Icarus Server Admin Commands and How to Use Them

Icarus admin commands are entered through the normal in-game chat. First set a non-empty AdminPassword in the dedicated server’s ServerSettings.ini, restart the server, join it, and run /AdminLogin YourPassword. Once authenticated, you can kick, ban, unban and message players, and—on Survival dedicated servers—return the running prospect to the lobby.

Administration is separate from prospect management. Loading or creating a prospect uses configuration or dedicated-server lobby controls, while the shipped command surface does not provide item spawning, teleportation, god mode or XP commands. The exact command list can change with game updates, so use /Help in the installed build when available.

What are Icarus admin commands and how do they work?

Icarus calls these controls RCON commands, but a dedicated-server administrator normally enters them in the game’s chat window rather than a separate developer console. RocketWerkz’s official wording is: “To use an RCON command, type / or \ then the command into the in game chat.” The current hosting instructions consistently show the slash form, such as /AdminLogin password12345.

The command is processed by the server, not just by your local client. You must authenticate the player who is issuing it, and the command’s effect depends on its scope. Moderation commands affect individual players, lobby commands affect the running prospect and everyone connected, and prospect commands are supplied through server configuration or lobby controls.

Slash and backslash syntax

Use a leading slash for the clearest, most portable syntax:

/AdminLogin YourPassword
/Help
/KickPlayer 76561198000000000 Please reconnect after the update

The official wiki also permits a leading backslash. If a keyboard layout makes one character inconvenient, try the other; do not omit the prefix.

How do I become an admin on an Icarus dedicated server?

Set the password while the server is stopped, restart it so the setting is read, then authenticate from in-game chat. Editing the file while the process is running can leave you testing an old value.

1. Stop the dedicated server. Use the host’s stop control or close the server process cleanly before changing configuration.
2. Open the server settings file. The usual relative path is SavedConfigWindowsServerServerSettings.ini inside the server’s saved directory. On a Windows installation, RocketWerkz notes that the base may be under %localappdata%Icarus; a -UserDir= launch option changes that base directory.
3. Set a non-empty password. Add or edit the setting so it resembles:

AdminPassword=choose-a-long-password

4. Save the file and restart the server. The running server must reload the setting before the password works.
5. Join the server as the player who will administer it. Open the normal chat input and enter:

/AdminLogin choose-a-long-password

6. Confirm the session. Run /Help if it is available in your installed build. Then perform a low-impact action, such as an announcement, before using a kick, ban or lobby command.

Why must the password not be empty?

RocketWerkz’s configuration guidance warns that an empty AdminPassword allows /AdminLogin to grant privileges with an empty password. Treat a blank value as an open administrator door. Use a long, unique password and do not paste it into public chat or share it with ordinary players.

Which Icarus commands are available after login?

The following list covers the documented moderation and lifecycle commands. Command names are shown with a slash because that is how you enter them in chat.

Command	Arguments	What it does	Effect and persistence
/AdminLogin	Password	Authenticates the current player.	Applies to the current player session; the password itself is configured in the server file.
/KickPlayer	SteamId or PlayerName and optional Reason	Disconnects one player.	Temporary; the player can rejoin.
/BanPlayer	SteamId or PlayerName and optional Reason	Disconnects one player and adds that player to the saved ban list.	Persistent until removed with /UnbanPlayer.
/UnbanPlayer	SteamId or PlayerName	Removes a player from the ban list.	Restores the ability to join, subject to other server restrictions.
/ReturnToLobby	None	Ends the running prospect, kicks all players and returns the dedicated server to its lobby.	Immediate lifecycle action; restricted to Survival mode on dedicated servers according to a September 2026 build review.
/ReturnToLobbyWhenEmpty	None	Waits until no players remain, then returns the server to the lobby.	Deferred lifecycle action; the same Survival dedicated-server restriction applies.
/AdminSay	Message	Displays an anonymous message to every player.	One announcement; it does not identify the issuing administrator.
/Help	None	Shows available admin commands in builds that expose the help command.	Informational; the displayed list is the best check for the installed build.

How do I kick a player in Icarus?

Authenticate first, then use /KickPlayer with the player’s Steam ID or player name and, if useful, a short reason. A kick removes the player immediately but does not prevent a later rejoin.

/KickPlayer 76561198000000000 Please reconnect after the server restart
/KickPlayer PlayerName Please move away from the protected build area

Which identifier should I use?

Use a Steam ID when names are duplicated, contain unusual characters or are difficult to select accurately. The documented syntax accepts either a Steam ID or a player name, but an exact ID removes ambiguity. Keep the reason brief and factual so the affected player and other moderators understand the action.

How do I ban or unban someone in Icarus?

Use /BanPlayer for a removal that is written to the server’s saved ban list. Use /UnbanPlayer with the same player’s Steam ID or name to reverse it.

/BanPlayer 76561198000000000 Repeated server-rule violations
/UnbanPlayer 76561198000000000

A ban is different from a kick: a kicked player can reconnect, while a banned player remains blocked until the ban is removed. Prefer a Steam ID for both operations so a name change or a duplicate display name does not target the wrong person.

What if the player is offline?

The documented command syntax identifies a target by Steam ID or player name and does not require an online-player qualifier. If a target cannot be resolved, check the spelling and use the Steam ID shown by your server or hosting interface. Do not guess at a name when a permanent ban is intended.

How do I announce a message to everyone?

/AdminSay sends an anonymous, server-wide message. It is useful for maintenance notices, rule reminders and a warning before a lifecycle action.

/AdminSay Server restart in five minutes. Finish your current task and return to the station.

Because the message is anonymous, establish a moderation policy so players know that an announcement may come from an administrator. Keep operational notices specific; avoid including the admin password or private player information.

How do I return an Icarus server to the lobby?

Use /ReturnToLobby when you need to end the current prospect immediately. It kicks every connected player and sends the dedicated server back to the lobby. Use /ReturnToLobbyWhenEmpty when players should be allowed to leave normally before the transition.

/AdminSay The prospect will close when everyone has evacuated.
/ReturnToLobbyWhenEmpty

Why might the lobby command do nothing?

A September 2026 build review reports that both lobby-return commands are restricted to Survival mode on dedicated servers. They may therefore do nothing in Open World or on a listen server. Check the mode, confirm that the server is a dedicated instance, and run /Help after a major update to see whether the installed build exposes the commands.

/ReturnToLobby is disruptive because it ends the running prospect and disconnects everyone immediately. Announce the action first unless the server is responding to an emergency. The empty-server variant avoids a mass kick but waits for every player to leave.

How do I load, resume or create an Icarus prospect?

Prospect lifecycle setup is separate from the moderation commands above. The documented controls can be supplied through ServerSettings.ini, command-line parameters or the dedicated-server lobby command window.

Load a saved prospect

LoadProspect [ProspectName]

LoadProspect loads a saved prospect from the dedicated server’s Prospects folder. Use the saved name exactly as the server expects; changing the underlying JSON filename can corrupt the save, as described in the migration guidance.

Resume the configured prospect

ResumeProspect

ResumeProspect resumes the last prospect named in the server configuration. It is intended for a server that should continue its configured prospect rather than ask an administrator to select one manually each time.

Create a new prospect

CreateProspect [ProspectType] [Difficulty] [Hardcore] [SaveName]

The official documentation defines difficulty values from 1 (easy) through 4 (extreme). Supply the prospect type, the numeric difficulty, the hardcore setting expected by the server, and a save name. Because these controls are not the same as player moderation, changing an admin password does not select or create a prospect.

Does Icarus have commands for spawning items, teleporting or god mode?

No shipped commands for /GiveItem, teleportation, god mode or XP were identified in a September 2026 third-party build review, which also reports that Icarus has no developer console. This is version-sensitive secondary evidence rather than a promise that every future build will behave identically.

Do not rely on old command lists that claim otherwise. After a major update, authenticate and run /Help, then check the current RocketWerkz hosting documentation for changes. If the command is not listed and the game has not documented a replacement, assume it is unavailable rather than repeatedly sending an unrecognized command.

What dedicated-server settings affect administration?

Administration depends on the dedicated-server process and its saved configuration, not on a special client edition. RocketWerkz identifies dedicated-server app ID 2089300. Its setup guide lists these default network ports:

Port	Purpose	When it matters
17777	Game traffic	Forward it when internet players must connect to the server.
27015	Steam query traffic	Forward it as well for internet hosting and server discovery.

The setup guidance recommends forwarding both ports for internet players. A server that is reachable locally but invisible or unreachable from outside the network often has a port-forwarding or firewall problem rather than an admin-command problem.

How many players can the server hold?

The server configuration documentation states that MaxPlayers ranges from 1 to 8. Set a value within that range, then restart the server when the configuration requires a reload. Player capacity does not grant additional admin privileges; it only controls the allowed population.

How do I migrate or back up a prospect without corrupting it?

Back up the prospect before copying it to another dedicated server. The official migration guide warns: “Changing the File Name, or the json data of your ProspectName.json, will corrupt your saved data.” Preserve both the filename and the JSON contents exactly.

1. Stop the source server cleanly so the latest save is written.
2. Make a separate backup copy before moving anything.
3. Copy the prospect into SavedPlayerDataDedicatedServerProspects on the destination server.
4. Keep the original ProspectName.json filename and its JSON data unchanged.
5. Start the destination server and use LoadProspect [ProspectName] or the configured resume control.
6. Keep the backup until the migrated prospect has loaded and been checked in-game.

A renamed file is not a harmless organizational change in this workflow. Treat the filename as part of the save’s identity.

What should I check when an Icarus command fails?

Work from the least destructive checks to the most invasive. The symptom usually identifies whether the problem is authentication, targeting, server mode or configuration.

The server says the command is unknown

• Confirm that the command begins with / or, if necessary, .
• Check spelling and capitalization against /Help in the installed build.
• Make sure you are using a documented server command, not an old item-spawn or teleport list.
• After a game update, restart the dedicated server before retesting.

/AdminLogin does not authenticate

• Confirm that AdminPassword is present and non-empty in the active ServerSettings.ini.
• Check whether the server uses a custom -UserDir=; you may have edited a different saved directory.
• Stop and restart the server after saving the file.
• Enter the password exactly, without extra spaces, and keep it out of public chat.

A kick or ban targets nobody

• Use the player’s exact Steam ID instead of a display name.
• If using a name, check spelling and any unusual characters.
• Use the optional reason only after the target identifier is correct; the reason does not substitute for an identifier.

The lobby transition has no visible effect

• Verify that the process is a dedicated server, not a listen server.
• Verify that the current mode is Survival; the September 2026 build review reports the lobby-return commands are restricted to that mode.
• For a non-urgent transition, use /ReturnToLobbyWhenEmpty and wait for all players to leave.
• Run /Help to account for changes in the installed build.

The migrated prospect will not load

• Restore the untouched backup if the JSON was edited or renamed.
• Place the file under SavedPlayerDataDedicatedServerProspects on the destination server.
• Use the prospect’s original name with LoadProspect.

What is a safe day-to-day admin workflow?

A repeatable sequence prevents accidental kicks, bans and prospect loss.

1. Keep a private record of the server’s administrator password and never leave AdminPassword blank.
2. Before each maintenance window, join the dedicated server and authenticate with /AdminLogin.
3. Use /AdminSay to announce maintenance or rule actions before disrupting players.
4. Use a Steam ID for disciplinary commands whenever the identity is ambiguous.
5. Choose /KickPlayer for a temporary removal and /BanPlayer only when a persistent block is intended.
6. Use /ReturnToLobbyWhenEmpty for planned shutdowns when players can evacuate; reserve /ReturnToLobby for an immediate end to the prospect.
7. Back up prospect files before migration and preserve every original filename and JSON field.
8. After updates, run /Help and recheck mode restrictions instead of trusting an old command list.

The practical boundary is simple: chat commands handle authentication, moderation and certain dedicated-server lifecycle actions; configuration and lobby controls handle prospect selection and creation. Keeping those roles separate is the best way to avoid using a moderation command where a server-setting change is required.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use a backslash instead of a slash for Icarus admin commands?

Yes. RocketWerkz documents both a slash and a backslash prefix for RCON commands entered in in-game chat. The slash form is the one shown by current hosting instructions, so try it first and use the backslash when your keyboard layout makes that easier.

Are Icarus admin commands available on a listen server?

The documented lobby-return restrictions specifically identify dedicated Survival servers; a listen server should not be assumed to support those lifecycle commands. If a command does not respond, verify the server type and inspect the installed build’s /Help output.

What happens if I forget the Icarus admin password?

Stop the server, edit the active ServerSettings.ini and replace AdminPassword with a new non-empty value, then restart. If the change appears ineffective, check whether a -UserDir= option points to a different saved directory.

Can I administer an Icarus server entirely from the host control panel?

The documented command interface is the in-game chat. Host panels may provide file editing or a lobby command window for configuration and prospect controls, but player moderation still uses the server’s authenticated command system unless the host supplies an explicitly documented alternative.

Why should I use a Steam ID instead of a player name when banning?

A Steam ID is a stable identifier for the account, while display names can be duplicated or changed. Using the ID reduces the chance of banning the wrong person and makes a later /UnbanPlayer operation unambiguous.