Sons of the Forest Server Admin Commands: Console, Admin Setup and Cheats

Q: What player identifier does the kick or ban command require?

Use the exact server-side ID printed by the list command, not a display name or Steam profile name. Copying the value directly from the live console avoids targeting the wrong connection when names are similar.

There is no single in-game admin command list for Sons of the Forest. Administration is divided between the owner-only Players panel, the dedicated-server console, the client-side F1 cheat console, and the JSON configuration file. Use the Players panel to assign trusted owners and moderate guests, the server console for kick and ban actions, F1 for cheats that affect only the player who enters them, and dedicatedserver.cfg for persistent server settings. Entering a valid command in the wrong interface makes it appear broken, so the first step is identifying which of those four tools matches the job.

This guide covers the current dedicated-server workflow, command syntax, ownership setup, cheat permissions, configuration defaults, save behavior, first-boot expectations, and the common mistakes caused by copying commands from The Forest.

Which Sons of the Forest administration tool should I use?

Choose the interface by the scope of the change: the Players panel manages people and roles, the server console controls the running server, F1 changes the local client, and dedicatedserver.cfg controls startup and save settings.

Entry point	What it controls	Persistence	Permission model
Pause Menu > Players	Promote, demote, kick, ban, or unban guests	Role and moderation actions take effect during the session; ownership is read after a restart	Only SteamIDs in `ownerswhitelist.txt` receive the owner panel
Dedicated-server Console tab or process terminal	Save, stop, list players, kick, ban, and unban	Immediate runtime effect	Anyone with access to the hosting panel or server terminal
Client F1 console	Cheats and debug effects for the entering player	Runtime effect on that client	Cheats must be enabled for the multiplayer session; they are not per-player admin rights
`dedicatedserver.cfg`	Ports, player cap, save slot, save mode, game mode, and custom settings	Read at startup or when a new save is created, depending on the setting	Anyone who can edit the server’s files

Do not treat F1 cheats as moderation commands. A client can make their own character invulnerable, but that does not grant authority over another player’s inventory, health, or position.

How do I become an administrator on a dedicated server?

Add your SteamID64 to the server’s owner whitelist, restart the server, and then use the Players panel from the pause menu. The owner role is the highest server role and has access to the same broad command set available to a peer-to-peer host, so only add people you trust.

1. Locate the server user-data folder

The dedicated-server data directory contains ownerswhitelist.txt, dedicatedserver.cfg, the saves folder, and game settings. A managed host normally exposes these files through its file manager; a self-hosted installation stores them beside the server’s user data.

2. Add SteamID64 values

Open ownerswhitelist.txt in a plain-text editor.
Enter one administrator’s SteamID64 per line.
Save the file without adding names, commas, or other labels.
Restart the dedicated server so the whitelist is loaded.

3. Use the Players panel

After joining as a whitelisted owner, open Pause Menu > Players. Owners can promote players to administrators, demote them to guests, kick guests, and ban or unban guests. A player who is not listed as an owner cannot use this panel as an equivalent of server-console access.

Where do I type kick, ban, save, and stop?

Enter these commands in the hosting control panel’s Console tab or in the terminal window running the dedicated-server process. They are not F1 commands and are not chat commands.

Command	Syntax	Result
`help`	`help`	Shows commands exposed by the running server build.
`list`	`list`	Lists connected players and their server IDs.
`save`	`save`	Saves the current world immediately.
`stop`	`stop`	Stops the dedicated server process.
`kick`	`kick <playerID>`	Disconnects one player temporarily.
`ban`	`ban <playerID>`	Bans one player.
`unban`	`unban`	Removes a ban according to the running server’s ban list handling.

Safe moderation sequence

Run list and copy the exact playerID shown by the server.
Run kick <playerID> for a temporary removal or ban <playerID> for a persistent restriction.
Run list again to confirm that the player is no longer connected.
Use unban when access should be restored.

Run save before planned maintenance. Use stop only in the server console; typing it into chat or the F1 console will not stop the dedicated process. Because command exposure can vary by host and server build, run help on the live server before relying on an undocumented command.

What can the F1 cheat console do?

The F1 console is client-side. Commands entered there affect the player who enters them, not another connected player’s character or inventory. Typical examples include:

godmode on and godmode off for invulnerability.
energyhack on and energyhack off for the local energy effect.
speedyrun on and speedyrun off for faster running.
additem <name or id> to add an item to the entering player’s inventory.
spawnitem <name or id> to spawn an item in the local game context.
settimeofday 15 to set the local game time value.
setcurrentday 40 to change the current day value.
addcharacter robby to add the named character.

These are cheats and debugging tools, not a substitute for owner permissions. They do not promote a player, kick someone, ban someone, or grant another player god mode.

Opening the console in single-player

Start or load the game and make sure it is not paused.
Type cheatstick directly on the keyboard. There is no text box to click first.
Press F1 to toggle the console input.
Press F2 to toggle the log and status overlay when you need to inspect feedback.

Opening it from a dedicated-server client

Press Enter to open in-game chat.
Submit cheatstick through chat.
Press F1 to open the console input.
Use F2 to inspect logs or status information.

A non-US keyboard layout can prevent the activation word from being recognized. If nothing happens, switch temporarily to a US layout, use the correct single-player or multiplayer activation context, press F1 after submitting the word, and inspect the F2 overlay.

How do I enable cheats for a dedicated server?

Enable multiplayer cheats either for the running session or persistently in the custom-game JSON settings. Cheats are all-or-nothing for connected players; they are not an administrator permission that can be assigned to one person.

Runtime setting

Use this command in the server console:

setgamesetupsetting GameSetting.Multiplayer.Cheats true

The setting applies to the multiplayer session and allows connected clients to use the F1 cheat console.

Persistent JSON setting

In dedicatedserver.cfg, place the following property inside CustomGameModeSettings:

"GameSetting.Multiplayer.Cheats": true

Set GameMode to Custom and create a new save. The custom-settings block is read when that custom save is created; loading an existing island can leave the previous settings unchanged. Leave cheats disabled on a public server unless every connected player is trusted, because enabling them exposes the capability to everyone in that session.

What should be in dedicatedserver.cfg?

The configuration file is JSON. The Steam Community dedicated-server guide’s default values include the following. The guide was published in 2023 and updated in 2025; values can differ if a host supplies its own template.

Setting	Default value	Purpose
`GamePort`	`8766` (UDP)	Primary game traffic port.
`QueryPort`	`27016` (UDP)	Server query and listing traffic.
`BlobSyncPort`	`9700` (UDP)	Blob synchronization traffic.
`MaxPlayers`	`8`	Maximum connected players in the documented default.
`SaveSlot`	`1`	Selected save slot.
`SaveMode`	`Continue`	Loads or creates the selected slot instead of replacing it on each restart.
`GameMode`	`Normal`	Mode used when a save is created.
`SaveInterval`	`600` seconds	Automatic save interval in the documented default.
`GameSettings`	Empty object	Container for supported gameplay settings.
`CustomGameModeSettings`	Empty object	Container for custom-mode settings such as multiplayer cheats.

SaveMode is the setting most likely to cause data loss

Continue loads the selected slot or creates it if it does not exist. New creates a fresh game and overwrites that slot on every restart while it remains enabled. If a server appears to reset after each reboot, check SaveMode before changing any other setting.

When do GameMode and custom settings take effect?

GameMode and CustomGameModeSettings are used when a save is created. Changing them while loading an existing island may have no effect. By contrast, supported GameSettings entries such as Gameplay.TreeRegrowth and Structure.Damage can be used across modes according to hosting documentation, but each host’s template and game build should be checked before adding undocumented keys.

Dedicated-server startup, ports, and storage expectations

A first launch is not instant. GameServerKings’ 2026 setup guide reports an initial download of about 18 GB and a first-boot time of roughly 15–25 minutes. Keep the process running until that download and initialization finish; stopping it early can leave an incomplete installation that looks like a configuration failure.

Open the three documented UDP ports—8766, 27016, and 9700—in the host firewall or router when you self-host. A managed provider should state whether those ports are already mapped for you. If the server appears online locally but cannot be found or joined remotely, check port forwarding and the provider’s network instructions before changing game settings.

Make a copy of dedicatedserver.cfg and the saves folder before editing. JSON is unforgiving: a missing quote, comma, or brace can stop a server from reading the file. Change one setting at a time, preserve the existing key names and capitalization, and restart when a setting is documented as startup-only. Keep the backup outside the live user-data directory so a reset or reinstall does not replace both copies.

How hosting panels change the workflow

A managed dedicated-server plan is useful when it provides a visible Console tab, file manager, restart controls, save management, and backups. Those features map directly to the four administration paths: the panel console accepts list, kick, ban, save, and stop; the file manager exposes ownerswhitelist.txt and dedicatedserver.cfg; and scheduled backups protect the saves folder.

Compare providers by console access, configuration-file access, backup retention, location, and support for the documented eight-player cap rather than by a slot number alone. Confirm whether a restart is required after whitelist edits, whether you can download a save, and whether the panel shows the live server output. No title-specific physical product is required: a keyboard, router, or PC is only infrastructure, not an additional Sons of the Forest feature.

Operational examples for owners

Removing a disruptive guest

Open the Players panel if you are already in the game and have owner access. For a console-based action, run list, identify the exact player ID, and issue kick <playerID>. Use ban <playerID> when a temporary disconnect is insufficient, then run list again. Record the reason in your own moderation notes; the game command itself only performs the connection action.

Preparing for an update or host move

Warn connected players and run save.
Wait for the console to acknowledge the save, then run stop.
Copy the saves folder and configuration file.
After the new process starts, run list and verify the expected world and player capacity.
Run help after an update because the exposed command set can change between builds.

Testing cheats without opening a public loophole

Use a separate custom save, set GameSetting.Multiplayer.Cheats to true, and test with only trusted players connected. Return the setting to false or remove the custom property before loading the public save. Because cheat permission is session-wide, there is no safe way to enable it for one volunteer while denying it to everyone else in the same session.

Why do commands appear not to work?

“I typed a command in chat and nothing happened.”

kick, ban, save, and stop belong to the dedicated-server console. Enter them in the hosting panel’s Console tab or the process terminal, not normal game chat and not F1.

“Cheatstick does nothing.”

In single-player, type it while the game is running and unpaused; there is no input box.
On a dedicated-server client, submit it through chat first, then press F1.
Switch to a US keyboard layout if the activation word is not recognized.
Press F2 and inspect the log or status overlay for confirmation or errors.

“My custom mode or cheat setting was ignored.”

Confirm that GameMode is Custom, that the JSON is valid, and that you created a new save after changing CustomGameModeSettings. Loading an existing save can legitimately preserve its earlier mode and settings.

“The server reset its world.”

Check the active SaveSlot and make sure SaveMode is Continue, not New. The documented automatic save interval is 600 seconds, so run save before planned maintenance instead of relying only on the periodic interval.

“I copied a command from The Forest.”

developermodeon belongs to the 2018 The Forest and does nothing in Sons of the Forest. Slash-prefixed lists such as /kick, /ban, /save, and /restart are also from the wrong game’s command model. In Sons of the Forest, ownership is configured outside the game, moderation is performed through the Players panel or server console, and cheats are local to the client that enters them.

What is the safest administration workflow for a public server?

Add only trusted SteamID64 values to ownerswhitelist.txt and restart.
Use the Players panel for role changes and guest moderation when you are in game.
Use the server console for precise kick and ban actions, taking the ID from list.
Run save before maintenance, then use stop from the server console.
Keep multiplayer cheats disabled unless every connected player accepts the same unrestricted capability.
Verify SaveSlot, SaveMode, and the active configuration file before creating or replacing a world.
Run help after a server update or host migration to see which commands the live build actually exposes.

This separation prevents the most common administrative errors: trying to moderate through a client cheat console, trying to cheat through server chat, and changing custom-game settings without creating a save that can read them.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I give admin rights to someone without giving them cheat powers?

Yes. Add their SteamID64 to the owner whitelist and use the Players panel for moderation, while leaving multiplayer cheats disabled. Owner permissions and cheat access are separate controls; enabling cheats is a session-wide choice for all connected players.

What player identifier does the kick or ban command require?

Use the exact server-side ID printed by the list command, not a display name or Steam profile name. Copying the value directly from the live console avoids targeting the wrong connection when names are similar.

Will changing GameMode convert my existing island?

Not necessarily. GameMode and CustomGameModeSettings are read when a save is created, so loading an existing island can leave its original mode and custom rules intact. Create a new custom save when you need those settings to take effect.

How large is a standard dedicated server?

The Steam Community guide’s documented default is eight maximum players. That is a configuration value in the server template, not a promise that every host or future build exposes a larger capacity.

How long does the first dedicated-server setup take?

GameServerKings’ 2026 setup guide reports about 18 GB of downloads and roughly 15–25 minutes for first boot. Allow the process to finish before troubleshooting commands or settings.

Which UDP ports must I open?

The documented defaults are UDP 8766 for game traffic, UDP 27016 for queries, and UDP 9700 for blob synchronization. Managed hosts may map these automatically; self-hosted servers need matching firewall or router rules.

Can I enable cheats for only one administrator?

No. Multiplayer cheats are an all-or-nothing session setting. Once enabled, every connected client can use the F1 console, so use a separate custom save or restrict access to trusted players.

What should I check before editing dedicatedserver.cfg?

Back up the file and saves, confirm the active SaveSlot, preserve valid JSON syntax, and change one key at a time. GameMode and CustomGameModeSettings generally require a newly created save, while SaveMode controls whether a slot is continued or replaced.

The Bottom Line

Use the right interface for the right scope: whitelist owners for the Players panel, run moderation and save commands in the dedicated-server console, use F1 only for local cheats, and edit dedicatedserver.cfg for startup and save behavior. Back up the world, keep SaveMode on Continue, and leave multiplayer cheats off on public servers unless everyone connected is trusted.