Palworld Admin Commands Guide 2026: Complete Server Management and Troubleshooting

Your Palworld admin password is not broken. Your PalWorldSettings.ini file is empty. Or WorldOption.sav is overriding it. Or you added a slash where you should not have.

This Axeetech guide fixes every admin command problem in Palworld and shows every command, every workflow, and every script you need to run your server without losing players or data.

Do Check: Palworld Cheat Engine

What Are Palworld Admin Commands

Palworld admin commands are text instructions that server administrators type into the in-game chat to manage a dedicated server. Every command starts with a forward slash. These commands control player moderation, server shutdowns, world saves, teleportation, and spectator mode.

Admin commands only work on dedicated servers running the Steam version of Palworld. Xbox console players, Xbox Game Pass PC players, and PlayStation 5 players cannot use native admin commands. Pocket Pair Studios released Palworld in Early Access on January 19 2024. The command list contains 12 commands as of June 2026. Future updates may expand this list.

How to Set Up Admin Access

This is the section that fixes 90 percent of “my admin password does not work” problems. Follow every step exactly.

Step 1: Set AdminPassword in PalWorldSettings.ini

The PalWorldSettings.ini file controls server configuration. The file location depends on your operating system.

Windows dedicated server: Pal/Saved/Config/WindowsServer/PalWorldSettings.ini

Linux dedicated server: Pal/Saved/Config/LinuxServer/PalWorldSettings.ini

Open PalWorldSettings.ini in a text editor. Find or add this line:

OptionSettings=(AdminPassword=”YourPassword”)

Replace YourPassword with a strong password. Use at least 16 characters with uppercase, lowercase, numbers, and symbols.

Critical Warning: PalWorldSettings.ini is often completely empty by default. If you open the file and see nothing, you must copy the default settings first. See Step 2.

Step 2: Copy Default Settings If the File Is Empty

If PalWorldSettings.ini is empty, the server will not read your admin password. Here is the fix.

1. Navigate to your PalServer base folder.
2. Open DefaultPalWorldSettings.ini.
3. Select all contents and copy.
4. Paste everything into PalWorldSettings.ini.
5. Now modify the AdminPassword line within the pasted content.
6. Save the file.
7. Restart your server.

Without this step, your password setting is invisible to the server. This is the most common reason admin passwords fail.

Step 3: The WorldOption.sav Conflict

Palworld reads WorldOption.sav for some settings instead of PalWorldSettings.ini. If WorldOption.sav exists with a different admin password, your INI change is completely ignored. The server uses the .sav file value and your new password never activates.

The Fix: Delete WorldOption.sav after editing PalWorldSettings.ini. The server will regenerate WorldOption.sav with your new INI values on next launch.

WorldOption.sav location: Pal/Saved/SaveGames/0/RandomString/WorldOption.sav

Alternative Fix: Use pal-conf.bluefissure.com. This web tool syncs your PalWorldSettings.ini and WorldOption.sav automatically. Upload your .sav file, edit settings through the web interface, and download the corrected file.

Step 4: Authenticate In-Game

After server restart, connect to your server. Press Enter to open chat. Type:

/AdminPassword YourPassword

You must redo this authentication every session. Admin status does not persist between logins. If you disconnect and reconnect, type the command again.

Key Takeaway: Empty INI file, WorldOption.sav conflict, and missing authentication are the three reasons admin passwords fail. Fix them in this order.

Complete Palworld Admin Commands List 2026

Command	Syntax	Description	Example
/AdminPassword	/AdminPassword [password]	Grants admin privileges	/AdminPassword StrongPass123
/Info	/Info	Shows server version and player count	/Info
/ShowPlayers	/ShowPlayers	Lists all connected players with SteamID	/ShowPlayers
/Save	/Save	Forces immediate world save	/Save
/Broadcast	/Broadcast [message]	Sends message to all players	/Broadcast Server restart in 5 minutes
/KickPlayer	/KickPlayer [SteamID]	Removes player temporarily	/KickPlayer steam_76561198012345678
/BanPlayer	/BanPlayer [SteamID]	Permanently bans player	/BanPlayer steam_76561198012345678
/UnBanPlayer	/UnBanPlayer [SteamID]	Removes ban from player	/UnBanPlayer steam_76561198012345678
/TeleportToPlayer	/TeleportToPlayer [SteamID]	Teleports you to player	/TeleportToPlayer steam_76561198012345678
/TeleportToMe	/TeleportToMe [SteamID]	Teleports player to you	/TeleportToMe steam_76561198012345678
/Shutdown	/Shutdown [seconds] [message]	Scheduled server shutdown	/Shutdown 300 Restarting for update
/DoExit	/DoExit	Immediate force stop	/DoExit
/ToggleSpectate	/ToggleSpectate	Toggles spectator mode	/ToggleSpectate

Important: All commands are case sensitive. /Save works. /save does not. /Shutdown works. /shutdown does not.

How to Find Player SteamID and UserID

Many admin commands require a SteamID. Here are three methods to find it.

Method 1: ShowPlayers Command

Type /ShowPlayers in chat. The output lists every connected player with their SteamID in the format steam_76561198012345678. Copy this exact string for use in kick, ban, and teleport commands.

Method 2: In-Game Player List

Press Escape to open the menu. Click any player name. Their UserID appears with a copy-to-clipboard option. The UserID format differs from SteamID. Some hosting providers use UserID instead of SteamID for commands. Test both if one fails.

Method 3: Server Logs

Check your server console or log files. Player connection events record both SteamID and UserID. Log file location varies by hosting provider. Common paths include:

Pal/Saved/Logs/ /var/log/palworld/ /usr/games/palserver/logs/

RCON vs In-Game Commands

RCON is a remote console protocol that lets you send commands to your Palworld server without being logged into the game. The syntax differs between RCON and in-game chat.

Command	In-Game Chat	RCON Console
Save world	/Save	Save
Kick player	/KickPlayer steam_123	KickPlayer steam_123
Broadcast	/Broadcast Hello	Broadcast Hello
Shutdown	/Shutdown 300 Message	Shutdown 300 Message

Critical Difference: In-game commands require the / prefix. RCON commands must NOT use the / prefix. Adding a slash in RCON causes silent failure. The command appears to send but nothing happens.

RCON Setup:

1. Enable RCON in PalWorldSettings.ini: RCONEnabled=True
2. Set RCON port: RCONPort=25575
3. Set RCON password: RCONPassword=”YourRCONPass”
4. Connect using rcon-cli, mcrcon, or AMP panel
5. Send commands without slashes

Common RCON Tools:

• rcon-cli (command line, cross-platform)
• mcrcon (Linux focused)
• AMP by CubeCoders (GUI panel)
• RustAdmin (works with Palworld RCON)

Essential Admin Workflows

These are copy-paste ready command sequences for common server management scenarios.

Safe Server Restart Sequence

1. /Broadcast Server restarting in 5 minutes. Save your progress and find shelter.
2. /Save
3. Wait 10 seconds for save completion
4. /Shutdown 300 Restarting for maintenance. Back in 5 minutes.

This sequence warns players, forces a save, and schedules a graceful shutdown. Never use /DoExit for routine restarts. /DoExit kills the server instantly without save or warning.

Griefer Removal

1. /ShowPlayers
2. Copy the griefer SteamID from output
3. /KickPlayer steam_76561198012345678
4. If they rejoin and continue: /BanPlayer steam_76561198012345678

Kicking is temporary. The player can reconnect. Banning is permanent until you use /UnBanPlayer.

Player Assistance

1. /TeleportToPlayer steam_76561198012345678
2. Help the player (give directions, fix a bug, investigate a report)
3. /TeleportToMe steam_76561198012345678
4. Teleport yourself back to base using /TeleportToPlayer with a friend SteamID

If you need to return to your own location, teleport to any other player first, then have them teleport to you.

Spectator Mode for Events

1. /ToggleSpectate
2. Press the backslash key to move freely in spectator mode
3. /ToggleSpectate again to return to normal play

Spectator mode is useful for recording events, investigating reports, or monitoring large builds without interfering.

Single Player and Co-op Admin Commands Workaround

Pocket Pair Studios blocked admin commands in single player and co-op modes. There is no official support. However, a workaround exists through save file editing.

Warning: Backup your SaveGames folder before editing. Incorrect changes corrupt your world.

File Path: C:\Users\YourUsername\AppData\Local\Pal\Saved\SaveGames\YourSteamID\RandomSaveID\WorldOption.sav

Steps:

1. Close Palworld completely.
2. Navigate to the SaveGames folder.
3. Copy the entire SaveGames folder to a backup location.
4. Open a web browser and go to a Palworld Save JSON Editor.
5. Drag WorldOption.sav into the editor.
6. Find or add the AdminPassword field in the JSON structure.
7. Set the value: “AdminPassword”: {“_type”: “Str”, “value”: “yourpassword”}
8. Save the modified file.
9. Replace the original WorldOption.sav.
10. Launch Palworld and load your world.
11. Press Enter and type /adminpassword yourpassword

This workaround is unofficial. Future game updates may break it. Use at your own risk.

Platform Comparison Where Commands Work

Platform	Dedicated Server	Commands Available	Setup Method
Steam PC	Yes	All 12 commands	PalWorldSettings.ini
Xbox Console	No	None	Not available
Xbox Game Pass PC	No	None	Not available
PS5	Partial	Limited	Crossplay to Steam dedicated server only
Mac	Yes	All 12 commands	PalWorldSettings.ini

Xbox and Xbox Game Pass players cannot host dedicated servers. They must join a Steam PC dedicated server to experience admin commands as regular players. PlayStation 5 supports crossplay but cannot host dedicated servers natively.

Also on Axeetech: Palworld best Pals Tier List

Automated Server Management Scripts

Manual saves and restarts lead to data loss. Automate these tasks.

Windows Backup Script PowerShell

Create a file named palworld-backup.ps1:

source=”C:\PalServer\Pal\Saved\SaveGames” destination = “D:\PalworldBackups” date=Get−Date−Format“yyyyMMdd−HHmmss” backupPath = “destination\backup− date.zip”

Compress-Archive -Path source−DestinationPath backupPath

backups=Get−ChildItem destination | Sort-Object LastWriteTime -Descending if (backups.Count -gt 10) { backups | Select-Object -Skip 10 | Remove-Item -Force }

Schedule: Open Windows Task Scheduler. Create a daily task running at 3 AM. Set action to powershell.exe with argument -File “C:\Scripts\palworld-backup.ps1”.

Linux Backup Script Bash

Create a file named palworld-backup.sh:

#!/bin/bash SOURCE=”/home/palworld/PalServer/Pal/Saved/SaveGames” DEST=”/home/palworld/backups” DATE=(date+tar−czf” DEST/backup-DATE.tar.gz“” SOURCE” find “$DEST” -type f -mtime +7 -delete

Schedule: Run crontab -e and add: 0 3 * * * /home/palworld/scripts/palworld-backup.sh

Automatic Restart Schedule

Create a systemd service file at /etc/systemd/system/palworld-restart.service:

[Unit] Description=Palworld Safe Restart

[Service] Type=oneshot ExecStart=/usr/games/palserver/PalServer.sh ExecStop=/usr/games/palserver/rcon-cli -a localhost:25575 -p YourRCONPass “Broadcast Server restarting in 5 minutes” ExecStop=/usr/games/palserver/rcon-cli -a localhost:25575 -p YourRCONPass “Save” ExecStop=/bin/sleep 10 ExecStop=/usr/games/palserver/rcon-cli -a localhost:25575 -p YourRCONPass “Shutdown 300 Restarting for maintenance”

Add a cron job for daily 4 AM restart: 0 4 * * * systemctl restart palworld-restart.service. Make sure to check the updated version from Fandom to get the schedule work.

Security Best Practices for Server Admins

1. Use strong AdminPassword with 16 plus characters, mixed case, numbers, and symbols.
2. Never share admin password in Discord, chat, or any public channel.
3. Change admin password monthly.
4. Enable ServerPassword for private servers so random players cannot join.
5. Maintain a whitelist of trusted players if running a closed community.
6. Enable RCON only if needed. Firewall the RCON port to specific IPs.
7. Disable password authentication for SSH on Linux servers. Use key-based auth.
8. Install fail2ban to block brute force SSH attempts.
9. Keep Palworld server software updated through SteamCMD.
10. Maintain an admin action log. Record every kick, ban, and shutdown with timestamps and reasons.

Troubleshooting My Admin Commands Do Not Work

Symptom: AdminPassword Says Not Set Up

Cause 1: PalWorldSettings.ini is empty. Fix: Copy all contents from DefaultPalWorldSettings.ini into PalWorldSettings.ini. Then edit AdminPassword.

Cause 2: WorldOption.sav is overriding your INI. Fix: Delete WorldOption.sav. Restart server. Let it regenerate from PalWorldSettings.ini.

Cause 3: Syntax error in password line. Fix: Ensure quotes around the password. Ensure a comma appears after the AdminPassword line if it is not the last item in the OptionSettings block.

Symptom: Commands Work But Teleport Fails

Cause: Wrong SteamID format. Fix: Use /ShowPlayers output exactly. Include the steam_ prefix. Do not add spaces. Do not use UserID if the command expects SteamID.

Symptom: RCON Connects But Commands Do Nothing

Cause: Using / prefix in RCON. Fix: Remove the slash. Send Save not /Save. Send Broadcast Hello not /Broadcast Hello.

Symptom: ToggleSpectate Does Nothing

Cause: Not authenticated as admin. Fix: Re-run /AdminPassword YourPassword. Check that authentication succeeded.

Alternative: Press the backslash key. Some players expect a menu or prompt. Spectator mode activates immediately with no visible confirmation until you move.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use admin commands in single player?

Not officially. Use the WorldOption.sav editing workaround described above.

Do Xbox players get admin commands?

No. Admin commands require a Steam dedicated server. Xbox console and Xbox Game Pass PC cannot host dedicated servers.

Why does my admin password keep resetting?

WorldOption.sav is overriding your PalWorldSettings.ini. Delete WorldOption.sav after every INI edit.

Are admin commands case sensitive?

Yes. /Save works. /save does not. /Shutdown works. /shutdown does not.

Can multiple people be admins?

Yes. Anyone who knows the AdminPassword can authenticate with /AdminPassword.

Do I need to re-authenticate every session?

Yes. Admin status does not persist between logins. Type /AdminPassword after every reconnect.

What happens if I use DoExit without Save?

You lose all progress since the last auto-save. Auto-saves occur every 15 minutes. Players lose items, built structures, and captured Pals from that window.

Can I undo a ban?

Yes. Use /UnBanPlayer with the exact same SteamID used in /BanPlayer.

Is there a command to spawn items?

Not natively. Use mods like AdminEngine or Palguard for item spawning. Try these best Palworld mods.

Will commands work after game updates?

Usually yes. Check Pocket Pair Studios patch notes for command changes. Test all commands on a backup server before update day.

Final Thoughts and Admin Cheat Sheet

Bookmark this guide. Return to it every time commands stop working. The PalWorldSettings.ini vs WorldOption.sav conflict causes more problems than any actual bug. Fix that first.

Test new commands on an empty server before using them with players online. One mistyped /DoExit during peak hours destroys your community trust.

Always save before shutdown. Always broadcast before restart. Always backup before updates.

Admin Cheat Sheet

• Authenticate: /AdminPassword YourPassword
• Save: /Save
• Broadcast: /Broadcast Your message here
• Kick: /KickPlayer steam_SteamID
• Ban: /BanPlayer steam_SteamID
• Unban: /UnBanPlayer steam_SteamID
• Teleport to: /TeleportToPlayer steam_SteamID
• Bring here: /TeleportToMe steam_SteamID
• Safe restart: /Save then /Shutdown 300 Message
• Emergency stop: /DoExit
• Spectate: /ToggleSpectate then press backslash
• List players: /ShowPlayers
• Server info: /Info

Now open PalWorldSettings.ini. Check if it is empty. Copy from DefaultPalWorldSettings.ini. Set your AdminPassword. Delete WorldOption.sav. Restart your server. Connect. Press Enter. Type /AdminPassword YourPassword. Your admin commands will work.