Recommended Free Tools
iTechGuides is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more
Playing with friends? Godlike.Host runs hosted DayZ servers from 10 data-center locations, with free DDoS protection.
Change a DayZ server’s public name by editing the hostname entry in the configuration file the server loads at startup, usually serverDZ.cfg. Save the file while the server is stopped, start the server again, and then refresh the in-game browser. If the name does not change, first verify that you edited the file selected by the launch command’s -config option.
What controls the name shown in DayZ?
DayZ takes the server name displayed in the server browser from the hostname parameter in its active server configuration. The value is a quoted string, and the parameter ends with a semicolon. A typical entry looks like this:
The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →
hostname = "My DayZ Server";The exact filename is not guaranteed to be serverDZ.cfg. The server’s startup command includes a -config option that tells DayZ which configuration file to read. A host may therefore use a differently named file, or keep several configuration files for different maps, modes or instances. Editing an inactive copy has no effect.
The configuration normally sits in the server root, near folders such as mpmissions/, keys/ and any @Mod directories. On a rented server, reach that location through the provider’s File Manager or through SFTP.
#1 Best Overall
- Use any means necessary to survive a hostile open world for as long as possible.
- explore the authentic open world of chernarus, featuring 230 square kilometres of hand-crafted terrain based on real-life locations.
- become immersed in a tense, emotional experience driven by the emergent interactions of 60 players on a single server, each one fighting for survival.
- experience a wide variety of complex survival mechanics, from hunting and crafting, through to sophisticated injury simulation and transferable diseases.
- survive against environmental dangers, including the infected, dynamic weather, and animal predators
Hostname and description are different fields
Changing hostname changes the main name shown in server listings. The description parameter is separate and appears in the server browser’s detail information. Editing the description will not rename the listing.
| Parameter | What players see | Example |
|---|---|---|
hostname |
The server’s listing name | hostname = "Coastal Survival | Discord Required"; |
description |
Additional browser details for the server | description = "Community PvE server"; |
Use hostname for the identity you want players to scan in the browser. Use description for supporting information. Do not replace one with the other.
Before you edit the file
- Have administrator or file-transfer access to the DayZ server.
- Know whether the server is currently running and where its startup settings are managed.
- Identify the configuration file referenced by the
-configlaunch option. - Plan a brief restart window. DayZ reads the configuration at boot, so a running process will continue using the old value until it is restarted.
- Make a backup copy of the configuration before changing it. A backup gives you a known-good file if a formatting mistake prevents the server from loading later settings.
Step-by-step: change the DayZ server name
1. Stop the server
Use the host control panel’s Stop button, or stop the DayZ server process through your normal administration method. Editing while the process is running can leave you unsure whether the file was saved before the next startup, and the active process will not reread the name immediately.
2. Find the active configuration file
Open the server root and look for serverDZ.cfg beside mpmissions/, keys/ and any mod folders. If several .cfg files are present, do not choose by filename alone. Inspect the startup configuration and find the file named by -config. In a command-line startup entry, it may appear in a form such as -config=serverDZ.cfg; managed hosts may expose the same setting in a text box or advanced startup panel.
If you cannot see the startup command, check the host’s launch-parameter or command-line settings. The file that the running instance is instructed to load is the one that must be edited.
3. Create a backup
Download the file or duplicate it in the same directory with a clearly different name. Keep the original content, including punctuation and line breaks. Do not make the backup name another file that the startup command could accidentally select.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors4. Locate the hostname line
Use your editor’s Find function for hostname. A normal entry has a quoted value followed by a semicolon:
hostname = "Existing Server Name";Replace only the text between the double quotation marks. Keep the parameter name, equals sign, quotation marks and semicolon intact. For example:
hostname = "North Coast Survival | Fresh Wipe";Do not add a second hostname entry elsewhere in the file. If duplicate entries exist, remove the unintended duplicate or confirm which configuration file is actually active before proceeding.
5. Save as a plain-text configuration
Save the file without changing its extension. A web File Manager normally has a Save button; an SFTP workflow saves locally and then uploads the edited file back to the same directory. Avoid word-processing applications that can insert rich-text formatting. The file must remain a plain-text configuration file.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
Rank #3
- 🎮 Collector's Item: Allows for CO/VS functionality for co-op action (cable included). CO/VS multiplayer technology allows two Pocket Players to be linked together for cooperative gameplay using the included CO/VS cable
- 🎁 Konami Licensed Collectible: Includes arcade version of Contra and Super Contra
- High Resolution: This pocket-sized game features a high-resolution 2.8-inch full-color vertical display.
- Powered by either 4 AA batteries or by any micro USB cable (not included)
- 🎵 Built-in front facing speaker, volume control, and 3.5 mm headphone jack.
Check the saved line one more time:
- The value starts and ends with straight double quotes.
- The semicolon appears after the closing quote.
- The spelling is exactly
hostnamein lowercase. - The edited file is the one selected by
-config.
6. Start the server again
Start the server from the host panel or your usual service command. DayZ reads serverDZ.cfg (or the file selected by -config) during startup. Wait until the instance reports that it is running before checking the browser.
7. Verify the new name
Open the DayZ server browser and search for a distinctive part of the new name. If the old result is still visible, refresh the list or restart the game client so you are not looking at a previously cached listing. Join the server, if practical, and confirm that the listing and any server details show the intended values.
Formatting rules that prevent failed changes
DayZ configuration syntax is simple but unforgiving. The most common safe pattern is:
parameter = "value";For the name specifically:
hostname = "Your Name Here";- Keep the semicolon. A missing semicolon can cause DayZ to ignore later parameters or fail without an obvious message, according to host and modding documentation summaries. If other settings stop taking effect after your edit, inspect punctuation from the changed line onward.
- Keep the quotes paired. An opening quote without a closing quote makes the value invalid and can affect how subsequent text is parsed.
- Use ordinary text first. If the name does not appear correctly, temporarily remove decorative symbols, unusual punctuation or non-standard characters and test a short, plain name. Add styling back only after the basic change works.
- Do not put a second statement on the same line while troubleshooting. Keeping one parameter per line makes a syntax mistake easier to identify.
Why the name is not changing
| Symptom | Likely cause | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| The old name remains after a restart | The wrong configuration file was edited | Confirm the file named by the startup command’s -config option, then edit that file. |
| The server starts, but later settings no longer work | A missing semicolon or broken quote | Compare the edited line with hostname = "Name"; and inspect the following entries. |
| The new name appears in the file but not in the browser | The process was not fully restarted, or the browser view is stale | Stop the server completely, start it again, then refresh the client’s server list. |
| The browser shows the new name but the detail text is unchanged | description was not edited |
Change the separate description parameter if you also want to update the detail panel. |
| The server will not start after saving | A syntax or file-format error | Restore the backup, confirm the file is plain text, and reapply only the hostname value. |
| One instance changes while another does not | Multiple instances use different configuration files | Check each instance’s -config launch setting and edit the active file for the intended server. |
How to diagnose a “hostname not changing” case
Check the active file before changing anything else
The -config option is the decisive check. A file named serverDZ.cfg in the expected directory is not proof that the running process reads it. Hosts often retain templates, backups and files for separate server instances. Follow the startup setting to the exact path or filename in use.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Confirm the save reached the server
With SFTP, verify the remote file’s modified time or download it again and search for the new hostname value. With a File Manager, close and reopen the editor after saving. If the old text returns, the save may have been cancelled, applied to a local copy, or overwritten by an automated template.
Rank #4
- Award winning innovative design that bridges the gap between roleplaying and boardgaming in space by integrating ship to ship and boarding action.
- You and your friends play characters as the crew of a ship laid out in modular format. Your ship is on a hex map. The enemy controls whatever challenges you face. Your continuing characters rise in power as you face tougher and more exciting challenges.
- Age 12+ / 1-6 players / 60-240 minutes playing time
- Second edition, advanced rule book sold seperately
Perform a complete restart
A panel may display “Restart” while a process is still shutting down. Use the panel’s status indicator and wait for the server to stop before starting it again. Only a fresh boot causes DayZ to reread the configuration.
Use a minimal test name
For diagnosis, temporarily use a short value such as:
hostname = "Test Server";If this appears, the configuration path and restart were correct. You can then replace it with the final name and add separators or descriptive text incrementally. If even the test value does not appear, continue investigating the active file and startup process rather than changing punctuation repeatedly.
Crashes, No Sound, or Screen Glitches?
Random freezes, missing sound and display glitches usually trace back to one bad driver. Find and replace yours safely.Free scan · under a minuteWindows Errors? Fix Them Before They Spread
Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallChoosing a clear server name
A useful name tells a prospective player what they are selecting without requiring the description panel. Put the distinctive identity first, followed by information that materially affects the choice, such as the play style or wipe state. For example:
North Coast Survival | PvECommunity Chernarus | Fresh WipeHardcore Survival | First-Person
Keep the wording readable in a narrow server-browser column. The available material does not establish an authoritative maximum hostname length, and published recommendations conflict, so do not rely on an assumed character limit. If a long name is truncated in your client, shorten it while preserving the identifying words.
Best Value
- Dress in style on Nasdara, Sakhal, Chernarus or Livonia with our design. Built to survive in the badlands of dayz in any zombie wasteland so take a day off and dress to impress with our low insulation but high cool Z inspired design.
- Compatible with all PC gamers or console players. Game in comfort for dayz. Also a great gift idea for any discerning online survival gamers.
- Lightweight, Classic fit, Double-needle sleeve and bottom hem
Put rules, links, schedules or longer explanations in description instead of packing every detail into hostname. This keeps the listing scannable and uses the field intended for browser details.
Changing the description at the same time
If you want to update the detail panel as well, edit its existing entry separately and preserve the same syntax:
hostname = "North Coast Survival | PvE";
description = "Community server; check the rules before joining";Save both changes in the active configuration file, stop and start the server, and then verify the two fields independently. A successful hostname change does not confirm that the description was changed, because they are read as separate parameters.
Hosted server versus self-managed server
Rented or managed host
- Open the provider’s control panel.
- Stop the DayZ instance.
- Open File Manager, or connect with the SFTP credentials supplied by the host.
- Navigate to the server root and identify the active configuration through the startup settings.
- Edit
hostname, save or upload the file, and start the instance. - Refresh the DayZ browser and search for the new value.
Some control panels regenerate configuration files when you change settings through their own forms. If your manual edit disappears after a restart, look for a hostname field in the panel and determine whether it writes a different file or template.
Self-managed installation
- Open the service, batch file or script used to launch the server.
- Read its
-configargument and note the exact configuration path. - Stop the service or process.
- Back up and edit the referenced file’s
hostnameline. - Start the service and monitor its normal startup output for errors.
- Verify the listing from a separate DayZ client.
The file-editing steps are the same in both environments; only the way you reach the server root and restart the process differs.
Safe rollback procedure
If the server fails to start or other settings behave unexpectedly after the name change:
- Stop the server.
- Replace the edited file with the backup you made before the change.
- Start the server and confirm that it returns to its previous state.
- Make a new copy of the restored file.
- Reapply only the hostname text, leaving the original punctuation unchanged.
- Restart and verify again.
If the restored backup also fails, the problem is likely unrelated to the name edit or the host may be deploying a different configuration file. Recheck the -config setting and the host’s generated-file behavior.
Quick checklist
- Server stopped before editing.
- Active file identified from
-config, not just its filename. - Backup created.
- Only the quoted
hostnamevalue changed. - Closing quote and semicolon retained.
- File saved as plain text in the server root.
- Server fully started again.
- Client browser refreshed and the new name searched.
descriptionedited separately if detail text also needed changing.
Key takeaway
To rename a DayZ server, edit the hostname line in the configuration file selected by -config, preserve its quotes and semicolon, and restart the server. When the old name persists, the active-file check is more important than repeatedly editing serverDZ.cfg: DayZ can only display the value it read from the file used at boot.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
