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How to Become an Admin on a Space Engineers Server

A practical guide to getting promoted on a Space Engineers dedicated server, whether you self-host, use VRage Remote Client, or rent the server from a provider.
Length14 min Posted Quest giverVGSources Team
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You cannot grant yourself admin rights from the normal game client. The server owner or an existing administrator must promote your player through a server-management tool. On a self-hosted dedicated server, the official route is Dedicated Server Manager → Remote Client → Admin Tools → Chat and Players → Online; select the player, choose Promote, then reconnect to the game and open the admin menu.

The exact screen differs on a rented server, but the principle is the same: an operator with control of the server must add your account through the provider panel, VRage Remote Client, Remote API, or configuration file. When a file or panel asks for an identifier, use your numeric Steam64 ID rather than a display name.

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What becoming an admin actually requires

Space Engineers separates playing on a server from administering it. A regular player cannot use the in-game client to promote themselves. Promotion has to be performed by the server owner or by an existing administrator who can access the instance’s management interface.

That interface may be the official Dedicated Server Manager on a computer you control, the VRage Remote Client, a hosting provider’s control panel, or a configuration editor supplied by the host. Third-party management software can also expose administrative controls, but it is optional. The game client is where you use admin tools after promotion, not where you initially award the permission.

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Who can promote you

  • The server owner can promote a player.
  • An existing administrator can promote a player if that administrator has access to the relevant management tool and permission to manage players.
  • A normal player cannot create administrative access by entering a command or changing a local copy of the save.

What you need before asking for access

First identify who actually operates the server. A friend may own the world but a hosting company may control the machine and configuration. In that case, the friend might need to use the provider account or ask support to make the change. Also identify the exact server instance and world. Operators commonly have a test world and a production world, and promoting an account on one does not grant rights on the other.

Have your in-game name ready for an online promotion. If the operator uses a configuration field instead, provide the requested numeric account identifier, not a nickname. Ask whether the host expects the server to be running, whether a reload is needed, and whether the change is made through a panel, Remote API, or file editor. These details prevent a correct promotion from being applied to the wrong place or from being overwritten by a later reload.

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What changes after promotion

Once the server accepts the promotion, the account can use the administrative menu from the game client. Keen Software House describes the result this way: “Once promoted, any admin can start using the admin menu directly from the game client.” If the menu is not visible immediately, leave the server and reconnect after the promotion has been applied.

The official method on a self-managed dedicated server

This procedure applies when you run the dedicated instance yourself and can open the official Dedicated Server Manager. The manager is installed with the Space Engineers dedicated-server tools available through Steam’s Library/Tools area.

1. Install or open Dedicated Server Manager

On the computer that hosts the server, install or launch the dedicated-server package from Steam’s Library/Tools section. The manager executable is included in the dedicated-server installation. Start the server instance you intend to administer; if you operate several instances, note which configuration and world each one uses before changing permissions.

You do not need to install the manager on every player’s computer. The person performing the promotion needs access to the host machine or to a management connection that has been configured for that instance. Players only need the game client to use the menu after the server-side change is complete.

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2. Connect with Remote Client

Open Dedicated Server Manager and connect to the running instance through Remote Client. This connection exposes the player-management controls. A local manager connection is different from joining the game as a player: you are signing in to the server’s administrative interface.

If the server is on another machine, use the remote-management option configured by the operator rather than assuming that the game’s multiplayer address is sufficient. The server must expose the management endpoint and accept the credentials or connection details set by the owner.

3. Open the online-player list

  1. Choose Admin Tools.
  2. Open Chat and Players.
  3. Select Online.
  4. Find the player’s in-game name in the list.
  5. Select that player and click Promote.

Select the account that is currently connected to the server. Similar display names, multiple sessions, or several running server instances can make it easy to promote the wrong player, so check the server connection and the name before confirming. If the intended player is not online, use the host’s supported configuration or panel method instead of selecting a different account.

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4. Reconnect and test

Return to the game client and reconnect to the same server. Open the admin menu to confirm that the permission is active. If the menu does not appear, do not assume that the promotion failed immediately: reconnect once, then verify the account and server instance as described in the troubleshooting section below.

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Ways to promote a player when you do not use the local manager

The correct method depends on who controls the server and which management interfaces are enabled. These routes change the place where you click or edit a setting, but they do not change the requirement for an owner or authorized administrator to perform the action.

Method Best fit What you need Restart or reload
Dedicated Server Manager Self-hosted dedicated server Access to the host computer and the running server Normally verify by reconnecting; a restart is not part of the official promotion clicks
VRage Remote Client Remote administration of a self-managed server Server HTTP URL, port, and secret key configured in Server Manager Reconnect in the game client after promotion
Provider panel or Remote API Rented or remotely managed server Panel account or API access supplied by the operator Depends on the provider’s implementation
Manual configuration Hosts that expose the dedicated-server configuration file The player’s Steam64 identifier and file access Restart or reload as required by that host
Third-party management platform Operators already using an extended administration stack The platform installed and connected to the server Follows that platform’s procedure

The shortest route is usually the online-player promotion in the official manager. Remote Client is useful when the operator is not physically at the host. A provider panel is the practical choice for a rented instance. Manual editing is a fallback when no player list or promotion button is exposed, and it requires greater care because the exact file format and reload behavior belong to the host.

VRage Remote Client

VRage Remote Client provides the same player-management route without requiring you to sit at the server computer. First, the server operator must configure the HTTP URL, port, and secret key in Server Manager. Run the client, connect with those three values, and then use Admin Tools → Chat and Players → Online. Select the player’s name and press Promote. The player should reconnect through the game client before testing the admin menu.

Keep the URL, port, and secret key together and use the values for the intended instance. A game-server address by itself does not establish a Remote Client connection. If the remote client cannot connect, the operator must check that the endpoint was configured in Server Manager and that the values correspond to the running server.

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Remote API or provider integration

Some hosts and experienced operators expose player management through a Remote API or incorporate it into a web control panel. Keen Software House cites Nitrado as an example of a provider that integrated player management into its panel. The labels will vary, so look for a section named Players, Admins, Permissions, or a comparable access-control page. Use the panel’s promotion action rather than changing an unrelated local file.

Panel designs can separate the player list from the server settings page. Confirm that you are editing the Space Engineers instance, not another game or another world under the same hosting account. After applying the change, follow the panel’s displayed reload instruction and reconnect to verify it.

Optional third-party administration software

Torch is an optional third-party management platform. Its documentation describes administration tools and the ability to interact with server chat and commands without joining the game. It can be useful if the operator already runs Torch, but installing it is not necessary for the vanilla Dedicated Server Manager workflow.

Do not install an additional platform merely to obtain a one-time promotion if the official manager or host panel already works. Torch is an operator-side choice and must already be installed and connected to the server before it can manage players.

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Adding an admin by Steam64 ID

When a host asks for an ID instead of offering an online-player promotion button, the relevant value is the account’s Steam64 ID: the unique numerical 64-bit identifier for the Steam account. A display name is not a reliable substitute because names can change and several players may use similar names.

When this method is appropriate

  • The provider exposes a dedicated-server configuration file but no player-management page.
  • The server is offline or the player cannot be present for an online promotion.
  • The host’s instructions specifically request a Steam64 identifier.
  • The operator needs to preconfigure an administrator before that person next joins the world.

Configuration procedure

  1. Ask the server owner or host where the administrator list is stored for that particular server setup.
  2. Enter the player’s numeric Steam64 ID in the administrator list, following the exact format the host supplies.
  3. Save the configuration and use the provider’s restart or reload control if required.
  4. Reconnect to the server and open the admin menu to verify the account.

Do not guess the identifier from a nickname, profile URL fragment, or another account number. If the panel rejects the value, ask the host which Steam ID format it accepts; the dedicated-server administrator list requires the 64-bit numerical account identifier described above.

File access does not automatically mean that every nearby setting is relevant. Use the administrator list identified by the host, preserve the format already used in that file, and let the provider determine whether a restart, save reload, or configuration reload is necessary. If the provider does not expose the file, do not attempt to alter a local copy of the world and expect the hosted server to change.

Getting admin on a rented server

With a rented instance, you usually do not have access to the same files or desktop application used by a self-hosted server. Sign in to the provider’s control panel and inspect the server-specific pages for Players, Admins, or Permissions. A promotion button may be available while the server is running, or the panel may provide a text field for a Steam64 ID.

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Hosting availability and panel features vary by provider and platform. Keen’s dedicated-server information names GTX Gaming for PC and Nitrado for Xbox as hosting options, but the actual admin controls are determined by the service you select. Check the provider’s current documentation and geographic availability rather than assuming that a panel shown in another guide is present on your account.

If the panel has a promotion button

  1. Open the control panel for the correct Space Engineers instance.
  2. Open the player or permissions page.
  3. Select the connected player account, or enter the requested account identifier.
  4. Apply the promotion and follow any displayed reload instructions.
  5. Reconnect from the game client and test the admin menu.

If the panel has no admin control

Contact the host and ask for its dedicated-server admin procedure. Tell support whether you need an online promotion or Steam64-ID configuration, and ask whether the change requires a restart or save reload. Do not assume that editing a save file on your own computer changes the hosted instance; the provider’s server files are the authoritative copy.

When contacting support, include the server name or instance identifier, your in-game name, and the Steam64 ID if the host requests it. Avoid sending a nickname alone when the provider’s form is designed for a numeric identifier. Also ask whether the change applies immediately or only after the next server restart so you know when to reconnect.

Steam, Xbox, and cross-platform considerations

Keen Software House’s administration guide covers both Steam and Xbox dedicated-server use. Players from all supported platforms can be managed while the operator is logged into the dedicated server, but the controls available to you depend on the management method: local Dedicated Server Manager, VRage Remote Client, a provider panel, or direct file access.

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Steam players

Steam64 is the identifier to use when a configuration editor requests a numeric account ID. If the operator can see you in the online-player list, selecting your current game name and promoting that session avoids the need for manual ID entry.

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Xbox and cross-platform players

The same owner-or-admin requirement applies. A provider or management tool may present a different identifier field or player-list format for a console account, so follow the field labels supplied by that tool rather than inserting a Steam64 value where it is not requested. If the panel supports mixed-platform players but does not show a promotion control, ask the host which account identifier its implementation uses.

Do not infer the required identifier solely from the fact that the server accepts players from multiple platforms. The management tool determines which account field is valid. The safe sequence is to read the field label, provide the identifier format requested by the operator, apply any required reload, and then verify from the account’s game session.

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Troubleshooting a missing admin menu

You promoted the wrong server

Operators often run a test world, a production world, or more than one instance on the same machine. Confirm that the management tool was connected to the server address and instance you actually joined. A successful promotion on a different instance will not affect your current session.

You selected the wrong account

Check the in-game name in the online list and, where the panel shows one, verify the account identifier. A display-name match alone can be misleading. Correct the entry or promote the intended account, then reconnect.

The game client has not refreshed the permission

Leave the server completely and join again. The official workflow expects the player to use the admin menu from the client after promotion; reconnecting forces the client to establish a new session with the updated permission.

The host requires a restart or reload

Manual configuration and some provider panels apply changes only after a restart, world reload, or configuration reload. Check the host’s instructions and perform the specified action. Avoid repeatedly editing files while the server is running if the provider warns that the running process will overwrite them.

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The Remote Client will not connect

Have the operator recheck the HTTP URL, port, and secret key configured in Server Manager. Those values are prerequisites for VRage Remote Client access. A game-server connection alone does not prove that the remote-management endpoint is configured.

You are a normal player with no owner response

There is no client-side workaround that legitimately grants admin access. Only someone with management access can promote the account. Ask the owner or host to use the appropriate panel or Steam64-ID procedure.

The panel accepts the change but the menu remains absent

Confirm that the panel change was saved, that any required reload completed, and that you rejoined the same instance. Then check the account identifier or online-player selection again. If all three checks pass, ask the provider whether its implementation requires a server restart or uses a different permissions page.

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Administrative access checklist

  • Confirm who owns or manages the server.
  • Identify whether the server is self-hosted, rented, or managed through a third-party platform.
  • Use the official manager’s online-player promotion when available.
  • Use Steam64 only when the configuration or panel specifically requests that numeric identifier.
  • Apply any provider-required restart or reload.
  • Reconnect to the exact server instance you changed.
  • Open the in-game admin menu to verify the result.
  • If verification fails, recheck the instance, account, identifier, and host procedure before making another change.

Which method should you use?

Choose the local Dedicated Server Manager if you own the host computer and want the shortest official path. Choose VRage Remote Client when the operator needs remote access and has configured the endpoint values. Use the provider panel when the server is rented, and use a Steam64-ID configuration only when the host exposes that option or specifically instructs you to use it. Torch can add convenience for operators who already run it, but it is not a prerequisite for becoming an admin.

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For a one-time promotion, the online-player list is generally the least ambiguous because the operator can select the account currently connected. For an offline player or a host without that list, the Steam64-ID route is appropriate. For a geographically remote operator, VRage Remote Client avoids sitting at the server computer, provided the HTTP URL, port, and secret key are configured. The right method is therefore determined by server ownership and available access, not by a separate in-game command.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I make myself admin from the Space Engineers game client?

No. The server owner or an existing administrator must promote you through Dedicated Server Manager, VRage Remote Client, a provider panel, Remote API, or an exposed configuration file.

What is the official promotion path on a dedicated server?

In Dedicated Server Manager, connect through Remote Client, open Admin Tools → Chat and Players → Online, select the player’s current game name, and click Promote. Reconnect to the game and open the admin menu.

How do I add an admin by Steam ID?

Use the player’s numeric Steam64 ID in the administrator list when the host exposes manual configuration or specifically requests an ID. Save the change, perform any required restart or reload, then reconnect and verify the admin menu.

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How do I become admin on a rented Space Engineers server?

Open the provider panel and look for Players, Admins, or Permissions. Use its promotion control or enter the requested identifier. If no such page exists, ask the host for its procedure and whether a restart or save reload is required.

Do I need to be online when someone promotes me?

The official manager workflow promotes a player selected from the Online list. If you cannot be online, the operator may need to use the provider’s manual configuration or Steam64-ID method, if available.

Why is the admin menu still missing after promotion?

Reconnect to the same server first. Then verify that the operator changed the correct instance and account, that the Steam64 ID is correct when used, and that the host completed any required restart, world reload, or configuration reload.

Can an Xbox or cross-platform player become an admin?

Yes, the administration guide covers Steam and Xbox dedicated-server use. The owner or administrator must use the identifier and controls required by the particular management tool; do not enter a Steam64 ID into a field that requests another account format.

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Is Torch required to become an admin?

No. Torch is optional third-party management software. The vanilla Dedicated Server Manager, VRage Remote Client, provider panel, or supported configuration method is sufficient.

The Bottom Line

To become an admin, have the server owner or an authorized administrator promote your account. On a self-managed server, use Admin Tools → Chat and Players → Online → select player → Promote in Dedicated Server Manager, then reconnect. On a rented server, use the provider’s Players/Admins/Permissions page or the Steam64-ID procedure it specifies. Always verify the exact server instance, use the correct account identifier, complete any required reload, and confirm access through the in-game admin menu.

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