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To enable third person on an Unturned dedicated server, stop the server, open its Commands.dat file, add Perspective Third on its own line, save the file, and start the server again. Use Perspective Both instead if players should be able to switch between first- and third-person views.
The file normally lives at ...U3DSServers<ServerName>ServerCommands.dat. The setting is a persistent server configuration entry, so editing the active server’s file and restarting is more reliable than trying to change it from in-game chat.
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What does the Perspective setting control?
Unturned uses the Perspective entry in Commands.dat to determine which camera views players may use. The value controls the server’s allowed perspective rather than changing a single player’s preference.
Perspective Thirdpermits third-person view only.Perspective Bothpermits both first-person and third-person view.Perspective Firstpermits first-person view only.Perspective Vehiclepermits third-person view only while a player is inside a vehicle.
The syntax is one command and one value: Perspective [First | Third | Both | Vehicle]. Put the complete line in Commands.dat; do not add brackets, quotation marks, or multiple values to the same line.
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What do I need before editing the server?
You need access to the files for the dedicated-server instance you actually run and permission to stop and start that instance. Unturned Dedicated Server is distributed through Steam or SteamCMD. The official hosting guide supports Windows and Linux servers; its platform notes do not support hosting on macOS.
Find the correct server instance
A machine can contain more than one Unturned server, especially when several server names or profiles are used. The relevant file belongs to the instance you want players to join, under that instance’s <ServerName> directory. Editing a similarly named local file, a map file, or another server profile will not change the running server.
Plan a maintenance window
Stop the server before changing the file. Smartly Dressed Games’ documentation warns that most settings cannot be configured while the server is open. Stopping first also prevents the running process from retaining the old configuration or overwriting an edit when it closes.
How do I enable third person in Commands.dat?
Use this procedure for a self-hosted Windows or Linux server, including a server installed with SteamCMD.
- Stop the Unturned server. Use the server’s normal shutdown control, service manager, host panel, or console method. Wait until the process has fully stopped.
- Open the active server directory. Browse to
...U3DSServers<ServerName>Server, replacing<ServerName>with the name of the server profile you run. - Open
Commands.dat. Use a plain-text editor. Do not open or editConfig.jsonfor this camera setting. - Add the perspective line. To force third person, add exactly this line on a new line:
Perspective Third - Save the file. Keep the command and value together on one line and preserve the file name as
Commands.dat. - Start the same server instance again. Once startup completes, reconnect a player and test the permitted view.
If you want players to choose either camera, use this line instead:
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Perspective BothDo not place both Perspective Third and Perspective Both in the file. Choose one perspective value that matches the policy for that server.
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Which Perspective value should I choose?
Choose the value based on whether you want to enforce a camera, offer a choice, or limit third person to driving.
| Goal | Commands.dat line | What players can do |
|---|---|---|
| Force third person everywhere | Perspective Third |
Use third-person view; first person is unavailable. |
| Allow first or third person | Perspective Both |
Switch between first-person and third-person views. |
| Force first person | Perspective First |
Use first-person view; third person is unavailable. |
| Allow third person only in vehicles | Perspective Vehicle |
Use third person while inside a vehicle; on-foot play remains restricted. |
When is Both the better choice?
Perspective Both is the appropriate setting when a server wants to support players who prefer either camera. It does not force third person: players can continue using first person, so it will not satisfy a rule that requires every player to remain in third person.
When is Vehicle useful?
Perspective Vehicle is for servers that want an over-the-vehicle view while driving but do not want unrestricted third person on foot. It is different from Perspective Both, which allows both views during ordinary play as well as in vehicles.
How do I verify that the change worked?
Verification should be done after the server has restarted, not while the old process is still running.
- Join the server using the same address and server profile whose
Commands.datyou edited. - Test the camera in a safe area. With
Perspective Third, first-person view should not be available. WithPerspective Both, both views should be available. WithPerspective Vehicle, test once on foot and once inside a vehicle. - If the result does not match the selected value, leave the server stopped and recheck the file path, line spelling, and active server profile before starting it again.
A successful test confirms that the server loaded the intended configuration at startup. It does not require a chat command or a per-player permission change.
Why is third person still disabled after I edited the file?
When the setting appears unchanged, the usual cause is that the wrong file was edited or the server was not restarted after the change.
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Check the path
Confirm that the line is in the active instance’s ServerCommands.dat under ...U3DSServers<ServerName>. A local copy, a different server name, or a map-specific file will not control the instance players are joining.
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Stop the server completely before editing, save the file, and start it again. If the server remained open while you changed the text, it may continue using its previous configuration.
Check the selected value
If players can still enter first person, inspect the line for Perspective Both. That value intentionally allows first person. Replace it with Perspective Third when first person must be blocked.
Check the line itself
The valid forms are Perspective First, Perspective Third, Perspective Both, and Perspective Vehicle. Remove extra punctuation or additional words and keep the entry on its own line.
Can I put the setting in Config.json?
No. The documented location for the perspective setting is Commands.dat. Config.json is used for gameplay and other server settings, but it is not the file shown for this camera configuration.
If you already added a perspective entry to Config.json, remove that misplaced entry, add the correct line to the active server’s Commands.dat, and restart the server. Keeping each setting in its documented file makes later troubleshooting much easier.
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Can I enable third person through in-game chat?
The Perspective entry is classified as a configuration command, so make the persistent change in Commands.dat. Runtime chat commands are a separate mechanism, require administrator privileges when supported, and should not be used as a substitute for this file edit.
For a lasting server-wide policy, the file-and-restart method is the dependable workflow. A chat command, even when accepted by a particular setup, would not replace the saved configuration line.
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Managed Unturned hosts use the same underlying file and syntax. Stop the server from the panel, open its file manager or configuration editor, locate the active server’s Commands.dat, add the desired line, save it, and start the server again.
- Use the panel’s stop control and wait for the status to show that the server is offline.
- Open the file manager for the server instance, not a global template or another installation.
- Edit
Commands.datand addPerspective Third,Perspective Both,Perspective First, orPerspective Vehicle. - Save the file, start the server, and test from a connected client.
Panel labels vary, but the required content does not: the perspective line belongs in Commands.dat and must be loaded during startup.
What should Linux and Windows administrators watch for?
The configuration syntax is the same on supported Windows and Linux dedicated servers. The main administrative difference is how you stop, edit, and restart the process: Windows administrators may use the server console or service controls, while Linux administrators may use their service manager, shell session, or hosting panel.
Regardless of operating system, verify that you are editing the directory for the server name players use. Do not assume the first Commands.dat found on disk is the active one when multiple instances are installed.
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macOS hosting
The cited official dedicated-server guide does not support macOS hosting. If you need a supported dedicated server, use a Windows or Linux environment instead of assuming the same installation procedure is available on macOS.
What are the most common configuration mistakes?
- Editing while the server is running: stop it first, then restart after saving.
- Using the wrong server profile: match
<ServerName>to the instance players actually join. - Putting the entry in Config.json: move it to
ServerCommands.dat. - Choosing Both when you want Third:
Bothdeliberately leaves first person enabled. - Using the wrong mode for driving: choose
Vehiclewhen third person should be limited to vehicles. - Trying to solve a persistent policy with chat: save the configuration line instead of relying on a runtime command.
- Adding more than one perspective line: keep one valid
Perspectiveentry that expresses the intended policy.
What is the shortest working configuration?
For a server that must force third person, the relevant part of Commands.dat is simply:
Perspective ThirdFor a server that lets each player choose, use:
Perspective BothAfter either edit, the required operational sequence is stop, edit, save, start, and test. The setting does not require a product purchase, special hardware, or a separate client-side installation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What perspective does a new Unturned server use by default?
Smartly Dressed Games’ documentation states that players can use both first-person and third-person perspectives by default. Add an explicit Perspective line when your server needs a different policy.
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Plan the change for a restart. The official guidance says most settings cannot be configured while the server is open, so the reliable method is to stop the instance, save the file, and start it again.
Does the setting apply to everyone or only to the administrator who edits it?
Perspective is a server configuration entry, so it defines the camera options for players on that server instance. It is not a personal preference stored only for the administrator.
Which file should I back up before changing the perspective?
Back up the active server’s Commands.dat before editing. That gives you a copy of the previous command list and lets you restore it if another configuration line is accidentally changed.
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