Valheim left Early Access on September 9, 2026 with version 1.0, and the update brought crossplay between PC, Xbox, PS5 and Switch 2. Sooner or later every shared server runs into the same jobs: kicking a player who wrecks your base, saving the world by hand before a big build, or changing the difficulty without a restart. Console commands cover all of that. Below you’ll find how to enable the console, which commands actually work on a dedicated server and how to give yourself admin rights.
How to enable the console in Valheim 1.0
Since version 1.0 you no longer need a Steam launch option. You can switch the console on right in the game:
- Press ESC in game and open Settings.
- On the Gameplay tab, tick Enable Console.
- Go back to the game and open the console with F5.
- Type a command and press Enter.
The old -console launch option in the game’s Steam properties still works, it just isn’t needed any more. On PS5 and Xbox you open the console from the controller: hold the shoulder buttons and press the menu button.
Admin rights don’t unlock cheats
This is where most people get stuck. Commands like god, fly or spawn are cheats, and they’re switched on with devcommands. That only works in singleplayer or in a game hosted directly from a player’s client. On a dedicated server devcommands don’t work, even if you’re on the admin list. An entry in adminlist.txt lets you manage players and the world, not fly around or turn invincible.
On PC you can get around this with a server mod via BepInEx, but the players need the mods installed too. If your friends play on consoles, that route is off the table.
Admin commands for your server
The server only runs these commands for players on the admin list. Instead of a player name you can also use their IP address or ID.
| Command | What it does |
|---|---|
kick [name/IP/ID] | Kicks a player off the server; they can reconnect. |
ban [name/IP/ID] | Bans a player from the server. |
unban [name/IP/ID] | Lifts a ban. |
banned | Lists all banned players. |
save | Saves the world immediately. |
setworldmodifier [name] [value] | Changes a single world modifier, such as combat difficulty or resource rate. |
setworldpreset [name] | Sets all modifiers according to a preset. |
resetworldkeys | Resets world modifiers to their defaults. |
save is worth using more often than you’d think. Before your group starts a big rebuild or heads for a boss, one command locks in the state of the world and you don’t have to wait for the autosave.
How to become an admin on a Valheim server
Admins go into the adminlist.txt file in the server’s world save folder. Each line holds one player ID, and since crossplay the ID follows the [platform]_[ID] pattern. It’s case sensitive.
Don’t guess or convert IDs; copy them exactly, platform prefix included. You’ll find the ID in game on the F2 panel or in the server log once the player has connected. A bare SteamID64 from the pre-crossplay days may not match on 1.0, especially for console players, who don’t have a SteamID at all. Restart the server after editing the file.
Watch out for the neighbouring permittedlist.txt: as soon as you add even one player to it, only the people on that list can join and everyone else is locked out.
On Nitrado hosting you look up and add the ID through the web interface. In Tools → Live Server Console, wait for the player to connect and find the line received local Platform ID in the log. Then add the admin either in Tools → Player Control with Add Player and the Adminlist option, or directly in the file under Settings → Config Files → adminlist.txt, followed by a server restart after saving.
Commands every player can use
These commands need neither admin rights nor devcommands, so anyone on the server can use them.
| Command | What it does |
|---|---|
help | Lists the commands available to you. |
ping | Measures your latency to the server. |
info | Shows system and performance information. |
fov [number] | Changes your field of view. |
maxfps [number] | Sets a frame rate cap. |
lodbias [1–7] | Sets the draw distance for detail. |
respawn | Kills your character and respawns it. |
printseeds | Prints the seeds and positions of nearby dungeons. |
respawn comes in handy when your character gets stuck in the terrain and can’t get out any other way. printseeds helps anyone looking for the nearest dungeon without combing the whole forest.
Where to run your own Valheim server
The Valheim dedicated server is free on Steam and you can run it on your own PC. The server then only runs while that PC stays on, and if players on Xbox, PS5 or Switch 2 are joining, you have to start it with the -crossplay flag.
If you want the world online around the clock without dealing with ports and your router, go for hosting. One option is Nitrado, which offers Valheim servers with crossplay for PC, Xbox, PS5 and Switch 2. The admin list, config files and live server log are all edited in the web interface, so you can follow the steps above without FTP.
When ordering a server, you can use the code MAGIC-VLHM50. It’s valid until September 25, 2026.
FAQ
Tick Enable Console on the Gameplay tab in Settings, then press F5 in game. On PS5 and Xbox, hold the shoulder buttons and press the menu button.
They’re cheats enabled by the devcommands command, which doesn’t work on a dedicated server, even for admins. You can use it in singleplayer or in a game hosted from a client.
Not for all of them. Commands like ping, info or fov work for anyone. Kick, ban, save and world modifier changes only work for players listed in adminlist.txt.
In game on the F2 panel, or in the server log after the player connects. Copy it exactly, platform prefix included; it’s case sensitive.
Try the save command. If the server runs it, you’re an admin. If it ignores it, ask the server owner to check your ID in adminlist.txt.