Running a Valheim Server: Admins, Kicks and Bans
On a Valheim dedicated server, admins aren't chosen inside the game: they're listed in a text file with their player ID. It's not much, but you need to know where and in what format.
What an admin can do
On a normal dedicated server, being admin gives you access to the game console (the F5 key) with the moderation commands: kick, ban, unban and banned, plus save and the ones that change the world difficulty (the world modifiers). It doesn't give cheats like flying or spawning items: that's devcommands, which doesn't work on a dedicated server without a mod (why).
Rather not set it up yourself? Valheim servers from €8 a month, no contract and a full refund within 72 hours. Or create a free Valheim server, no card needed.
Make yourself admin
Find your ID
The safest way is to copy it exactly as the game shows it: inside the server, the F2 panel shows the players with their ID (since 1.0, with V_ in front). If you play on Steam, Steam_ followed by your SteamID64 also works, a 17-digit number starting with 7656: paste your profile link into the SteamID64 finder and it gives you the number and the lines for this file.
Add it to adminlist.txt
It's a text file with one ID per line; it's case-sensitive. On NapNodes it's in “Files”, in .config/unity3d/IronGate/Valheim, and you edit it with the server stopped. If it doesn't exist, create it with that exact name.
Restart and join
Start the server and join with that account. Press F5 in the game to open the console (on Steam, with -console in the launch options) and type the commands.
The moderation commands
kick name kicks someone (their ID or IP also works). ban name adds them to the ban list, unban name removes them and banned shows who is banned. Bans are stored in bannedlist.txt, which you can also edit by hand. The full list of commands, cheats included, in Valheim commands.
Friends only: the allowed list
If you put IDs in permittedlist.txt, only those accounts can join, on top of knowing the password. It's for a closed group's server; don't forget to add yourself. If the file is empty or doesn't exist, anyone with the password can join. All about locking down the server, in private Valheim server.
After changing any of the three lists, restart the server so it reads them. With 1.0, at first the ban and allowed lists only accepted IDs with V_; patch 1.0.12 fixed it (the new IDs).
Frequently asked questions
How do I make myself admin on a Valheim server?
Put your ID in adminlist.txt (one per line, as the game's F2 panel shows it, or Steam_ and your SteamID64), restart the server and join with that account. F5 opens the console.
How do I ban someone in Valheim?
From the console (F5) with ban and their name, ID or IP. It's stored in bannedlist.txt; unban undoes it.
Can I make it so only my friends can join?
Yes: put their IDs in permittedlist.txt. Only those accounts will be able to join, and they'll still need the password.
Shall we set it up for you?
Valheim servers from €8 a month, never oversold: your RAM is yours alone. And if you'd rather start without paying, there's a free Valheim server, no card needed.
Not sure whether your server is online? Check it in a second with the Valheim server status checker: players, version and password, free.
Free tool: SteamID64 finder. Paste a Steam link, a username or a STEAM_0 ID and get every form of the ID and the adminlist.txt line for Valheim.
Free tool: Valheim world modifiers. Pick the difficulty, combat, portals or no build cost and copy the -preset, -modifier and -setkey for your Valheim dedicated server.
Free tool: Server rules generator. Tick the rules for your Minecraft, Zomboid, Valheim, Hytale or Discord server and copy them ready to paste, with punishments.
Keep reading
- Valheim Commands: The Console, Cheats and What Works on a Dedicated Server
How to open the Valheim console (F5), the admin commands, the devcommands cheats (god, fly, spawn...) and why they don't work on a dedicated server.
- Valheim Private Server: Password, Whitelist and Bans
How to make your Valheim server private: a password, keeping it off the public list, permittedlist.txt as a whitelist and bannedlist.txt for bans.
- Valheim Server Seed: How to See It, Choose It and Change It
How to find your Valheim world's seed, how to use a specific one on a dedicated server (it has no option for it) and what happens if you want to change it.