To add an administrator to a dedicated Don’t Starve Together server, edit the active cluster’s adminlist.txt and put the player’s Klei User ID on its own line. The important part is locating the cluster the server actually launches; a file in an unrelated local-save or client folder will not change server permissions.
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Klei’s command-line documentation defines where the cluster lives, while the dedicated-server guide and Klei forum guidance describe the admin-list behavior. The account that generated the cluster token is the only administrator when an online server has no admin list or the list is empty.
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This procedure applies to a dedicated server installation, whether it runs on your own Windows, macOS or Linux machine or through a hosting control panel that exposes the server files. It does not describe the permissions of a temporary listen server started from the game client.
- File-system or host-panel access to the server’s persistent storage and configuration directories.
- The exact Klei User ID of the person who should receive administrator privileges.
- The name of the cluster selected by the server’s launch settings.
- A way to apply configuration changes through the host’s documented reload or restart controls.
Back up the cluster directory before editing it. Keep the backup outside the live cluster so the server cannot mistake it for an additional configuration. A dated copy makes it possible to restore the previous permission list if the wrong account is added.
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Find the cluster the server is actually using
Do not assume that the first DoNotStarveTogether folder you find is active. Klei allows the persistent-storage root, configuration directory and cluster name to be changed with launch options. The official Dedicated Server Command Line Options Guide describes the path relationship and the relevant options.
Default storage roots
These are the usual starting points when no custom storage options are supplied:
| Platform | Typical persistent-storage location | Default configuration directory |
|---|---|---|
| Windows | The user’s Documents/Klei folder | DoNotStarveTogether |
| macOS | The user’s home Documents/Klei folder | DoNotStarveTogether |
| Linux | ~/.klei |
DoNotStarveTogether |
The defaults above come from Klei’s command-line documentation. A host, startup script or service manager can override them with -persistent_storage_root and -conf_dir, so treat them as discovery locations rather than proof of the active path.
On a rented server, the visible file manager may open at a provider-specific home directory instead of one of these desktop paths. That does not mean the configuration is missing. Find the panel’s startup settings or ask which persistent-storage root it maps to; then follow that mapping to the cluster.
Resolve the cluster path
Klei describes the cluster configuration as:
<persistent_storage_root>/<conf_dir>/<cluster>/cluster.ini
The cluster name is Cluster_1 unless the server is launched with a different value through -cluster. Read the actual launch command, service definition, startup script or host-panel settings and substitute those values into the path. For example, if a service specifies a custom persistent root and -cluster MyWorld, look for MyWorld/cluster.ini beneath that configured root rather than creating a new Cluster_1 directory.
Use the options together, not in isolation. A custom -conf_dir still sits below the configured persistent root, and a custom -cluster changes the final directory name. If any one of those values is different from the default, a correctly formatted file in the default location can still have no effect.
Confirm you have the active cluster
Open the candidate directory and check for cluster.ini and the shard directories used by that world. A multi-shard cluster normally contains directories such as Master and Caves, each with its own shard configuration. The admin list belongs at the cluster level, beside the cluster configuration, not inside an individual shard directory.
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If several clusters exist, match the directory name to the value passed by -cluster or selected in the host panel. Do not choose the newest folder simply because its timestamp looks current: a server can continue launching an older, explicitly named cluster.
If you cannot see launch arguments, ask the host how it maps a server instance to its persistent-storage root, configuration directory and cluster name before editing anything. The answer should identify the same directory that contains the running world’s cluster.ini, rather than a generic template or backup location.
Add the administrator in adminlist.txt
The dedicated-server guide describes adminlist.txt as a plain-text list of Klei User IDs, one ID per line. Follow these steps on the active cluster.
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- Make a backup. Copy the entire cluster directory, or at minimum any existing
adminlist.txtandcluster.ini, to a separate backup location. - Open the cluster directory. Use the path resolved from the server’s launch settings. Do not use a local client save, an unrelated world, or a shard subfolder.
- Create or edit the file. The filename must be exactly
adminlist.txt. If it does not exist, create a new text file with that name in the cluster directory. - Enter the Klei User ID. Put the intended player’s exact Klei User ID on a line by itself. Do not enter the player’s display name, character name, Steam nickname or an email address unless it is also explicitly the Klei User ID supplied for this purpose.
- Add additional administrators one per line. A file with several administrators should look like this, with each line replaced by a real ID:
klei-user-id-one
klei-user-id-two
klei-user-id-three - Save it as plain text. Check that your editor did not append a second extension such as
.txt.txt. Keep the file in the cluster directory and preserve the exact spelling of the filename. - Apply the change through your setup. Use the host’s documented reload or restart control if one is provided, then have the target player connect and test an administrator-only action. The available Klei forum guidance does not establish one restart rule that applies to every dedicated-server installation, so do not assume that a restart is universally mandatory or universally unnecessary.
For a server managed by a control panel, the equivalent actions are usually opening the file manager for the selected cluster, creating or editing adminlist.txt, saving it, and using the panel’s own reload controls. The panel must point to the same cluster selected by the running process; editing a similarly named test instance has no effect on the live server.
When adding several people, retain one identifier per line. Do not combine IDs with commas, spaces or labels, and do not replace an existing line unless you intend to remove that administrator. A simple, reviewable list also makes later removal safer.
Use the exact Klei User ID, not a nickname
Names are presentation data and can change or be duplicated. The admin list is keyed to Klei User IDs. Ask the player to provide the exact identifier associated with the Klei account that will join the server, and copy it without adding labels, quotation marks or extra characters.
Have the player join or otherwise confirm the account identity before granting access. If two people use similar display names, compare the supplied ID with the account that actually connects. The Klei forum discussion about adding an administrator supports using the admin list for this purpose; it also mentions a workaround, but that workaround is not required for the file-based procedure and should not be treated as a standard step.
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If the player changes a nickname later, the line in adminlist.txt does not need to change as long as the same Klei account and User ID are used. Conversely, a new account with a familiar nickname is a different identity for this purpose.
How the cluster-token owner fits in
The dedicated-server guide states that, for an online server, the account associated with the cluster token is the only administrator when adminlist.txt is missing or empty. A Klei forum response gives the same default-token-owner detail.
This has two practical consequences:
- A newly created cluster can have an administrator even before you create an admin list: it is the account that generated the cluster token under the conditions described above.
- If you cannot identify that account, do not delete or overwrite configuration files casually. Preserve a backup and verify the intended administrator’s ID before changing the list.
The cited material does not define every precedence case for a populated list—for example, it does not provide a universal statement about whether the token owner remains privileged after other IDs are entered. Treat the token-owning account as your recovery contact, test the resulting permissions with a second account, and retain the backup rather than relying on an assumption about precedence.
Multi-shard servers: where the file belongs
A cluster can contain multiple shards. Klei’s command-line documentation places the cluster configuration under the configured storage and configuration roots, with shard-level server.ini files under their respective Master or Caves directories. The administrative list is a cluster-level file.
Use this layout concept:
<persistent_storage_root>/<conf_dir>/<cluster>/cluster.ini
<persistent_storage_root>/<conf_dir>/<cluster>/adminlist.txt
<persistent_storage_root>/<conf_dir>/<cluster>/Master/server.ini
<persistent_storage_root>/<conf_dir>/<cluster>/Caves/server.ini
The shard names can differ, and a single-shard world may not have a Caves directory. The key test is that adminlist.txt is beside cluster.ini, not nested under Master or Caves.
Do not create one admin list per shard unless your host explicitly documents a different layout. The file described for administrator IDs is attached to the cluster, so placing separate copies in shard directories can leave the running server reading none of them.
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Troubleshoot an administrator who is not recognized
| Symptom | Likely cause | What to check |
|---|---|---|
No adminlist.txt is found |
You are looking in a default folder while the server uses custom paths. | Read the running launch settings for -persistent_storage_root, -conf_dir and -cluster. Confirm the directory contains the active cluster.ini. |
| The file exists but nothing changes | Wrong cluster, wrong filename or a host process has not reloaded the file. | Check that the name is exactly adminlist.txt, inspect the host’s selected instance, and use its documented reload or restart procedure. |
| The player connects but has no admin rights | The entry is not the player’s exact Klei User ID. | Request the ID again, compare it with the account that joined, and remove display names or extra punctuation from the line. |
| Only one shard appears affected | The list was placed inside a shard directory or a different cluster. | Move or recreate it beside the cluster’s cluster.ini and verify which cluster the process selected. |
| Several worlds are present | The same server machine stores multiple clusters. | Match the cluster directory name to the -cluster value or host-panel instance instead of choosing the newest folder. |
| You are unsure who can recover the server | The token-owning account or its backup is unknown. | Identify the account associated with the cluster token, preserve the pre-edit backup, and test with a second account before distributing access. |
Check file permissions as well. The account running the dedicated-server process must be able to read the cluster directory and the text file. On a managed host, a panel may show a virtual path or apply changes only after an explicit save operation; follow that host’s file-management instructions.
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1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsIf a change appears ineffective, use a controlled test: keep the file in the confirmed cluster, connect with the intended account, and test an administrator-only action after the host’s documented apply step. Avoid changing several configuration files at once, because that makes it difficult to tell whether the path, ID or reload action was the problem.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Remove or change an administrator safely
To revoke access, make a backup, remove only that person’s line from the active cluster’s adminlist.txt, save the file, and apply the host’s documented configuration reload process. To change an ID, remove the old line and add the new exact ID on its own line. Avoid deleting the entire file as a shortcut: under the documented online-server behavior, a missing or empty list falls back to the cluster-token account as the only administrator.
Keep a dated copy of permission changes if several people operate the server. Limit the list to people who need administrative commands, and do not post Klei User IDs publicly with unrelated account information.
Before removing the last listed person, confirm that the cluster-token account is known and available. Because the documented fallback for a missing or empty list is the token-associated account, deleting all lines is not equivalent to leaving the server with no administrator.
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When a managed host is the better option
You can perform this edit yourself when the host exposes the cluster files and launch settings. A managed Don’t Starve Together dedicated-server service may be useful if you do not want to maintain persistent-storage paths, cluster selection and file permissions manually. However, verify current DST support and confirm that the plan allows you to edit or manage the cluster’s administrator list. A provider’s generic game-server file manager is not enough if it launches a different cluster or hides the relevant configuration directory.
Authoritative path and behavior references
For launch arguments, storage roots, cluster selection and shard layout, consult Klei’s Dedicated Server Command Line Options Guide, updated July 15, 2026. The file-based administrator procedure and the one-ID-per-line format are described in the Don’t Starve Together Dedicated Servers guide. Additional community context appears in the Klei forum discussion about adding an administrator to a dedicated server.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Where is adminlist.txt located?
It belongs in the active cluster directory, beside cluster.ini: <persistent_storage_root>/<conf_dir>/<cluster>/adminlist.txt. The active values may differ from the defaults because of -persistent_storage_root, -conf_dir or -cluster.
What should each line contain?
One exact Klei User ID per line. Do not use a display name, character name, Steam nickname or email address in place of the Klei User ID.
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Is the cluster-token owner automatically an admin?
For an online server with no admin list or an empty list, the dedicated-server guide identifies the account associated with the cluster token as the only administrator.
Do I put the file in Master or Caves?
No. Those are shard directories with shard-level server.ini files. Put adminlist.txt at the cluster level, beside cluster.ini.
Do I always have to restart the server?
The available Klei forum guidance does not establish one restart rule for every setup. Use the host’s documented reload or restart control, then verify the permission with the target account.
Why does the file work in one world but not another?
The server may be launching a different cluster. Match the directory to the value selected by -cluster or by the host panel, and confirm that it contains the running world’s cluster.ini.
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Under the documented online-server behavior, a missing or empty adminlist.txt leaves the cluster-token account as the only administrator. Back up the file and remove individual lines instead.
Can a nickname change require editing the list?
Not if the player continues using the same Klei account and User ID. The list is keyed to the ID rather than the display name.
The Bottom Line
Find the cluster selected by the running server, not merely the default folder. Create or edit adminlist.txt beside cluster.ini, add the intended player’s exact Klei User ID on its own line, and apply the host’s documented reload procedure. Keep a backup, remember that a missing or empty list falls back to the cluster-token account for online servers, and verify the result with the account that will actually play.
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