How to Become Admin on a Barotrauma Dedicated Server

A Barotrauma dedicated server has no owner, so nobody is admin until you grant it. The quickest way: join the server, then type giverank YourName Admin in the server console (not the in game F3 console). The rank is saved to Data/clientpermissions.xml against your Steam ID, so it survives restarts. You can also add yourself to that file by hand, but only with the server stopped, because Barotrauma rewrites it on shutdown.

Why you are not admin on your own server

When you host from the game's main menu, the host is the owner and has every permission automatically. A dedicated server is different: it runs headless, nobody is the owner, and every player who joins starts with no permissions at all. That catches a lot of people the first time they move a crew from a hosted lobby to a dedicated server. For the move itself, see moving a campaign to a dedicated server.

Method 1: giverank from the server console

This is the easiest way, and the only one that needs no file editing.

1. Join the server with Barotrauma so you are in the lobby.
2. In the server console (the window running DedicatedServer, or the console in your host's panel), list the players:

clientlist

3. Grant yourself a rank, using your name or the client ID from the list:

giverank YourName Admin

If you leave the rank off, the console lists the valid ranks and asks which one to grant. Names with spaces need quotes: giverank "Captain Ahab" Admin.

The change applies instantly and is saved to clientpermissions.xml against your account, so next time you join you are already admin.

The built in ranks

Ranks are presets from Data/permissionpresets.xml:

To make your own presets, add them to Data/permissionpresets_player.xml. The game may overwrite permissionpresets.xml on updates, but leaves the player file alone.

Method 2: Edit clientpermissions.xml

Use this when you want to set up admins before anyone joins, or to hand out permissions by Steam ID in bulk.

1. Stop the server. If you edit while it runs, it writes its own copy back when it shuts down and your change is gone.
2. Open Data/clientpermissions.xml in the server folder. Create it if it does not exist.
3. Add an entry per person, with their 17 digit SteamID64:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<ClientPermissions>
  <Client
    name="YourName"
    accountid="76561198000000001"
    preset="Admin" />
  <Client
    name="FirstMate"
    accountid="76561198000000002"
    permissions="ManageRound, Kick, ServerLog, ConsoleCommands">
    <command name="kick" />
    <command name="clientlist" />
  </Client>
</ClientPermissions>

4. Save and start the server.

Older guides use steamid="..." instead of accountid="...". The server still reads both. The name is just a label, the account ID is what matches.

Permission flags

If you write permissions= instead of a preset, use these names, comma separated:

ConsoleCommands alone does nothing useful. List each allowed command as a <command name="..." /> child.

Fine grained permission commands

Once you are admin, manage others from the in game console (F3) or the server console:

Everyday admin commands

On a traitor server, keep traitorlist to admins who are not playing that round. Few things end a crew's trust faster than an admin who always knows who the traitor is.

Common problems

On a hosted server

On a GamezServers Barotrauma server, the live console in the panel is the server console, so clientlist and giverank YourName Admin work from your browser while you sit in the lobby. Data/clientpermissions.xml is in the file manager for bulk edits (stop the server first), and one click backups cover it along with your campaign saves. Server name, password and rules are in serversettings.xml, covered in our Barotrauma hosting guide.

FAQ

Where is clientpermissions.xml?

In the Data folder inside the dedicated server's install folder.

Can I give admin by Steam ID before the player joins?

Yes, by adding a <Client> entry with their accountid to clientpermissions.xml while the server is stopped. giverank only works on connected players.

Does admin carry over to other servers?

No. Permissions are stored per server, in that server's clientpermissions.xml.

Why does my F3 console say I lack permission?

Your rank does not include that command. Ask an admin to givecommandperm it, or grant yourself the Admin rank from the server console.