Valheim stores in-game admins in adminlist.txt. You need each player’s full platform user ID, not their display name. Find it in the server log or the game’s F2 panel. It uses the case-sensitive [Platform]_[UserID] format.
Edit the admin list
- Open your Valheim server and check Startup for -savedir. If set, use that directory for permission files.
- Otherwise, open Files > .config/unity3d/IronGate/Valheim. This is the default native Linux save directory.
- Open adminlist.txt, or create it in that folder if it is missing.
- Add the player’s complete platform user ID on its own line. Keep any existing admin IDs.
- Save the file and restart the server. Ask the player to reconnect.
If the hidden .config folder is not visible, use SFTP or ask support to help you find the active save directory.
Check admin access
- Join the server and press F5 to open the game console.
- On Steam, add -console to Valheim’s client launch options if F5 does not open it.
- Enter Banned to check that you can view the ban list. Kick PLAYERNAME, Ban PLAYERNAME and Unban PLAYERNAME are moderation commands.
If access fails, check the full ID and its capitalization against F2 or the server log. To remove an admin, delete their line, save and restart.
adminlist.txt grants admin access. bannedlist.txt blocks players. A nonempty permittedlist.txt only allows its listed IDs to join. Admin access on a dedicated server does not unlock every single-player cheat command.
For friends on Xbox or different PC stores, see the Valheim crossplay guide.
References: Iron Gate’s permission files and admin commands and Steam client console setup.
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