Project Zomboid commands work differently depending on where you type them: omit the leading slash in a dedicated-server or hosting-panel console, and include it in in-game chat. On a Build 42 server, use /help and /help commandname on that server to confirm the current syntax, aliases, arguments, and permissions before running a command.
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Console syntax versus in-game chat
The same administrative command can be entered through two interfaces, but the prefix changes.
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| Where you type | Example | Important detail |
|---|---|---|
| Dedicated-server console | players |
Do not add a leading slash. |
| Hosting-panel console | setaccesslevel "Name" admin |
Panel consoles generally use the same no-slash form as the dedicated console. |
| In-game chat | /players |
Include the slash, and the account must have the access level or capability required by that command. |
A slash entered in a server console can make an otherwise valid command fail. Conversely, leaving the slash out of chat does not invoke the chat command. Names and item identifiers can be case-sensitive, so copy them exactly as the server presents them.
How to see the commands your server actually supports
Build 42 command lists are not universal. The game build, host panel, enabled permissions, and command aliases can all affect what is available. The running server is therefore the best syntax reference.
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- Open the dedicated-server console, hosting panel console, or in-game chat as an account with enough access to inspect commands.
- Enter
/helpin chat, orhelpwithout the slash in a server console if the console expects the no-slash form. - Read the returned list for commands available to that account and server.
- For a particular command, run
/help commandnamein chat. In a console, use the equivalent command without the leading slash if the local help prompt specifies that form. - Use the displayed argument order and spelling rather than copying an older Build 41 list.
For example, check /help teleport before attempting a teleport. References differ on whether a target player, coordinates, or another argument is required, and that detail can change between builds or hosts.
Granting yourself or another player admin access
The normal bootstrap command is setaccesslevel. Run it from the server console as:
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Replace Name with the player’s account name. Keep quotation marks around names containing spaces; quoting a simple name is also a safe way to avoid parsing mistakes. The console form has no slash. If you are already permitted to run administrative commands from chat, the chat equivalent is:
/setaccesslevel "Name" admin
After changing a role, have the player reconnect if the new capability does not appear immediately. If the command itself is rejected, confirm that the account running it has sufficient permission and that the target name matches the server’s spelling exactly. A failed command is not necessarily a syntax error: Build 42 access control can block a command before its arguments are evaluated.
Player moderation commands
Use moderation commands only after checking the local help text, because aliases and optional reason fields are presented differently by some builds and hosting panels.
| Purpose | Command names shown in Build 42 references | Usage notes |
|---|---|---|
| List connected players | players |
Use players in a console or /players in chat. |
| Remove a player | kick, kickuser |
A reason may be accepted; confirm the argument order with local help. |
| Ban a player | ban, banuser |
Check the local help output for the player identifier and optional reason format. |
| Remove a ban | unban |
Use the identifier format shown by your server’s help text. |
| Change a role | setaccesslevel |
Use a quoted name when it contains spaces, followed by the desired access level. |
Finding the correct player name
Start with players so you can copy the connected player’s displayed name instead of guessing. If a name contains spaces, preserve the quotation marks in the command. Case differences can matter, and a similarly named account can lead to moderating the wrong player.
Kick versus ban
A kick removes someone from the current session, while a ban is the stronger moderation action intended to prevent a return. Because reason arguments and aliases vary, inspect /help kick, /help kickuser, /help ban, or /help banuser before applying either action. Use unban when a ban needs to be reversed.
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Items and experience
Giving an item
additem gives an item to a player. The item identifier must be entered exactly as the server’s item data and help output define it. Do not assume that a human-readable item name, punctuation, or capitalization will work. Before using the command on a live save, verify the identifier and target arguments with the local help text.
Granting experience
addxp grants experience. Check its help entry for the required player, skill, and amount arguments on your build. Test a small grant with the intended character before issuing a larger command, particularly on a persistent multiplayer save where an incorrect target or amount can be difficult to undo.
Teleport and player-support commands
Teleport controls are useful when an administrator or player is lost, trapped, or unable to reach a safe location. Build 42 references do not use one universal argument layout: some presentations require a target name, while others focus on the administrator’s destination. Run /help teleport in chat, or the no-slash console equivalent, and follow the exact order shown there.
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- Confirm whether the command moves you, another player, or both.
- Check whether the target name must be quoted.
- Verify coordinate or destination arguments before executing on a live world.
- Warn the affected player if the move could place them in an unsafe area or alter an ongoing event.
If a teleport attempt returns a permission error, request the capability associated with that command rather than repeatedly changing the syntax.
Weather, zombies, and world events
Build 42 command references include controls for weather, hordes or zombies, and world-event operations. These commands can alter the shared world for every connected player, so treat them as production-impacting administration rather than convenience cheats.
Before changing the world
- Run the relevant
/helpentry to confirm the command name, target arguments, and required role. - Tell connected players what is about to change, especially before a horde or zombie operation.
- Record the current world state or make a server save when your host provides a save control.
- Execute one command at a time and watch the console for confirmation or an error.
- Use the same help entry to find a reversal or shutdown procedure if the operation has one.
Do not infer a command’s exact flags from a Build 41 guide. Build 42 and individual host panels can expose different names or argument forms.
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Administrative references also cover routine server operations such as listing players, broadcasting messages, saving, shutting down, and changing administrative configuration. Availability is permission-gated and can differ between Build 41 and Build 42.
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Broadcasts and notices
Use the server’s broadcast command, as shown by /help, for maintenance warnings or rule notices. Check whether the local syntax expects a quoted message and whether the command is available to your role before sending it to everyone.
Saving and shutting down
Save and shutdown controls affect the entire session. Read the help output first, announce the action to players, and allow any displayed save or disconnect sequence to complete. If a command is refused, verify the required capability instead of adding random flags from an older list.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Build 42 access levels and capabilities
Build 42 references describe roles including user, priority, observer, gm, moderator, and admin. The role name alone does not guarantee access to every command; command permissions can be controlled through roles or individual capabilities.
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|---|---|
user |
Which basic commands, if any, the server permits. |
priority |
Whether the host treats priority as a queue or command capability. |
observer |
Whether observation privileges include any administrative commands. |
gm |
Which game-master capabilities are enabled on this server. |
moderator |
Whether moderation actions such as kicks or bans are allowed. |
admin |
Which high-level commands are enabled and whether additional capabilities are required. |
If one account can run a command and another cannot, compare their access level and capabilities first. A permission error can look similar to an invalid-command error, so use the local help output and the exact server response to distinguish them.
Troubleshooting rejected commands
“Unknown command” or no response
- Remove the slash if you are in a dedicated or hosting-panel console.
- Add the slash if you are entering the command in chat.
- Run
/helpto check whether the command exists in this build. - Check spelling, capitalization, and aliases such as
kickversuskickuser.
“You lack permission”
- Confirm that the account has an access level or capability for the command.
- Use
setaccesslevelfrom an already authorized console account to correct the role. - Reconnect after a role change if the new permissions are not recognized.
- Ask the host or server owner whether the panel applies a separate capability policy.
The target is not found
- Run
playersand copy the connected name exactly. - Put quotation marks around names containing spaces.
- Check capitalization and avoid substituting a character name for the account identifier expected by the command.
The command runs but produces the wrong result
- Re-read the local help entry for argument order.
- Verify that an item ID, coordinate, amount, or target belongs to the intended player.
- For weather, zombie, horde, or world-event controls, stop and assess the shared save before issuing another command.
A safe command workflow for a live server
- Identify the interface: dedicated console, hosting panel, or in-game chat.
- Apply the correct slash rule for that interface.
- Run
/helpand then the command-specific help entry. - Check the executing account’s role or capability.
- Copy player names and item IDs exactly, quoting names with spaces.
- Warn players before moderation, teleport, world-event, save, or shutdown actions.
- Execute one command and read the server response before issuing another.
- Record what you changed so another administrator can diagnose the result.
Why older command lists can mislead you
Build 41 and Build 42 do not necessarily expose the same command set, aliases, permissions, or argument syntax. Hosting panels can also rename buttons or present console output differently from the underlying server. A list that omits access capabilities may make a permission failure look like a typo, while a list that documents only chat syntax may cause a console user to add an invalid slash.
For that reason, treat published lists as orientation rather than a substitute for the help output on your running server. The authoritative practical check is whether /help and the command-specific help entry accept the command for your current account and build.
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