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Use /additem "username" "Module.Item" count in the in-game chat. For a dedicated-server window or hosting-panel console, enter the same command without the leading slash: additem "username" "Module.Item" count. The item name must be the current, case-sensitive internal ID—not the name shown in the inventory. Leave out the username to give the item to yourself.
Quick command reference
The vanilla administrator command has three parts: the target player, the internal item identifier, and an optional quantity.
/additem "username" "Module.Item" count- In-game chat: begin with
/. - Dedicated-server or panel console: omit the slash.
- Username: use the player’s exact in-game name. Quotation marks are safest when the name contains spaces.
- Module.Item: use the case-sensitive identifier, such as
Base.Axe. - count: an optional number of copies. If omitted, the command gives one item.
For example, this gives five axes to the player named rj:
/additem "rj" "Base.Axe" 5To give one axe to yourself, omit the player name and use the self-target form supported by your build:
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/additem "Base.Axe"If that abbreviated form is rejected, run /help in chat and follow the syntax displayed by your server build; command parsing can vary between patches and server configurations.
Enter the command in chat or the server console
| Where you type | Correct form | Who receives the item | Important detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| In-game administrator chat | /additem "username" "Module.Item" count |
The named player | The leading slash is required for a chat command. |
| Dedicated-server window | additem "username" "Module.Item" count |
The named player | Do not type the slash. |
| Hosting-panel Console tab | additem "username" "Module.Item" count |
The named player | Panel input normally maps directly to the server console. |
| Self-target in chat | /additem "Module.Item" count |
The administrator running it | Use the current syntax shown by /help if your patch expects an explicit target. |
Step-by-step in-game procedure
- Join the server with the account that has administrator access.
- Open the chat box and enter
/help. Confirm thatadditemis listed and note the syntax your build reports. - Find the item’s current internal ID. Use the module-qualified form, for example
Base.Axe, rather than typing “Axe” or “Fire Axe.” - Type the command with the exact player name, ID, and quantity. Keep capitalization unchanged.
- Send the message and have the recipient check their inventory, ground container, or vehicle storage, depending on the item and the game’s current behavior.
- If nothing appears, do not repeat the command blindly. Check the troubleshooting section below for an ID, permission, syntax, or mod mismatch.
Step-by-step from a dedicated server or panel
- Open the server process window or the provider’s Console tab.
- Enter
additemwithout/, followed by the quoted username, item ID, and optional count. - Press Enter and watch the console response. A permission or parsing error is more useful than repeatedly sending a corrected-looking command.
- Ask the player to verify the resulting item in the expected inventory location. Console execution does not automatically move an item to a different container.
Get administrator access before spawning anything
A normal survivor cannot use administrative commands. A dedicated server creates a default administrator account during first boot and asks for its password in the server console. Use that account to sign in, or promote another player after you have logged in as an administrator.
Promote a player from in-game chat
/setaccesslevel "username" "admin"The person issuing this chat command must already have the Change Access Level permission on their assigned role. If the command is refused, have the server owner or an account with that permission run it.
Promote a player from the server console
setaccesslevel "username" "admin"The console form has no leading slash. After the change, the player may need to reconnect before every permission is recognized. Test with /help and then a harmless item command.
Access-level names are build-dependent
Published command lists do not agree on every role name. Lists have included admin, moderator, overseer, gm, observer, priority, and user. Your server’s /help output and configuration are authoritative for the installed build. Do not assume that a role listed in an older guide exists on Build 42.
Remove or reduce access
Two forms are documented for lowering privileges: setaccesslevel YourName none and, on Build 42 setups, setting the account back to user. Because the accepted value can depend on the patch and server configuration, check /help before changing a live administrator account. Keep at least one verified administrator connected while testing a downgrade.
Use the correct item ID
additem does not search the display name that players see in the inventory. It resolves an internal identifier composed of a module and item name, separated by a period. The identifier is case-sensitive:
- Works:
Base.Axe - Fails:
base.axe - Usually fails:
Axe,Fire Axe, or another display label without the module prefix
Look up the item’s current ID on its Project Zomboid wiki page or in the item data for the exact build and installed mods. Copy the spelling and capitalization exactly, including the module name. A valid-looking ID from an older version can still fail after an update.
Why Build 42 requires extra checking
Build 42 changed IDs for some stone tools, metalworking materials, and animal products. Guides written for an earlier build may therefore return “unknown item” errors or silently fail when their IDs are pasted into a Build 42 server. Treat every ID as version-specific and recheck it after a major update or mod-list change.
Vanilla IDs versus mod IDs
Modded items normally use the module namespace supplied by the mod, not necessarily Base. The mod documentation or its item definitions should provide the exact identifier. If a mod was removed, disabled, or loaded under a different workshop version, its IDs will no longer resolve even though the command syntax is correct.
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Understand quantity and targeting
Quantity
The final number is optional. Leaving it out requests one copy; adding a number requests that many copies, as in /additem "rj" "Base.Axe" 5. Use a modest quantity while testing. A typo in a large count can flood a player’s inventory and create unnecessary cleanup work.
Target player
The username must identify a currently connected player in the server’s player list. Match capitalization and spaces exactly. If the name contains spaces, retain the quotation marks. When no username is supplied, the command targets the administrator executing it, provided that the installed build supports the abbreviated self-target syntax.
Where the item appears
The command grants the item to the target character; it is not a loot-table edit and does not restock every container in the world. Have the player check their inventory first. If the item cannot be carried or the inventory is full, inspect nearby containers and the character’s transfer panels before assuming the command failed.
Commands that are often confused with additem
/lootitem
There is no vanilla /lootitem command in Build 42. A guide that tells you to use it is describing a different build, a mod, or an outdated command list.
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/grantadmin was removed in Build 35. Use /setaccesslevel with the role accepted by your current server instead.
!additem from an admin-tools mod
Some Project Zomboid wiki material documents !additem <PlayerName> <ItemName> <Amount>. The exclamation prefix belongs to an Admin Tools mod setup, not the vanilla command described here. Do not mix that syntax with an unmodded server. If the server owner installed such a mod, use the mod’s own help command and documentation, because its argument order and permission checks can differ.
Troubleshoot a failed spawn
| Symptom | Likely cause | What to check or do |
|---|---|---|
| “Unknown command” in chat | Missing permission, wrong command for the build, or a mod-only command | Run /help, confirm the account’s access level, and remove mod-specific prefixes such as ! on a vanilla server. |
| The console rejects the line | A leading slash was pasted into console input | Use additem, not /additem. |
| The command sends but no item appears | Wrong item ID, wrong capitalization, or an ID changed in Build 42 | Copy the current module-qualified ID and test with a known vanilla ID such as Base.Axe. |
| Only one item appears | The count was omitted or was not parsed | Include a numeric final argument, for example 5, and verify the syntax shown by /help. |
| The wrong player receives it | Username typo or a name containing spaces was not quoted | Copy the exact connected-player name and surround it with quotation marks. |
| Another administrator cannot promote a user | The issuing role lacks Change Access Level permission | Have the server owner or an administrator with that role permission run setaccesslevel. |
| A mod item worked yesterday but not after an update | The mod was disabled, updated, or its module namespace changed | Confirm the mod is enabled on both server and client, then obtain the ID from the mod’s current files or documentation. |
| A command from an old guide fails on Build 42 | Removed command or changed item/role names | Discard /lootitem and /grantadmin instructions, and use the current /help output. |
Use a controlled test
- Confirm the account is listed as an administrator with
/helpavailable. - Target yourself so a username typo cannot hide the result.
- Test a known vanilla ID, such as
Base.Axe, with a count of one. - If that works, test the desired ID. A failure at this point indicates the item identifier or mod, not your access level.
- Only then target another player and increase the quantity.
Build and server-management cautions
Administrative spawning changes the game economy and can affect the intended survival experience. Tell players when you are using it for an event, recovery from a bug, or moderation action. Keep a written record of unusual grants on a persistent server so a later rollback or dispute has a clear explanation.
Back up the server before experimenting with unfamiliar commands or large quantities. Never paste credentials into chat, and restrict console or panel access to trusted operators. A player who can run additem can generally create powerful weapons, tools, medical supplies, and other progression items, so treat the permission as an administrative capability rather than a convenience command.
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Finally, verify behavior after every major build or mod update. The command form is likely correct for current servers, but no official Build 42 command reference was available in the material used for this guide. The in-game /help output, the server console response, and the item’s current wiki entry are the safest checks when they disagree with an older tutorial.
Quick Recap
Reliable workflow for routine use
- Identify the server build and whether the target item is vanilla or modded.
- Confirm your role and run
/help. - Copy the exact, case-sensitive module and item ID for that build.
- Choose chat or console syntax: slash in chat, no slash in console.
- Target yourself for the first test, then use the exact recipient name.
- Start with one copy, verify the inventory result, and only then issue a larger count.
- Record the command when the grant affects a shared or persistent server.
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