Press F1 to open the 7 Days to Die console on most keyboard layouts. If your keyboard maps the console differently, use the key above Tab (often tilde or backtick). A headless dedicated server can also be administered from its terminal, through Telnet, or with the web control panel, so you do not need an in-game client running.
The important distinction is between runtime commands and persistent configuration. Commands such as kick, ban, buff, debuff, land-claim operations and shutdown act on the running server. Values that must survive a restart belong in serverconfig.xml. Admin identity and privileged-command permissions are held in serveradmin.xml.
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Open the console and choose the right administration interface
In-game console
- Join the server with the account that should issue commands.
- Press F1. On some keyboard layouts, press the key immediately above Tab instead; this is commonly the tilde or backtick key.
- Enter a command and submit it. Watch the console output for an error, a permission denial or a confirmation.
- Close the console and verify the result in the game. For moderation actions, ask an unaffected player to confirm that the target was removed or blocked.
F1 is a client-side entry point. It is convenient when you are playing, but it is not required for a dedicated server. A server running without a graphics session can be controlled from its own terminal, Telnet or the web control panel.
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Dedicated-server interfaces
| Interface | Best use | Requirement | Limitation |
|---|---|---|---|
| In-game F1 console | Quick commands while connected as a player | A running client and sufficient permissions | Unavailable when the client cannot connect or the server is headless |
| Server terminal | Local administration, startup output and diagnostics | Access to the machine running the dedicated process | Requires an operating-system session or remote shell |
| Telnet | Remote command entry for a headless process | Telnet enabled in serverconfig.xml and reachable on its configured port |
Plain remote administration must be tightly restricted to trusted networks |
| Web control panel | Browser-based administration when a client is unavailable | Control panel enabled and reachable on its configured port | Exact features and authentication behavior depend on the server build |
The 7 Days To Die admin guide identifies Telnet and the web control panel as the remote options for headless servers. Command names, aliases and permission defaults can change between builds, so use the help output provided by the version you are running instead of relying on an old command list.
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Make yourself an administrator
On a dedicated server, privileged commands are restricted to players listed in serveradmin.xml. The cited admin guide defines permission level 0 as full access; higher numbers are more restricted. The file also stores banned users, whitelist entries, administrators and command-permission information.
Safe procedure for editing serveradmin.xml
- Stop the server gracefully and make a backup of
serveradmin.xml. Keep a second copy outside the live server directory. - Open the file with a text editor that preserves XML formatting and encoding.
- Use the administrator-entry format already present in the file or in the version-matched server reference. Add the player identifier required by your build and assign the appropriate permission value. Do not copy an entry from an unrelated release without checking its schema.
- Save the file, restart the dedicated process and join with the same account used in the administrator entry.
- Test a harmless privileged action before attempting moderation or shutdown commands.
Treat the permission values as build-sensitive. If the account appears in the file but commands are still denied, stop changing values at random: confirm the identifier format, XML syntax and permission semantics for the exact server version, then inspect the startup log for parsing errors.
Symptoms of an admin-identity problem
- The file is ignored: the server may be reading a different configuration directory, or malformed XML may have caused the entry to be skipped.
- The player can connect but cannot moderate: the account is missing from the administrator section, has a restricted level, or the server has not been restarted since the edit.
- Everyone loses admin access: restore the backup while the process is stopped, then validate the file before starting again.
- A command works in F1 but not remotely: the remote session may authenticate as a different user, or that interface may expose only server-level commands.
Enable Telnet and the web control panel
The administration-interface properties live in serverconfig.xml. The configuration reference uses 8080 for the control panel and 8081 for Telnet in its example configuration. Those are example values, not a guarantee that every release or host uses the same ports.
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| Property | Purpose | Example in the reference |
|---|---|---|
ControlPanelEnabled |
Turns the browser control panel on or off | Enabled state is configured in the file; the reference lists the panel port separately |
ControlPanelPort |
TCP port used by the web panel | 8080 |
TelnetEnabled |
Turns the Telnet listener on or off | Enabled state is configured in the file |
TelnetPort |
TCP port used by Telnet | 8081 |
TelnetPassword |
Password setting for Telnet authentication where supported | Set a strong, unique value supported by your build |
Configuration steps
- Stop the server and back up
serverconfig.xml. - Set the enable properties for the interfaces you actually need. Leave unused interfaces disabled.
- Choose ports that do not conflict with another service. If you retain the reference defaults, the panel uses 8080 and Telnet uses 8081.
- Set
TelnetPasswordwhen the version supports password authentication. Do not reuse a game, operating-system or hosting-account password. - Start the server and confirm that the process reports the listeners successfully.
- From a trusted machine, connect to the configured address and port. If the connection fails, check the host firewall, router forwarding and whether the process is bound to the expected network interface.
Remote-administration security
- Restrict 8080, 8081 or any replacement ports to trusted addresses with firewall rules whenever possible.
- Do not expose a control panel or Telnet listener directly to the public internet unless you understand the authentication and encryption behavior of your exact release.
- Use a strong password and rotate it if it has been shared with a former administrator.
- Prefer a private network, VPN or provider dashboard that keeps the administration port off the public interface.
- Review logs after enabling a remote interface and disable it again when temporary maintenance is complete.
A managed 7 Days to Die server can be the simpler choice if you want a persistent world and browser administration without maintaining firewall rules, port forwarding and the server process yourself. Verify which remote interfaces, backups and scheduled restarts are included before choosing a plan. For example, Godlike.Host’s 7 Days to Die servers come with a Pterodactyl-based game panel that has a task scheduler, sub-users with permissions and up to three free backups a day with restore; see the current plans.
Server commands organized by task
The following command families are the practical starting point for administration. Exact arguments, aliases and platform support are build-dependent. Enter the command name in the console’s help output first, then use the syntax shown by your release.
| Task | Commands or command family | Where it is normally useful | What to verify |
|---|---|---|---|
| Player moderation | kick, ban, player-list and permission-administration commands |
F1, terminal, Telnet or web console for server-level actions | Exact player identifier, duration or reason syntax, and your permission level |
| Messages and status | broadcast/say, player-list output and diagnostic output |
All server administration interfaces, subject to build support | Whether the command sends to everyone, a target player or only the operator console |
| Player and world effects | buff, debuff and related runtime-effect commands |
Usually F1 or a server console while the target is online | Effect name, target syntax and whether the effect is temporary |
| Land-claim administration | setlandclaimsize, removelandclaim |
Privileged server administration | Whether the operation is supported by your build and which claim or player it affects |
| Lifecycle control | shutdown and restart procedures |
Terminal, Telnet, web panel or F1 when permitted | Graceful-stop behavior, warning time and host restart policy |
Moderating players
Use kick to remove a player from the current session and ban to prevent future access according to the build’s ban rules. Before issuing either command, obtain the exact player name or identifier from the server’s player-list output; names with spaces, capitalization or similar spellings can produce the wrong target. If a player should return later, check whether your release supports a timed ban or requires a manual unban workflow rather than assuming an argument format.
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Permission administration is separate from a temporary kick or ban. Add or change administrators in serveradmin.xml, not by relying on a runtime command that may disappear at restart. Keep a record of who has full level-0 access and remove stale entries when staff change.
Messaging and status
broadcast or say is useful for announcing a restart, a rules change or maintenance window. Player-list and diagnostic output help you verify who is connected and whether the server accepted a command. Use a short, specific message before a shutdown so players have time to leave safe locations.
Buffs and debuffs
buff and debuff change runtime player effects. They are appropriate for correcting a temporary state or testing a scenario, but they are not a substitute for a persistent server setting. Confirm the effect name and target syntax with the in-console help for your build; a command accepted by one release may use a different alias or reject a client-only effect on a headless interface.
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Land claims
setlandclaimsize changes the configured size of a land claim where supported, while removelandclaim removes a claim according to the release’s rules. Because these operations can alter player protection, announce planned changes and record the affected player or claim before executing them. Verify the result in-game and retain a backup before making bulk administrative changes.
Shutdown and restart
Use shutdown only when you understand how your host handles a graceful stop. A clean stop gives the server an opportunity to save the world; a forced process termination can risk lost progress or a damaged save. A hosted control panel may have its own stop and restart buttons, while a self-hosted process may require a service manager or launch script to bring it back after shutdown.
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A console command changes the running process. It does not rewrite every startup value. The command reference states that values intended to survive a restart belong in serverconfig.xml.
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| If you need to… | Use… | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Remove a player immediately | A runtime moderation command such as kick or ban |
The action applies to the current server session and its ban data |
| Change who has administrator privileges | serveradmin.xml, followed by a restart or reload behavior supported by your build |
Admin identity is stored in the administrator file |
| Keep a server option after a restart | serverconfig.xml |
Startup configuration is read when the dedicated process launches |
| Enable Telnet or the web panel | The corresponding properties in serverconfig.xml |
The listeners are part of server startup configuration |
| Apply a one-time effect | A runtime command such as buff or debuff |
The effect is applied to the current player or session, not necessarily saved as a server rule |
After editing either XML file, stop the process first, preserve a backup, validate the syntax and restart. If a setting appears to revert, check that you edited the configuration file actually passed to the server at launch and that a hosting panel did not overwrite it from its own template.
Run a headless dedicated server
The official server reference gives this launch pattern:
start 7daystodie -quit -batchmode -nographics -configfile=serverconfig.xml -dedicatedThe executable name and path must match your installation and operating system. The switches have these roles:
-quittells the process to exit according to the dedicated-server startup behavior of the release.-batchmoderuns without interactive desktop dialogs.-nographicsdisables graphics rendering for a headless process.-configfile=serverconfig.xmlselects the server configuration file.-dedicatedstarts dedicated-server mode rather than a normal client session.
Adapt the executable path and service wrapper for Windows or Linux. A Linux installation may use a shell script or service manager instead of the Windows start command; the required game switches remain the values documented for your release. The dedicated-server setup process also covers installing the server files with SteamCMD, configuring ports and maintaining serverconfig.xml.
A standalone dedicated process keeps the world available without a host player remaining in the game. That persistence is the main reason to run it on a machine that stays online, whether you own the hardware or use managed hosting.
Self-hosting or managed hosting?
| Decision axis | Self-hosted dedicated server | Managed server |
|---|---|---|
| Persistence | Available while your hardware, network and process remain online | Provider maintains the machine and network so the world can remain available without your PC |
| Control | Direct access to files, launch flags, mods, logs and operating-system tools | Control depends on the provider’s panel, file access and supported modifications |
| Administration | You configure Telnet, the web panel, permissions and restart scripts | A dashboard may provide web console access, scheduled restarts and simpler permission management |
| Maintenance burden | You handle updates, backups, firewall rules, port forwarding and crash recovery | The provider may handle infrastructure tasks, but you still need to manage saves, permissions and game updates |
| Cost and portability | Uses hardware and bandwidth you already own; moving the save is generally under your control | Involves recurring fees; confirm export access and backup retention before committing |
Choose self-hosting when you need operating-system access, custom launch tooling or complete control of files. Choose managed hosting when keeping a machine online, forwarding ports and recovering from crashes is more work than you want to own. In either case, verify that the service exposes the configuration files and administrative interfaces your group actually needs.
Quick Recap
Troubleshooting by symptom
F1 does nothing
- Try the key above Tab, since some layouts do not bind the console to F1.
- Confirm that the game window has focus and that another overlay has not captured the key.
- If the server is headless, use its terminal, Telnet or web panel instead of the client console.
The command is rejected or unknown
- Run the version’s built-in help output and copy the command name and argument order exactly.
- Check whether the command is client-only, server-only or restricted to an administrator.
- Compare the running server build with the reference you are reading; aliases and permissions can change.
You are connected but lack permission
- Confirm that your player identifier is present in
serveradmin.xml. - Check that your permission value is appropriate; level 0 is the full-access level in the cited guide and higher numbers are more restricted.
- Restart after editing and inspect the startup log for XML errors or a different configuration path.
Telnet or the web panel cannot be reached
- Confirm the corresponding enable property and port in
serverconfig.xml. - Use the actual configured port, not an assumed default. The reference examples are 8081 for Telnet and 8080 for the control panel.
- Check local firewall rules, router forwarding, address binding and whether the server process is listening.
- Test from a trusted network before opening any port publicly.
A change disappears after restart
- Move the intended persistent value into
serverconfig.xml; a runtime command is not a permanent configuration edit. - Verify that the launch command points to that file with
-configfile=serverconfig.xml. - Check whether a host panel, startup script or update process restores a template over your edited file.
The server stops but does not return
- Confirm that the shutdown was graceful and that the world had time to save.
- Check the host’s restart policy or service manager;
shutdownmay end the process without automatically launching it again. - Review the console and operating-system logs before deleting or replacing save files.
Administrator checklist
- Back up
serveradmin.xml,serverconfig.xmland the world save before structural changes. - Keep full level-0 access limited to the people who need it.
- Use F1 for quick in-game work and a terminal, Telnet or web panel for headless maintenance.
- Confirm command syntax with the running build’s help output.
- Use
serverconfig.xmlfor settings that must survive a restart. - Restrict remote ports, use strong authentication where supported and disable unused interfaces.
- Announce and gracefully schedule shutdowns so players can leave safely.
- Test a non-destructive command after every permission or configuration change.
