard. If you are unsure which file a process reads, check the launch configuration and the dedicated-server documentation for your layout.
- Locate the setting. Search the file for
vote_kick_enabled. The documented syntax is:
vote_kick_enabled = true- Change only the value. Replace
falsewithtrue, or enter the documented line in the configuration section used by your server when the key is not already present. Keep the key name, underscores, equals sign, and Boolean spelling intact; do not quotetrueas a text string. - Save the file. Check that the editor did not append an extra extension such as
.txtor save a different cluster copy. - Restart the server or shard. A restart is what causes the process to reread the value. Restart the affected shard when your layout manages shards separately; restart the cluster when your host starts them as one unit.
- Test from a normal player account. After the server is back, check whether the in-game vote-kick control is available under the conditions in which you expect players to use it. Testing with an administrator account may not show the same player-facing behavior.
If your server manager regenerates configuration files, make the change through that manager’s documented persistent-storage mechanism. Otherwise, an automatic update or restart could restore the previous value.
Enable it from a managed hosting panel
Some providers hide the file path and expose the same option as a switch. A hosting guide identifies vote_kick_enabled as the value that determines whether players can start a vote and presents an Enable Vote to Kick
control (hosting instructions).
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- Stop the server if the panel requires it. Follow the panel’s warning about unsaved changes or scheduled restarts.
- Open the server’s configuration or gameplay settings. The label may be
Enable Vote to Kick
rather than the raw key name. - Turn the switch on. The resulting value should correspond to
vote_kick_enabled = true. - Save or apply the change. A panel may queue the update until the next restart.
- Restart the server from the panel. Do not assume that closing the settings page reloads a running shard.
- Check the panel’s effective configuration or log, if available. This helps confirm that the change was applied to the intended cluster and not to another instance.
If the panel has no vote-kick switch, ask the host whether it permits editing the underlying persistent configuration. Some managed services do not expose every server key, and the host’s supported method takes precedence over instructions for a self-hosted installation.
Where should the line go?
There is no single path that works for every installation. The relevant location is the persistent configuration for the cluster and shard that actually runs your world. Path differences can result from:
- the operating system and the account running the server;
- a custom or alternate persistent-storage directory;
- multiple cluster names on one machine;
- a single-shard versus multi-shard layout; and
- a hosting provider that maps files into a panel instead of exposing them directly.
The dedicated-server references explain how persistent storage and shard-specific configuration are organized (Dedicated Server documentation; dedicated-server guide). Use those instructions to identify your own storage root, then edit the configuration for the running cluster. A client-side settings file, a copied backup, or a different cluster will not change the live server.
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Confirm that the change took effect
Successful editing has three separate parts: the right key, the right server scope, and a reload. Check each one rather than relying only on the fact that the server started.
- Key: the file contains
vote_kick_enabled = true, with no duplicate later entry that sets it back tofalse. - Scope: the file belongs to the cluster and shard serving the session where you are testing.
- Reload: the affected process was restarted after the file was saved.
- Player view: a non-administrator can see the vote-kick option when the game permits a vote to be started.
Because the available documentation does not define a universal quorum or vote threshold, the appearance of the option confirms the setting more reliably than the result of one small test vote. The number of votes required can depend on the current game version or host behavior.
Troubleshoot a vote-kick setting that appears not to work
| Symptom | Likely cause | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| The setting cannot be found | You opened the wrong cluster or shard file, or the host manages the file through a panel. | Identify the persistent-storage root and active cluster; check the panel for an Enable Vote to Kickswitch. |
| The line is present but players still cannot start a vote | The process has not reloaded the file, or the edited file is not the one used by the running server. | Stop and restart the affected shard or cluster, then verify the active configuration location. |
| The option works on one world but not another | The worlds use different clusters, shards, or host profiles. | Compare the persistent configuration selected for each running instance. |
The file keeps reverting to false |
A panel, startup script, or server manager is regenerating the configuration. | Apply the change through the manager’s supported interface or edit the persistent source it uses. |
| A vote behaves differently than expected | Threshold, quorum, cooldown, or immunity behavior is not universal in the available documentation. | Check the current game version and your provider’s documentation before changing unrelated settings. |
| An administrator needs to end a vote immediately | Vote kicking is a player feature; an administrator needs console access for a direct intervention. | Use the documented console command c_stopvote() when you have the required privileges. |
What administrators can do instead of, or alongside, a vote
Enabling voting does not remove direct moderation controls. The DST console reference documents these Lua commands:
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TheNet:Kick(userid)removes the specified user from the server.TheNet:Ban(userid)bans the specified user.c_stopvote()stops an active vote.
These commands require the appropriate administrative console access and a valid user identifier. The command reference lists the syntax and related console functions (Don’t Starve Together console commands).
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A dedicated server can be launched with the -console option to provide a command-line console for privileged Lua administration, according to the dedicated-server documentation (Dedicated Server documentation). If you cannot access the console, do not treat that as evidence that vote kicking is disabled; it is a separate permission and launch configuration issue.
Self-hosting versus managed hosting
Both approaches can enable the same Boolean setting, but the operational work is different.
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| Consideration | Self-hosted server | Managed hosting |
|---|---|---|
| Underlying configuration file | Normally available in the persistent-storage directory for the chosen cluster and shard. | May be hidden; editing can be replaced by a provider-specific panel. |
| Vote-kick control | Enter vote_kick_enabled = true in the appropriate configuration. |
Use the provider’s Enable Vote to Kickswitch when offered. |
| Restart convenience | You schedule and perform the process or shard restart. | The panel may apply and restart automatically or provide a restart button. |
| Cluster and shard support | You must select the correct persistent configuration yourself. | The panel may expose a per-instance selector; confirm which cluster it changes. |
| Administrative console | You control launch options such as -console and can use privileged Lua commands. |
Console access depends on the provider’s plan and interface. |
Choose the method that matches where your server keeps its authoritative configuration. Editing a local copy while a host panel controls the live instance will not produce a lasting change.
Practical moderation policy
Vote kicking is most useful when trusted administrators are not online. Before enabling it on a public or shared server, tell players what the vote is for and how to contact an administrator. Keep a direct moderation path for harassment, cheating, or coordinated misuse of votes, because a player vote cannot substitute for an administrator’s judgment.
On a private server, test the setting during a planned restart and document the cluster and shard file you changed. That record prevents a later administrator from editing a similarly named world and wondering why the live session did not change. On a managed host, record the panel setting and the date of the last restart so a future configuration reset is easier to diagnose.
Quick Recap
Quick reference
- Key:
vote_kick_enabled - Enabled value:
true - Documented line:
vote_kick_enabled = true - Reload required: restart the affected server or shard
- Purpose: lets players vote to remove disruptive players when no administrator is present
- Admin stop command:
c_stopvote() - Direct admin commands:
TheNet:Kick(userid)andTheNet:Ban(userid)
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