The Tool Desk
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Console syntax versus in-game chat
The command name is generally the same in both interfaces. The difference is the prefix and the permissions attached to the account running it.
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| Where you enter it | Example | Slash required? | What controls access |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dedicated-server terminal | players |
No | Server-console authority |
| Hosting control-panel console | setaccesslevel "Name" admin |
No | Panel/server administrative authority |
| In-game chat | /players |
Yes | Your Project Zomboid access level or capability |
Entering a slash in a server terminal can cause the command to be rejected because the terminal expects the bare command. Conversely, omitting the slash in chat usually sends ordinary text instead of executing an administrative command. If a host labels its interface differently, identify whether the field is a server command console or player chat before troubleshooting the command itself.
Make yourself an administrator
The normal bootstrap method is to run setaccesslevel from the server console, then reconnect or retry the command in chat.
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- Open the dedicated-server terminal or your host’s server-console panel. Do not use the in-game chat for the initial bootstrap unless an existing administrator has already granted your account the required capability.
- Enter
setaccesslevel "username" admin. Replaceusernamewith the player’s account name. Keep the quotation marks when the name contains spaces. - Check the console response for a success message or an error. A name that does not match the account exactly will not receive the role.
- Have the player reconnect if the host does not apply role changes to the current session immediately.
- In chat, test with
/playersor inspect the command’s usage with/help players. In a console, use the same help command without the slash if that console requires bare commands.
Grant only the access level needed for the job. An administrator role can affect players, items, progression and the world, so use a separate, less-privileged account for routine play when possible.
Build 42 access levels and permission failures
Build 42 references describe roles including user, priority, observer, gm, moderator and admin. The exact capabilities attached to those roles can be changed by the game build, server configuration or host panel. A command may therefore be valid but unavailable to your account.
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| Role name seen in Build 42 references | General purpose | Important qualification |
|---|---|---|
user |
Standard player access | Administrative commands are generally unavailable. |
priority |
Priority or queue-related access | Do not assume it grants moderation powers. |
observer |
Observation or spectator-style access | Capabilities depend on the server’s role mapping. |
gm |
Game-master functions | May expose selected tools without full administrator authority. |
moderator |
Player-management functions | World, item and configuration commands may remain restricted. |
admin |
Broad administrative control | Use carefully on a live save and protect the account. |
When a command says you lack permission, check the following in order:
- Confirm that you are in the intended interface and used the correct slash convention.
- Run the local help entry to see whether the command requires a particular capability.
- Ask an existing administrator to verify your access level with the host’s role tools.
- Reconnect after a role change if the current session still has its old permissions.
- Check the server build and host documentation; Build 41 lists and Build 42 lists are not guaranteed to match.
Use /help as the authoritative command reference
Online lists can be incomplete because aliases, arguments and permissions vary between builds and hosting panels. The running server can describe its own command set:
/helplists commands available through the current interface./help commandnamedisplays usage for one command, such as/help teleport.
In a server terminal that does not accept slash-prefixed input, use help and help commandname instead. Copy the spelling and argument order shown there. Player names and item identifiers may be case-sensitive, so copy them exactly from the server or item data rather than retyping from memory.
Player moderation commands
These commands affect connected accounts and bans. Run them only when you understand whether the command expects a username, a reason, or another target argument; aliases and flags differ across references.
| Command | Typical use | Notes |
|---|---|---|
/players |
List connected players | Use players in a server console. |
/kick or /kickuser |
Remove a player from the server | A reason may be optional; check local help for the exact form. |
/ban or /banuser |
Ban a player | Confirm whether the command uses a username, Steam/account identifier or another target field. |
/unban |
Remove a ban | Use the identifier format shown by the server’s help output. |
/setaccesslevel |
Change a player’s role | For example, setaccesslevel "Name" admin in the console; quote names containing spaces. |
Before kicking or banning, run players and copy the displayed name exactly. A mismatch can target nobody or the wrong account. Record the reason and time in your moderation notes so another administrator can understand the action and reverse it when appropriate.
Items and experience
Give an item with additem
/additem gives an item to a player. The item identifier must match the server’s item data exactly, including capitalization and punctuation. Because item IDs and argument order can change, first run /help additem, then verify the ID in the server’s item data or the relevant Build 42 reference.
Grant experience with addxp
/addxp grants experience. Use the local help entry to confirm the skill name, amount and target-player fields before executing it. Applying a large amount on a live save can change progression permanently, so test on a backup or disposable server when you are learning the syntax.
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Neither command should be treated as a universal cheat code: the account needs the capability assigned by the server, and a malformed item or skill identifier can fail even when the account is an administrator.
Teleport and player-support commands
Teleport commands are useful when an administrator or player is lost, stuck or unable to reach an event area. Their argument order is particularly configuration-sensitive: some forms require a destination coordinate, while others require a target player name.
- Run
/help teleporton the running server. - Identify whether the syntax names the player being moved, the destination player or explicit coordinates.
- Confirm the target name and destination before executing the command.
- Warn affected players if the move could place them in danger or separate them from a group.
Do not guess a teleport form from a Build 41 list. If the local help output does not show the command, your host may have disabled it or exposed it under a different name.
Weather, zombies and world events
Build 42 references include controls for weather, hordes or zombies and other world events. These are high-impact operations: they can change the state of a shared save for every player and may be difficult to undo.
- Inspect the command-specific help before entering any target, duration or intensity argument.
- Announce planned events to players and make a backup of the save when the host supports backups.
- Use a test server to learn unfamiliar syntax; a successful command can still produce an unwanted world state.
- After execution, observe the server log and player reports for evidence that the intended event occurred.
Because the exact entries and permissions vary by build and host presentation, this category should be treated as a family of commands rather than one fixed universal list.
Server-operation commands
Administrative references commonly include commands for broadcasts, saving, shutdown and other server operations. The available set is permission-gated and can differ between Build 41 and Build 42.
| Operation | Why you might use it | Safe operating practice |
|---|---|---|
| Player listing | See who is connected before maintenance or moderation | Run players and verify names first. |
| Broadcast | Warn players about restarts, events or rules | Send a clear message with timing and expected impact. |
| Save | Commit the current world state before maintenance | Use the syntax shown by local help and wait for completion. |
| Shutdown | Stop the server cleanly | Warn players first and allow them time to leave safely. |
| Administrative configuration | Apply server-management changes | Check the host panel and build-specific documentation before changing production settings. |
Do not infer a command’s existence from a third-party list. If /help does not expose it, use the host’s documented control instead of guessing.
Common errors and recovery steps
“Unknown command”
First check the slash convention. Remove the slash in a dedicated or hosting-panel console; add it in chat. Then run /help (or the console’s equivalent) and compare the exact command spelling. Build differences, disabled features and host-specific aliases are common causes.
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Verify the account’s role or capability, not just its username. A moderator, gm or observer role may not include an item, world or configuration command. Have an administrator grant the required role with setaccesslevel, then reconnect if necessary.
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The command runs but affects nobody
Check capitalization, quotation marks and target spelling. Names containing spaces must be quoted in the access-level example, and item IDs can be case-sensitive. Use players to copy a connected player’s exact name and inspect the command’s help for required target fields.
An alias works in one list but not on the server
Aliases such as kick/kickuser and ban/banuser are not guaranteed to be identical across builds or hosts. Treat the running server’s help output as authoritative and use the form it lists.
A role change appears ineffective
Ensure the command was entered in the server console, the account name matched exactly and the server accepted the change. Disconnect and reconnect, then test a low-risk command such as /players. If the role still does not apply, inspect the host panel’s permission mapping rather than repeatedly issuing the same command.
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Build 41 lists versus Build 42 servers
Build 42 is the relevant target for this reference, but many web pages still combine older Build 41 syntax with newer commands. Differences can include command availability, argument order, aliases, role names and capability checks. A list that omits access levels may also make a permission failure look like a syntax failure.
Before copying any command from an older page, compare it against five details on your server:
- Build number and branch.
- Whether the input is a terminal, hosting panel or in-game chat.
- The role or capability required.
- Argument order, quoting and optional flags.
- Whether the command is an alias, deprecated entry or host-specific addition.
This check takes less time than repairing a changed world state or restoring a save after a guessed command.
A safe workflow for live servers
- Identify the interface and apply the correct slash rule.
- Run the local help command before using unfamiliar syntax.
- Confirm the executing account’s role or capability.
- Copy player names and item IDs exactly, quoting names with spaces.
- Announce disruptive actions such as kicks, weather changes, hordes, saves or shutdowns.
- Back up the save before high-impact world operations.
- Execute one command at a time and check the console response.
- Record what changed so another administrator can diagnose or reverse it.
That workflow is more reliable than maintaining a static list because the server itself reveals the commands, aliases and permissions currently enabled.
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| Goal | Chat form | Console form | Reminder |
|---|---|---|---|
| List connected players | /players |
players |
Requires the appropriate access. |
| Grant administrator access | Usually performed by an existing administrator | setaccesslevel "Name" admin |
Quote names containing spaces. |
| Inspect all commands | /help |
help when bare syntax is required |
Use the server’s own output. |
| Inspect one command | /help commandname |
help commandname |
Check arguments and permissions. |
| Give an item | /additem plus the locally documented arguments |
additem plus the locally documented arguments |
Item IDs may be case-sensitive. |
| Grant experience | /addxp plus the locally documented arguments |
addxp plus the locally documented arguments |
Confirm skill, amount and target fields. |
Bottom line
For Build 42, remember five rules: omit the slash in a server console, include it in chat, grant the correct access level, use /setaccesslevel "username" admin to bootstrap an administrator, and consult /help on the running server before trusting an argument list. Build and host differences make local help more dependable than any static command page.
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