Valheim admin and console commands
Add dedicated-server admins with Platform User IDs, open the Valheim console, and use the official kick, ban, unban, and banned commands without confusing them with single-player devcommands.
Valheim dedicated-server permissions are stored in three plain-text files:
adminlist.txt, bannedlist.txt, and permittedlist.txt. Each entry is an
exact, case-sensitive Platform User ID, one per line.
Find a player's Platform User ID
Join the server, press F2, and copy the player's ID from the player panel. You can also copy it from the server Console when the player connects.
Iron Gate documents the format as [Platform]_[User ID], for example:
Steam_76561198000000000Crossplay users can have a different platform prefix. Copy the complete value shown by Valheim; do not convert it to a Steam ID or change its capitalization.
Add an admin on berrybyte
Copy the Platform User ID
Ask the player to join, open the F2 panel, and copy their complete Platform User ID. You can also find the ID in the berrybyte Console connection log.
Stop the server
Stop Valheim from Overview before editing permission files, so the running process cannot overwrite or retain an older copy.
Open adminlist.txt
Go to Files and open
.config/unity3d/IronGate/Valheim/adminlist.txt. Create the file at that path if it does not
exist.
Add one ID per line
Add the exact Platform User ID on its own line. Do not add commas, bullets, display names, or comments.
Steam_76561198000000000
Steam_76561198000000001Save and restart
Save the file and start the server. The player must reconnect before using admin commands.
Open the console in Valheim
Enable the client console
In Steam, right-click Valheim, choose Properties, and put -console in Launch
Options. This is a client setting; it does not go in the server startup command.
Join the server as an admin
Launch Valheim, join the server, and make sure the Platform User ID in adminlist.txt
belongs to the account you are using.
Press F5
Press F5 to open the in-game console. Enter one of the dedicated-server commands below without a leading slash.
Official dedicated-server commands
| Command | Example | Effect |
|---|---|---|
kick PLAYERNAME | kick Ragnar | Disconnects that player from the server |
ban PLAYERNAME | ban Ragnar | Bans that player |
unban PLAYERNAME | unban Ragnar | Removes that player from the ban list |
banned | banned | Displays the current banned-player list |
Player names must match what Valheim shows. Use F2 to confirm the connected name before moderating someone.
Iron Gate's dedicated-server guide lists the vanilla admin commands. Autocomplete can also show client or single-player commands that will not work here.
Manage the allowlist and ban list
All three files live beside one another:
| File | Purpose |
|---|---|
adminlist.txt | Grants vanilla dedicated-server moderation commands |
bannedlist.txt | Blocks listed Platform User IDs |
permittedlist.txt | Allows only listed Platform User IDs to connect |
To edit one, stop the server, open
.config/unity3d/IronGate/Valheim/, place one exact ID on each line, save, and
restart.
As soon as permittedlist.txt contains an ID, every player not in the file is denied. Add your
own ID and every allowed player before starting the server.
Why are admin commands not working?
The console says I am not an admin
Compare your F2 Platform User ID with adminlist.txt character for character. Check the
platform prefix, capitalization, and underscores, then restart and reconnect.
F5 does nothing
Add -console to the Valheim client's Steam Launch Options and relaunch the game. Do not
add it to the dedicated server.
spawn, god, fly, or debugmode does not work
That is expected on a vanilla dedicated server. Those are local devcommands, not dedicated-server admin commands. A community plugin such as Server Devcommands can extend the command set, but it requires BepInEx and must support your current Valheim version.
A crossplay player cannot be added
Use the complete Platform User ID shown in F2 or Console, including its non-Steam platform prefix. A SteamID64 copied from a website is not a substitute for a crossplay identity.
The allowlist locked everyone out
Stop the server, correct or clear permittedlist.txt, and start it again. Keep one ID per
line and confirm you included your own account.
Frequently asked questions
How do I make someone an admin on a Valheim dedicated server?
Add their exact, case-sensitive Platform User ID to adminlist.txt, one ID per line, then restart the server. Players can find the ID in Valheim's F2 player panel or the server log.
What commands can a Valheim dedicated-server admin use?
Iron Gate's official dedicated-server guide documents kick PLAYERNAME, ban PLAYERNAME, unban PLAYERNAME, and banned. Commands such as spawn, god, fly, and debugmode are single-player or locally hosted devcommands, not vanilla dedicated-server admin commands.
Why does F5 not open the Valheim console?
On Steam, open Valheim's Properties, add -console under Launch Options, launch the game again, and press F5 after joining. Admin privileges are separate and still require your Platform User ID in adminlist.txt.
Can I make a whitelist for a Valheim server?
Yes. Add permitted players to permittedlist.txt, one exact Platform User ID per line. Once that file contains an ID, everyone not listed is blocked, so add every allowed player before enabling it.