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“Whitelist” has two different meanings on a Sons of the Forest dedicated server. To limit joining to people you invite, set a non-empty Password in dedicatedserver.cfg. To give trusted people administrator powers, add their SteamID64 values to ownerswhitelist.txt. The owner file grants high-level control; it is not a documented guest allow-list.
What “whitelist” means in Sons of the Forest
Many server tools use “whitelist” to mean a list of player IDs that are allowed to connect. Sons of the Forest documents two separate controls instead:
- Private access: a non-empty
Passwordindedicatedserver.cfg. Anyone who knows the password can attempt to join. - Server ownership: SteamID64 entries in
ownerswhitelist.txt. Listed accounts receive owner-level administration, not ordinary guest access.
That distinction determines which file you should edit. If your goal is a small friends-only server, use the password. If your goal is to let a co-host manage players and server commands, use the owner file. Adding every friend to ownerswhitelist.txt merely to keep strangers out gives those friends far more authority than they need.
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|---|---|---|---|---|
| Restrict joining to invited players | dedicatedserver.cfg → Password |
A private password | Players must know the password to join | Restart the server and test with an intended account |
| Give trusted users administrative control | ownerswhitelist.txt |
One SteamID64 per line | Listed users receive owner permissions | Save and restart the server |
Before you edit anything
Start the dedicated server once
The official dedicated-server guide says the server should be started once so its default files are created. The server’s user-data/configuration directory then contains files such as ownerswhitelist.txt and dedicatedserver.cfg, along with saves and game settings. If you cannot find either file, start the server, let it finish its initial setup, stop it cleanly, and inspect the user-data folder again.
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Know whether you are using a hosted control panel
On a self-managed installation, edit the files in the server user-data directory with your normal file-management tools. On a managed host, use the provider’s file editor or configuration browser. Stop the server before editing when the control panel requires it; otherwise the running process may overwrite your change or continue using the old settings.
For a managed game server, Godlike.Host provides a game panel with SFTP/FTP access and up to three free backups a day with restore. Its Sons of the Forest plans list 4, 12 and 20 slots; the server’s MaxPlayers setting allows 1 to 8 players (Steam Community server guide, 11 Oct 2026).
Make a copy before changing configuration
Keep a backup of dedicatedserver.cfg and ownerswhitelist.txt before editing. A backup gives you a quick recovery path if a control panel saves malformed JSON, inserts unwanted formatting, or replaces the file during an update. Do not change unrelated settings while you are configuring access.
How to make the server private for invited players
1. Open dedicatedserver.cfg
Find dedicatedserver.cfg in the dedicated server’s user-data/configuration directory. The file is JSON, so punctuation matters: property names and string values use double quotation marks, and every property except the last one in an object normally ends with a comma.
2. Set a non-empty password
Set the Password property to a unique value. For example:
{
"Password": "use-a-unique-password"
}Your existing file will contain other properties, so do not replace the whole configuration with this small example unless it really contains no other settings. Change only the password value and preserve the surrounding JSON structure. A blank value does not provide the private access control you are trying to enable.
3. Save without exposing the password
Share the password privately with the people who should join. Do not post it in a public server listing, community channel, stream overlay, or screenshot. Treat it as a shared secret: anyone who obtains it can try to connect, and the password does not distinguish one invited player from another.
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- Save
dedicatedserver.cfg. - Stop and start the dedicated server so it loads the new value.
- Test from an intended player account using the normal join flow.
- Ask a person who does not have the password to confirm that the server is no longer openly joinable, if you need to verify the privacy boundary.
Rotate the password if it is leaked or if someone who should no longer have access still knows it. Changing the password is the documented way to reset private-group access; you do not need to add every guest to the owner file.
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How to give trusted players owner or admin powers
1. Stop the server
Stop the server before editing when you are using a hosted control panel. Stopping first ensures the file is not locked, cached, or rewritten by the running service. If your own deployment method has a documented maintenance procedure, follow that procedure and still restart after saving.
2. Open ownerswhitelist.txt
Open ownerswhitelist.txt in the same user-data/configuration area that contains dedicatedserver.cfg. The official guide identifies this file as the place to enter the Steam IDs of server owners.
3. Add one SteamID64 per line
Enter the complete numeric SteamID64 for each trusted owner, with no nickname or display name. A correctly formatted file looks like this:
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76561198000000001Use one ID per line. Do not put commas between entries, add quotation marks, or append comments to a line. The official wording is that server ownership is configured by feeding the Steam IDs of all “server owners” into ownerswhitelist.txt, one Steam ID per line.
4. Save, restart, and verify in game
- Save the file in plain text.
- Restart the dedicated server.
- Have the listed player join with the Steam account that owns the matching SteamID64.
- Verify that the account receives the expected owner permissions in game.
A listed owner has essentially the same rights as a peer-to-peer host, including access to server commands. Owners can use the in-game Pause Menu and Players panel to promote or demote players, kick guests, and ban or unban guests. Give this status only to people you trust with those consequences.
Owner access is not a normal player allow-list
ownerswhitelist.txt answers the question “Who may administer this server?” It does not document the rule “Only these Steam accounts may join.” A person who is not in the owner file is not automatically blocked from joining. Conversely, putting a guest in the file to solve a joining problem gives that guest owner-level abilities.
For a private group, combine a password with ordinary in-game moderation:
- Use
Passwordto control who can attempt to join. - Use
ownerswhitelist.txtonly for the small number of people who must administer the world. - Use the in-game Players controls to remove, demote, kick, or ban users after they connect.
Do not describe the owner file as a SteamID guest allow-list unless a newer official build explicitly adds that function. The documented configuration does not establish a separate per-player guest whitelist, hot-reload allow-list, ServerSettings.ini syntax, or a supported RCON workflow.
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Finding and checking the correct SteamID64
The owner file requires a numeric SteamID64, not the player’s Steam name, nickname, profile URL, or a shorter Steam identifier. Copy the ID from a reliable Steam account record and compare every digit before saving. A single wrong digit identifies a different account.
- Check that the value is numeric and complete.
- Check that there is exactly one value on each line.
- Remove leading labels, spaces, quotation marks, and punctuation.
- Make sure the listed person joins with the same Steam account whose ID you entered.
Incorrect numeric IDs can fail silently: the file may appear normal, yet the intended player will not receive owner permissions. This is why testing with the actual account after a restart is essential.
Troubleshooting common failures
The files are missing
Start the dedicated server once to generate its default user-data files, then stop it and look again in the server’s configuration directory. If a managed host uses a separate file manager, open the server’s user-data area rather than the installation directory that contains only binaries.
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The password does not work
- Confirm that the
Passwordvalue is not empty. - Check for accidental spaces before or after the password.
- Verify that you edited the active server’s
dedicatedserver.cfg, not a backup or local client file. - Save the JSON and fully restart the server.
- Send the exact current password privately; an old password will not authenticate after rotation.
If the file no longer parses as JSON, restore the backup and reapply only the password change while preserving commas and quotation marks.
The SteamID is present, but the player is not an owner
- Confirm that the entry is the player’s SteamID64, not a display name or another ID format.
- Check every digit against the account that is actually joining.
- Ensure there is one ID per line and no comments or extra formatting.
- Stop and restart the server after saving.
- Test the account again after the restart rather than relying on an already-connected session.
If the numeric value is wrong, the failure may be silent. Replacing it with the verified SteamID64 is more useful than repeatedly reconnecting with the same incorrect entry.
A host panel keeps reverting the change
Stop the service before editing through the panel, save the file, and then restart from the panel. Some panels expose separate configuration and user-data views; use the one containing ownerswhitelist.txt and dedicatedserver.cfg. If the file is replaced during a deployment or update, restore your backup and repeat the edit after the server has finished updating.
A former owner still has access
Remove that person’s SteamID64 from ownerswhitelist.txt, save, and restart. If the person also knows the private password, rotate Password separately. Removing an owner entry does not change a shared joining password, and changing the password does not remove owner privileges already granted by the file until the configuration is reloaded.
Choosing the right setup for common situations
| Situation | Recommended configuration | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Four friends want a private cooperative world | Set a non-empty Password; leave the owner file limited to the host |
Friends can join without receiving server-wide commands |
| A second person must handle kicks and bans while you are away | Add that person’s verified SteamID64 to ownerswhitelist.txt |
The person needs owner privileges, not merely the joining password |
| A public or semi-public server needs moderators | Keep the password policy appropriate for your audience and add only selected moderators as owners | Joining access and administrative trust remain separate |
| An owner leaves the group | Remove the SteamID64 and restart; rotate the password if it was shared | Both kinds of access are revoked |
Self-managed server versus managed hosting
The access files work the same way whether you run the dedicated server yourself or rent a managed instance. The practical difference is how you reach the files and how you perform maintenance.
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| Consideration | Self-managed installation | Managed host |
|---|---|---|
| File access | Use the server machine’s file tools and user-data directory | Use the provider’s control-panel file editor or configuration browser |
| Safe edit sequence | Follow your deployment’s stop, edit, and start procedure | Host Havoc’s documented workflow is stop, edit ownerswhitelist.txt, save, and restart |
| Routine operations | You handle backups and update timing | Providers may offer managed deployment, backups, patch handling, mod support, and DDoS protection |
| Failure recovery | Restore your own known-good copies | Use panel backups or provider support, while retaining your own copy |
Managed hosting does not turn ownerswhitelist.txt into a guest allow-list. It only gives you a different interface for editing the same configuration. Confirm that the panel is showing the active server’s user-data directory, stop the service when required, and verify the result after restart. Compare hosting plans on the features you actually need—such as backups, patch handling, mod support, and DDoS protection—rather than assuming every provider includes them.
Access changes that deserve a deliberate review
Access changes are easiest to audit when you treat them as two separate checklists. For a joining change, record who received the current password and rotate it when the group changes. For an administration change, record the exact SteamID64, the reason for granting owner status, and the date it should be reviewed. The game’s owner model is broad: the official guide describes owners as having rights comparable to a peer-to-peer host and access to all commands.
- Decide whether the person needs to join, administer, or both.
- Use the password for joining and the owner file only for administration.
- Verify the identifier or password before distributing it.
- Restart and test the intended behavior.
- Remove expired owner entries and rotate shared passwords when membership changes.
This process avoids the most common escalation mistake: granting owner powers simply because someone needs access to a private world.
What the documented setup does not provide
Do not promise features that are not established by the documented configuration. There is no documented per-player guest allow-list separate from the owner file, no confirmed hot-reload mechanism for these access changes, and no documented ServerSettings.ini syntax or supported RCON workflow for replacing the password-and-owner-file process. If a later official build adds one of those features, verify its current syntax before changing your instructions.
Security and maintenance practices
- Use a unique password: Do not reuse an account password or a password used in a public community.
- Keep the owner list short: Every entry represents broad administrative authority.
- Review the file after personnel changes: Remove owners as soon as their administrative need ends.
- Back up before updates: Retain known-good copies of both access files.
- Restart after configuration changes: Treat a restart as part of the change, not an optional final step.
- Test with real accounts: Confirm both the intended joining behavior and the intended owner permissions.
The official guidance says owners can access all commands and have rights comparable to a peer-to-peer host. That makes an owner entry a high-trust decision, not a convenient substitute for inviting players.
Quick reference procedure
Private invited-player server
- Start the dedicated server once so its default files exist.
- Stop it, if required by your host or deployment method.
- Open
dedicatedserver.cfgin the server user-data directory. - Set a non-empty
Passwordwhile preserving valid JSON. - Save, restart, and test with an intended account.
- Share or rotate the password privately.
Trusted administrator
- Stop the server.
- Open
ownerswhitelist.txt. - Add one verified SteamID64 per line, with no comments or extra formatting.
- Save the file and restart the server.
- Have the matching Steam account join and verify owner permissions.
- Remove the entry when the administrative role ends.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I whitelist players on a Sons of the Forest server?
For invited-player access, set a non-empty Password in dedicatedserver.cfg, save it, restart the server, and share the password privately. The documented owner file is for administrators, not ordinary guests.
Where is ownerswhitelist.txt?
It is created in the dedicated server’s user-data/configuration directory after the server has been started once. That directory also contains dedicatedserver.cfg, saves, and game settings.
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Why can’t my Steam ID make me admin?
Check that you entered the complete numeric SteamID64, used one ID per line without comments or punctuation, and that the person joined with the matching Steam account. Save the file and restart; incorrect IDs can fail silently.
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How do I password-protect my dedicated server?
Open dedicatedserver.cfg, set Password to a non-empty unique value, preserve valid JSON, save, and restart. Share the password privately and rotate it if it leaks.
Does ownerswhitelist.txt block everyone else from joining?
No. It identifies server owners and grants them broad administrative powers. It is not documented as a SteamID guest allow-list. Use the server password to restrict private joining.
Can I add every friend as an owner so only they can play?
That gives every listed friend owner-level control, including command access and the ability to promote, demote, kick, ban, or unban players. Use a password for group access and reserve owner entries for people who must administer the server.
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The documented procedure requires saving the file and restarting the server. Do not assume a hot-reload allow-list or live configuration update.
What should I do when an owner leaves?
Remove that person’s SteamID64 from ownerswhitelist.txt, save, and restart. If the person knows the shared password, rotate Password separately because removing an owner does not change joining access.
Can a hosting control panel manage these files?
Yes. Managed providers expose the same user-data files through a panel. Stop the service when required, edit the active files, save, restart, and verify the result. Features such as backups, patch handling, mod support, and DDoS protection vary by provider.
The Bottom Line
Use a non-empty Password in dedicatedserver.cfg to keep a Sons of the Forest server private. Use ownerswhitelist.txt only for trusted administrators, entering one verified SteamID64 per line and restarting afterward. The owner file controls administrative trust, not guest joining.
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