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Enable vote kicking by setting vote_kick_enabled = true in the persistent configuration for the relevant Don’t Starve Together cluster or shard, then save the file and restart that server or shard. Managed hosts may present the same setting as an Enable Vote to Kick switch. The feature lets players start a vote when no administrator is present; it does not remove an administrator’s ability to kick, ban, or stop a vote directly.

What vote_kick_enabled does

vote_kick_enabled is the dedicated-server setting that controls whether players may initiate a vote to remove another player. The documented syntax is:

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vote_kick_enabled = true

With the value set to true, the server permits the player vote feature. With the value set to false, players cannot start vote kicks through that server setting. The dedicated-server guide describes vote kicking as a way for users to remove disruptive players when no administrator is present: “When no admin is present, vote kick allows users to vote to kick players that are disrupting the game.” See the Don’t Starve Together dedicated-server guide for the documented option.

This key controls availability of voting, not the result of every vote. The available documentation does not establish a universal vote threshold, quorum, cooldown, immunity rule, or platform-specific behavior. Those rules can vary with the current game version or a host’s implementation, so check the documentation for the version and service you operate.

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Before editing the server

  • Identify the affected cluster and shard. A DST installation can have more than one cluster or shard. Change the configuration for the world that players actually join, not an unused or test cluster.
  • Confirm persistent storage. The setting must be changed in the persistent configuration location used by your server. Temporary launch files or an unrelated local copy will not change the running world.
  • Have a restart window. The server or affected shard must reread its configuration after you save it. Plan for players to disconnect while it restarts.
  • Back up the configuration. Keep a copy of the file before editing so you can restore the previous value if another setting is accidentally changed.
  • Check your access level. Self-hosted administrators need filesystem access; managed hosts generally require a control-panel setting or a provider-supported file editor.

The exact directory depends on operating system, cluster name, shard layout, and hosting provider. The dedicated-server documentation explains alternate persistent storage and shard-specific configuration, while managed services can use a panel instead of exposing files. Consult the dedicated-server reference alongside your host’s instructions.

Enable vote kicking in a self-hosted or file-based server

1. Stop the server, or prepare a controlled restart

Stop the affected DST server before editing when possible. Editing while the process is writing configuration can overwrite your change or leave a partially saved file. If your operating system or service manager supports a clean restart, schedule that restart immediately after saving instead.

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2. Open the persistent cluster or shard configuration

Open the configuration directory associated with the cluster players use. If the cluster has separate master and cave shards, determine which shard’s configuration contains the setting in your installation and apply the change wherever your server documentation requires it. Do not assume that a similarly named directory is the active one.

There is no single path that applies to every operating system or installation. The path changes with the chosen persistent-storage location, cluster name, and shard arrangement. If you relocated persistent storage at launch, use that relocated directory rather than the default location described in a generic tutorial.

3. Locate the key

Search the relevant configuration for vote_kick_enabled. If the key already exists, change only its value. Preserve the spelling, underscores, and surrounding configuration syntax.

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4. Set the value to true

Use the documented Boolean form:

vote_kick_enabled = true

Do not put the word in quotation marks, replace it with a player name, or add a second copy elsewhere in the file. If the file already contains the key with false, replace that value rather than creating a duplicate entry. A duplicate can make it unclear which value the server reads.

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5. Save without changing unrelated settings

Save the file in its original format and location. Check that the editor did not append an extra extension or save a new copy in a different directory. Keep your backup until you have verified the setting in a live session.

6. Restart the server or affected shard

Start the server again, or restart the shard whose configuration you edited. The setting is read during startup; simply saving an open file does not reliably change a running process. If your cluster uses multiple shards, follow the startup procedure for that cluster so the edited shard is not left offline.

7. Verify the result

  1. Join the same cluster and shard that you edited.
  2. Have a player check whether the game now offers the vote-kick action when appropriate.
  3. If the option is still unavailable, stop the server and recheck the active persistent-storage path, the exact key spelling, and whether the restart actually completed.

Verification should be performed with normal player permissions. Administrator controls are separate and can work even when player voting is disabled.

Enable it through a managed hosting panel

Many managed hosts expose the same configuration value as a switch rather than a text file. The usual workflow is:

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  1. Open the service’s configuration or gameplay-settings page.
  2. Select the cluster or shard that should permit voting.
  3. Turn on Enable Vote to Kick, Vote Kick, or the equivalent label.
  4. Save or apply the change.
  5. Use the panel’s restart control for the affected server or shard.
  6. Join the server and verify that a player can initiate the feature.

A hosting guide describes vote_kick_enabled as the value that determines whether players can start a vote to kick another player; its panel labels may differ from the file name. See the hosting configuration guide for an example of that mapping.

If the panel does not show a vote-kick switch, do not invent a new setting or edit an unrelated text box. Ask the host whether it supports the key, whether it applies per cluster or per shard, and which restart action reloads it. Some services hide the underlying file and apply only settings they explicitly expose.

Self-hosting versus managed hosting

Consideration Self-hosted or file-based server Managed hosting
Underlying configuration access You edit the persistent cluster or shard configuration directly. The provider may hide the file and expose selected settings through a panel.
Vote-kick control Enter vote_kick_enabled = true in the relevant configuration. Use the provider’s equivalent Enable Vote to Kick switch when available.
Restart convenience You must use your service manager, script, or server process controls. A panel commonly provides an apply and restart action; the exact behavior is host-specific.
Cluster and shard support You can select the exact persistent-storage directory and shard configuration. Support depends on whether the panel lets you target each cluster or shard.
Administrative console You can launch with the documented -console option when configuring a dedicated server. Console access depends on the host’s plan and control panel.

Choose the method that matches where your live configuration is managed. Editing a local file cannot change a hosted service if that service never reads the file, and toggling a panel switch cannot affect a separate self-hosted instance.

Why the setting may appear not to work

The wrong cluster or shard was edited

Multiple clusters can have similarly named directories. Confirm the cluster identifier and persistent-storage location used by the launch command or host panel, then repeat the change in that active configuration. In a multi-shard setup, verify that the shard players join is the one being restarted.

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The server was not restarted

A saved value is not necessarily loaded into a running process. Perform a clean restart of the server or affected shard and wait for it to finish starting before testing again.

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The key is misspelled or duplicated

The controlling key is exactly vote_kick_enabled. Check for missing underscores, different capitalization, quotation marks, or two entries with conflicting values. Keep one correctly formatted entry in the configuration that the server actually reads.

The panel change was not applied

Some panels separate Save, Apply, and Restart. Complete every required action and check the panel’s current value after the server returns online. If the switch reverts, contact the host because it may not support the option for your server type or version.

You expected a specific vote threshold

Enabling the feature does not establish a universal number of votes or a fixed quorum. The available documentation does not specify those rules for every current version and host. Test with the permissions and player count used by your community, and consult current version-specific documentation for behavior that matters to your moderation policy.

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An administrator is present and the vote behaves differently

Vote kicking is intended as a player fallback when no administrator is present. Administrative presence and privileges can affect how moderation is handled. Use direct administrator commands when you need an immediate, authoritative action.

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Administrator controls: kick, ban, and stop a vote

Vote kicking does not replace administrator moderation. The DST console reference documents direct Lua network commands for privileged administrators:

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  • TheNet:Kick(userid) kicks the player identified by userid.
  • TheNet:Ban(userid) bans the player identified by userid.
  • c_stopvote() stops an active vote.

These commands require console access and the correct player identifier. They are not substitutes for ordinary player chat commands. The complete command reference is available at Don’t Starve Together console commands.

For a dedicated server, the server documentation describes launching with -console to provide a command-line console for privileged Lua administration. How you supply that option depends on your operating system and service manager; add it to the server’s documented launch configuration rather than typing it into the in-game chat. See the dedicated-server reference for the console launch capability.

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A practical moderation policy

Use vote kicking as a safety net

Enable the setting when your community needs a way to respond to disruption during periods without an administrator. Explain to players what the vote feature is for and what behavior violates your server rules. Because the available documentation does not define one universal threshold or cooldown, publish the rules that apply to your particular version and host after testing them.

Keep an administrator escalation path

Give moderators a reliable way to join, access the console, and identify a player’s userid. A vote can be slow, inconclusive, or inappropriate for a serious incident; an administrator can use the documented kick or ban command instead.

Stop a malicious or mistaken vote

If an administrator with console access determines that an active vote should not continue, use c_stopvote(). Then address the underlying issue through your server rules and, if necessary, a direct kick or ban.

Quick checklist

  • Find the active persistent configuration for the correct cluster and shard.
  • Back up the file before editing.
  • Set vote_kick_enabled = true.
  • Save the original file, not a duplicate or differently named copy.
  • Restart the affected server or shard.
  • Test as a normal player.
  • Keep administrator console access for direct moderation and c_stopvote().
  • Check current version or host documentation for thresholds, quorum, cooldowns, and other behavior not defined by the setting itself.

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