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Godlike.Host offers hosted Vintage Story servers with its own game panel, SFTP access and free DDoS protection, if you would rather not host it yourself.
On a current Vintage Story dedicated server, enable whitelist enforcement with /serverconfig WhitelistMode on, then add every permitted account with /player PlayerName whitelist on. Use the dedicated-server console for the first administrator entry: a new 1.20-or-later server normally protects itself by default, so the owner can be denied until their exact in-game name is added.
This guide covers the console and hosting-panel procedures, the serverconfig.json values behind them, removal and verification commands, and the failure cases that commonly prevent an owner or invited player from connecting.
What a Vintage Story whitelist controls
A whitelist is an allow-list for player connections. When enforcement is on, only usernames that have been explicitly granted whitelist access can join; being an administrator, knowing the server address, or having played previously does not automatically bypass the check.
Dedicated servers use whitelist-by-default behavior from Vintage Story 1.20 onward. In practice, that means a newly created dedicated instance can reject everyone, including its owner, until an authorized console user adds at least one account. A single-player world opened to LAN has different defaults: its default mode is off.
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The current control is WhitelistMode. The older OnlyWhitelisted setting belongs to pre-1.20 setups and should not be used as the control for a current server.
What you need before changing the setting
- An authorized command surface. Use the dedicated-server console, a hosting provider’s panel console, or in-game chat after you can connect with sufficient privileges. The first setup should be done from the console because a fresh protected server may not let you enter the world.
- The exact account names. Vintage Story commands are spelling-sensitive. Copy each player’s in-game username, including capitalization where the running server expects it, and do not include angle brackets or square brackets from examples.
- Access to persistent configuration when needed. Self-hosted administrators can edit
data/serverconfig.json. A managed host may expose the same value in a Startup or Configuration field instead. - A way to restart the instance if the panel requires it. Adding or removing an individual player normally takes effect without a restart, while a panel-level configuration change may be applied only when the server is stopped and started.
Set up the whitelist from the server console
Follow these steps in order. Running the owner command before testing your own connection prevents the most common lockout on a new 1.20+ dedicated server.
- Open an authorized console. Start the dedicated server and focus its console, or open the Console tab in your hosting panel. If you are already inside the game with operator permissions, chat commands can also work; the console is preferable for initial access because it does not depend on a successful connection.
- Turn enforcement on. Enter
/serverconfig WhitelistMode onand submit it. Theonvalue means that only whitelisted players may connect. The command also acceptsdefaultandoff; those alternatives are useful when diagnosing a lockout or intentionally running an open server. - Add the owner first. Replace
YourExactNamewith the account’s actual in-game name and run/player YourExactName whitelist on. Do not type the angle brackets often used to mark a placeholder. The individual player change does not require a server restart according to the dedicated-server guide. - Add each invited player. Repeat
/player PlayerName whitelist ononce for every account that should be allowed to connect. Treat each name as a separate entry; a display name, Discord name, or hosting-panel login is not a substitute for the Vintage Story username. - Test with a newly permitted account. Have the owner or one invitee connect after the command is accepted. If the connection is denied, check the exact spelling and the active mode before changing files.
- Remove access when necessary. Run
/player PlayerName whitelist offto revoke an individual’s entry. Some current command surfaces also expose/whitelist remove PlayerName. If one form is rejected, run/helpon the live server and use the syntax shown there; aliases can differ by game version, hosting wrapper, or installed mods.
Command reference
| Purpose | Command | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Enable whitelist enforcement | /serverconfig WhitelistMode on |
Only players with whitelist access can connect. |
| Use the server’s default behavior | /serverconfig WhitelistMode default |
Returns control to the default for that server type and version. |
| Disable enforcement | /serverconfig WhitelistMode off |
Stops the whitelist from blocking connections. |
| Allow one player | /player PlayerName whitelist on |
Adds the named account without requiring a restart for the individual change. |
| Revoke one player | /player PlayerName whitelist off |
Removes that account’s whitelist permission. |
| Possible removal alias | /whitelist remove PlayerName |
Removes the named account on command surfaces that provide this alias. |
| Check available syntax | /help |
Shows the commands accepted by the running version, wrapper, and mods. |
Command names are not interchangeable. /serverconfig WhitelistMode on changes the enforcement mode; /player ... whitelist on grants an individual account access. Running only the second command does not reliably establish the server-wide mode, and running only the first does not add any player.
How WhitelistMode is stored in serverconfig.json
The persistent file for a dedicated server is data/serverconfig.json. Its numeric value is different from the words used in the command:
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WhitelistMode value |
Meaning | Default context described by the game guide |
|---|---|---|
0 |
Default behavior | Whitelist on for dedicated servers; whitelist off for single-player worlds opened to LAN. |
1 |
Whitelist off | Connections are not restricted by the whitelist. |
2 |
Whitelist on | Only accounts on the whitelist may connect. |
Prefer the live command for a normal change because it avoids manual JSON syntax errors. Edit the file when the console command is unavailable, when a hosting wrapper has left the mode in an unexpected state, or when you need to inspect what the server will load at startup. Stop the server before editing, preserve valid JSON formatting, save a backup of the original file, and start the instance again if your panel does not reload configuration while running.
For a current dedicated server, setting WhitelistMode to 2 is the file equivalent of turning enforcement on. Setting it to 1 is the explicit off state. Leaving it at 0 deliberately selects the version-and-server-type default, which is on for dedicated servers from 1.20 and off for a LAN-opened single-player world.
Using a managed hosting panel
Panels wrap the same server configuration but may hide the file system. The labels vary, so use the provider’s current interface and the running server’s help output rather than assuming that a command from another panel exists.
When the panel has a Whitelist Mode or Startup field
- Stop the server from the panel’s Stop or Shutdown control. This prevents a running process from overwriting your change.
- Open the Startup, Configuration, or equivalent settings page and locate the whitelist-mode field.
- Choose the enabled or on value, or enter the provider’s documented value corresponding to
WhitelistModeset to2. - Save the setting and start the server again.
- Open the panel Console and run
/player YourExactName whitelist onbefore attempting to join. Add the remaining names with the same command.
When the panel exposes files instead
Stop the instance, open data/serverconfig.json in the file manager, change WhitelistMode to the required numeric value, save, and restart. Keep the panel’s backup and restart controls available so you can restore the previous file if the server reports malformed JSON or fails to start.
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When the panel has only a console
Use the console procedure in the previous section. A hosting panel does not change the command semantics: enable the mode, add the owner, add invited accounts, and then test a connection. If a command is rejected, run /help in that same console; wrappers and mods can expose different aliases or permission requirements.
Why you cannot join your own server
The server is correctly enforcing a new default
On a 1.20-or-later dedicated server, WhitelistMode in its default state can mean on. The owner therefore receives the same denial as an unlisted stranger. Open the server or panel console and run /player YourExactName whitelist on, using the exact in-game spelling. No restart is normally needed for that player entry.
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Recheck every character, including capitalization and punctuation supported by the account name. Do not use a character’s nickname, a launcher account label, or the name shown in a hosting dashboard. Correct the entry by granting the exact name; if an erroneous entry remains, revoke it with /player WrongName whitelist off.
You changed a setting that is not used by the current version
If you edited OnlyWhitelisted, the server may ignore it on 1.20 and later. Inspect data/serverconfig.json and work with WhitelistMode instead. Use 0, 1, or 2 according to the table above, then restart when the hosting environment requires a reload.
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You ran the command in the wrong place
An in-game command requires a successful connection and adequate permissions. If the whitelist blocks you before chat loads, it cannot be the first setup surface. Use the dedicated console or panel Console, then retry the connection.
When the whitelist appears to stay on
/whitelist off was accepted but denials continue
Some 1.20 hosting builds have been reported to accept an off-style alias while retaining the persistent mode. Inspect data/serverconfig.json and set WhitelistMode to 1, save it while the server is stopped, and restart through the panel. Then test with an account that is not listed. If the result conflicts with the file, the running server’s /help output and the panel’s documented command wrapper take precedence.
The file change did not survive a restart
A panel Startup value may overwrite the file each time the instance starts. Set the panel field as well as the file, or use the panel’s supported configuration path instead of editing a generated file. Confirm the effective value after startup before inviting players.
A command works on one server but not another
Vintage Story version, hosting wrappers, permissions, and mods can change available aliases. Run /help on the affected server, compare its accepted syntax with the command you used, and issue the equivalent command from an authorized surface. Do not assume that an alias documented for a different build is available.
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Dedicated server versus a LAN-opened single-player world
The word default is context-dependent. The dedicated-server guide describes default whitelist enforcement as on for dedicated servers and off for single-player worlds opened to LAN. If you switch between these server types, check the effective mode instead of carrying over an assumption from the other setup.
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| Server type | Default when WhitelistMode is 0 |
First action when you want a private allow-list |
|---|---|---|
| Dedicated server, Vintage Story 1.20 or later | Whitelist on | Add the owner from the console, then add invited players. |
| Single-player world opened to LAN | Whitelist off | Set the mode to on if you want to restrict LAN connections, then add permitted names through the available command surface. |
Self-hosting and managed hosting: what to verify
The whitelist commands are the same, but administration differs. Before choosing or troubleshooting a host, verify these practical capabilities:
| Capability | Why it matters for whitelisting |
|---|---|
| Server-console access | You need a command surface to add the owner when the new server blocks all connections. |
Persistent serverconfig.json access or an equivalent Startup field |
You need a supported way to inspect and change WhitelistMode when an alias fails or a panel overwrites the file. |
| Vintage Story version visibility | The 1.20 default and the obsolescence of OnlyWhitelisted apply to current dedicated-server behavior; a provider should identify the installed version. |
| Backup and restart controls | Configuration edits and recovery from a malformed or overwritten file are safer when the panel provides both controls. |
| Documented current whitelist behavior | Provider documentation should explain how its wrapper maps to WhitelistMode and which command aliases it accepts. |
Managed hosting is optional. It can replace direct file maintenance with a control panel and console, while self-hosting gives you direct control of the process and files. In either arrangement, confirm the effective mode after a restart and keep the owner account listed.
Safe operating checklist
- Record the exact in-game username before issuing the player command.
- Add at least one administrator from the console before closing that console session.
- Keep the server-wide mode and individual player permissions conceptually separate: one controls enforcement, the other controls membership.
- Use
/helpwhenever a command or alias is rejected, especially after a game update, hosting migration, or mod change. - Back up
data/serverconfig.jsonbefore manual edits and stop the server if the panel recommends it. - After changing a panel Startup field, restart and verify the resulting behavior with an account that is not on the list.
- When removing a player, revoke the exact stored name and test that account’s access if the change is security-sensitive.
Quick recovery paths
You locked out every player, including the owner
Do not try to solve this from in-game chat. Open the dedicated-server or hosting-panel console, grant the owner’s exact name with /player YourExactName whitelist on, and reconnect. If the command is unavailable, stop the server and set WhitelistMode to 1 in data/serverconfig.json, restart, add the owner, and then set the mode back to 2.
You want a temporary open test
From an authorized console, run /serverconfig WhitelistMode off. If the server continues denying players, apply the persistent value 1 in data/serverconfig.json and restart as required by the host. Once testing is complete, restore enforcement with /serverconfig WhitelistMode on or persistent value 2, then confirm that intended players remain listed.
You are moving from an older server
Do not copy an old OnlyWhitelisted workflow into a 1.20-or-later installation. Check the new server’s WhitelistMode, migrate the permitted usernames with /player ... whitelist on, and validate the result from the current console. This avoids mistaking a legacy setting for an active access control.
Bottom line
For a current dedicated server, use the console to run /serverconfig WhitelistMode on, immediately grant the owner with /player ExactName whitelist on, and repeat that command for each invited player. If behavior conflicts with the command result, inspect data/serverconfig.json, use the numeric WhitelistMode values, and let the running server’s /help output resolve version- or wrapper-specific syntax.
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