Running a Valheim server is much easier when you know the right admin commands. Whether you are managing a small private world with friends or running a larger community server, commands help you moderate players, control access, check bans, and keep your world running smoothly.
Valheim dedicated servers use permission files and in-game console commands. According to the official Valheim dedicated server guide, server owners can manage admin access, bans, and permitted players through adminlist.txt, bannedlist.txt, and permittedlist.txt. The same guide confirms that in-game admin commands are opened with F5 and include kick, ban, unban, and banned list commands.
To use admin commands, you must first be added as an admin. Server owners can do this by adding the player’s Platform User ID to adminlist.txt, one ID per line.
How To Open The Valheim Console
Once you are an admin, either enter the commands directly from your Valheim server hosting console or join your Valheim server and press F5 and open the console. From there, type your command and press Enter. Commands are usually entered using the player name, but for more reliable moderation, it is best to use the player’s Platform User ID where possible.
Some commands are available directly in-game, while other settings are controlled through server launch options or configuration files. For example, changing the save interval is not an in-game command. It is handled with the server startup argument -saveinterval, which defaults to 1800 seconds, or 30 minutes.
Valheim Admin Commands Table
| Command | What It Does | Example | Best Used For |
|---|---|---|---|
kick PLAYERNAME | Removes a player from the server. | kick Viking123 | Temporary moderation, warnings, or removing disruptive players. |
ban PLAYERNAME | Bans a player from the server. | ban Viking123 | Stopping griefers, cheaters, or repeat rule-breakers. |
unban PLAYERNAME | Removes a player from the ban list. | unban Viking123 | Reversing accidental bans or approving appeals. |
banned | Lists all currently banned players. | banned | Reviewing your server ban list. |
-saveinterval SECONDS | Changes how often the world saves. | -saveinterval 1800 | Adjusting automatic world save frequency. |
-backups NUMBER | Sets how many automatic backups are kept. | -backups 4 | Protecting your world from data loss. |
-backupshort SECONDS | Sets the interval for the first automatic backup. | -backupshort 7200 | Controlling short-term backup timing. |
-backuplong SECONDS | Sets the interval for later automatic backups. | -backuplong 43200 | Managing long-term backup spacing. |
adminlist.txt | Stores server admin users. | Add one Platform User ID per line. | Giving trusted players admin permissions. |
bannedlist.txt | Stores banned users. | Add one Platform User ID per line. | Manually managing banned players. |
permittedlist.txt | Controls who is allowed to join. | Add approved Platform User IDs. | Creating a private or whitelisted server. |
Moderation Commands
The most important Valheim admin commands are kick, ban, unban, and banned. These are the commands you will use most often when managing players.
Use kick when you want to remove someone temporarily. This is useful when a player is causing trouble but you do not want to permanently block them from returning. Use ban when someone is griefing, cheating, harassing others, or repeatedly breaking your server rules. If you make a mistake or decide to forgive a player, use unban.
The banned command is useful for reviewing who is currently blocked. This is especially helpful for community servers where multiple admins may be moderating the same Valheim server.
Saving And Backups
Valheim worlds can take a long time to build, so backups are extremely important. The official dedicated server guide lists -saveinterval, -backups, -backupshort, and -backuplong as server startup options for controlling saves and backups. The default save interval is 1800 seconds, which equals 30 minutes.
For most Valheim server owners, the default settings are fine. However, if your server has many active players, frequent building, or large community projects, you may want a careful backup strategy. More frequent saves can reduce the risk of progress loss, while keeping multiple backups helps protect your world if something breaks.
Teleporting And Cheat Commands
Many players search for Valheim teleport commands, but it is important to understand the difference between server admin commands and cheat/debug commands. Being an admin on a dedicated Valheim server allows server moderation commands, but it does not automatically give every single-player cheat command on a multiplayer server. The official dedicated server guide specifically lists the in-game server admin commands as kick, ban, unban, and banned.
For a public or community Valheim server, this is usually a good thing. It keeps moderation tools separate from gameplay cheats, helping server owners maintain a fair survival experience.
Final Tips For Valheim Server Owners
Always keep your admin list limited to trusted players. Giving too many people admin access can create confusion or lead to abuse. Keep a record of bans, use clear server rules, and back up your world regularly.
For private groups, permittedlist.txt is one of the most useful tools available. Just remember that Valheim warns that adding players to the permitted list will ban everyone else from joining unless they are also included.
Host Your Valheim Server With Pine Hosting
Want a smoother Valheim server hosting experience? Pine Hosting makes it easy to launch, manage, and protect your Valheim server with reliable performance, simple controls, and support when you need it. Choose a Valheim hosting plan from Pine Hosting and spend less time managing server files — and more time exploring, building, fighting bosses, and surviving with your friends.
