Pavlov Server RCON and Admin Commands (Full List With Examples)

Q: How do I make someone a moderator on my Pavlov server?

Add their SteamID64 to mods.txt in Pavlov/Saved/Config/ and restart, or run AddMod with their ID over RCON.

Q: How do I change the map without restarting?

Use SwitchMap with the map ID and a mode, for example SwitchMap datacenter SND, or RotateMap to move to the next one.

Q: Where do I find a player's UniqueID?

Run RefreshList or InspectAll over RCON while they are connected. On PC it is their SteamID64.

Pavlov servers are run in two ways: moderators listed by SteamID64 in mods.txt get the admin menu in the in-game pause menu, and the server owner uses RCON, a remote console set up in RconSettings.txt with a password and a TCP port. RCON is where the full command set lives: SwitchMap, Kick, Ban, SetPin, GiveItem, SetMaxPlayers, the TTT commands and more. Commands take a player's UniqueID, which on PC is their 17 digit SteamID64.

Below is how to set both up, then the commands grouped by what you actually need them for.

A Pavlov VR server in the middle of a round

Moderators: mods.txt

Open Pavlov/Saved/Config/mods.txt and add one SteamID64 per line:

76561198000000001
76561198000000002

Restart the server. Moderators can open the admin menu from the pause menu in game and are immune to vote kicks. This is the right level for trusted regulars who need to deal with a griefer mid match.

To find someone's SteamID64, paste their Steam profile link into any SteamID lookup, or run RefreshList over RCON while they are on the server: it lists connected players with their IDs.

You can also add and remove moderators on a running server with the RCON commands AddMod and RemoveMod, and see them with ModeratorList.

Owner access: RCON

Create or edit Pavlov/Saved/Config/RconSettings.txt:

Password=UseSomethingLong
Port=9100

Restart. The RCON port is TCP and each server on a machine needs its own.

Pavlov's RCON is not the Source engine protocol, so Source RCON tools will not connect. The server sends Password: and expects the MD5 hash of your password in lowercase hex, then answers Authenticated=1. Use a tool written for Pavlov. The Pavlov wiki lists community options, including web based tools, small desktop apps and Discord bots that keep one connection open and let you run commands from your phone between rounds.

Two rules from the wiki that prevent dropped connections: keep one connection open instead of reconnecting for every command, and leave about 100 ms between commands when you send several in a row.

Commands by job

Arguments in brackets. [UniqueID] is a SteamID64, [TeamID] is 0 or 1.

Look around first

Command	What it does
`Help`	Lists every command the server knows.
`ServerInfo`	Name, map, mode, player count.
`RefreshList`	Connected players and their IDs.
`InspectPlayer [UniqueID]`	One player's details: team, kills, cash.
`InspectAll` / `InspectTeam [TeamID]`	Stats for everyone, or one team.

Problem players

Command	What it does
`Kick [UniqueID]`	Removes the player, they can rejoin.
`Ban [UniqueID]`	Permanent ban.
`Unban [UniqueID]`	Lifts a ban.
`Banlist`	Shows banned IDs.
`Gag [UniqueID] [True/False]`	Mutes or unmutes voice.
`Kill [UniqueID]`	Kills the player.
`Slap [UniqueID] [Amount]`	Deals damage.
`SwitchTeam [UniqueID] [TeamID]`	Moves a player to the other team.

Maps and match flow

Command	What it does
`SwitchMap [MapID] [GameMode]`	Changes map now, for example `SwitchMap UGC2773760 SND`.
`RotateMap`	Skips to the next map in the rotation.
`MapList`	Shows the rotation.
`AddMapRotation [MapID] [GameMode]`	Adds a map to the running rotation.
`RemoveMapRotation [MapID] [GameMode]`	Removes one.
`SetTimeLimit [Amount]`	Match length.
`PauseMatch [seconds]`	Pauses play, up to 3600.
`ResetSND`	Restarts a Search and Destroy match.
`EnableCompMode [True/False]`	Competitive SND rules on or off.

Custom maps use UGC plus the mod.io resource ID, explained in adding mod.io maps to a Pavlov server.

Server settings on the fly

Command	What it does
`SetPin [number]`	Sets a numeric password, 1 to 9999. No number removes it.
`SetMaxPlayers [Amount]`	Changes slot count.
`EnableWhitelist [True/False]`	Only whitelist.txt players can join.
`SetBotsEnabled [True/False]`	Fills the server with bots where the mode allows.
`ShowNametags [True/False]`	Friendly name tags.
`UpdateServerName [Name]`	Renames the server.
`SetLimitedAmmoType [0-5]`	Changes the ammo system.
`ShutdownServer`	Stops the server immediately.

Fun and event tools

Command	What it does
`GiveItem [UniqueID] [ItemID]`	Gives a weapon or item. `ItemList` shows the IDs.
`GiveAll [TeamID] [ItemID]`	Gives an item to a whole team.
`GiveCash`, `SetCash`, `GiveTeamCash`	Money in buy modes like SND.
`SetPlayerSkin [UniqueID] [SkinID]`	Changes a player's skin.
`Teleport [UniqueID] [TargetUniqueID]`	Moves one player to another.
`ClearEmptyVehicles`	Cleans up abandoned tanks and vehicles.

TTT nights

TTTEndRound [TeamID], TTTPauseTimer [True/False], TTTFlushKarma (everyone back to 1200), TTTSetKarma [UniqueID] [Amount], TTTGiveCredits [UniqueID] [Amount], TTTSetRole [UniqueID] [RoleID] and TTTAlwaysEnableSkinMenu [True/False]. Flushing karma at the start of an event night is a common courtesy so last week's random killers are not stuck with a handicap.

Whitelist and ban files

blacklist.txt: banned SteamID64s, one per line. You can edit it directly to ban or unban while the server is stopped.
whitelist.txt: allowed SteamID64s. Only used when bWhitelist=true in Game.ini or after EnableWhitelist True.

Both live in Pavlov/Saved/Config/. Back them up before you wipe or move a server, they are your community's history.

Pavlov VR players gathered on a server

On a GamezServers Pavlov server

The RCON password and port are fields in the control panel, and we write them into RconSettings.txt on every start, so you set them once and connect your RCON tool to the address and port shown there. mods.txt, blacklist.txt and whitelist.txt are in the file manager, and the live console shows the server log as it runs. If you are still deciding where to run it, our Pavlov hosting handles the server list key and auto updates, and the setup guide covers the rest of Game.ini.

FAQ

How do I make someone a moderator on my Pavlov server?

Add their SteamID64 to mods.txt in Pavlov/Saved/Config/ and restart, or run AddMod with their ID over RCON.

Why will my RCON tool not connect to Pavlov?

Pavlov uses its own RCON protocol with an MD5 hashed password, so Source RCON tools do not work. Use a Pavlov RCON tool, and check the password and TCP port in RconSettings.txt.

How do I change the map without restarting?

Use SwitchMap with the map ID and a mode, for example SwitchMap datacenter SND, or RotateMap to move to the next one.

Where do I find a player's UniqueID?

Run RefreshList or InspectAll over RCON while they are connected. On PC it is their SteamID64.