How To Add Admins to Your Barotrauma Server

Learn how to grant admin and moderator permissions on your Barotrauma dedicated server using clientpermissions.xml.

Barotrauma uses a permissions file (clientpermissions.xml) to manage admin access. Admins can manage rounds, kick/ban players, use console commands, and more.

Method 1: Edit clientpermissions.xml (Recommended)

Stop Your Server

Make sure your server is fully stopped before editing permission files.

Get the Player's SteamID64

You need the player's SteamID64 — a 17-digit number starting with 7656.

Find it at steamid.io by searching their Steam profile URL or username.

Open Files

In the XGamingServer Panel, click Files and navigate to Data/clientpermissions.xml.

Add the Admin Entry

Add a <Client> line inside the <ClientPermissions> block:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<ClientPermissions>
  <Client name="PlayerName" steamid="76561198000000001" preset="Admin" />
  <Client name="ModeratorName" steamid="76561198000000002" preset="Moderator" />
</ClientPermissions>

name — the player's display name (label only; SteamID is what actually identifies them)
steamid — the player's SteamID64
preset — permission level (see below)

Save and Start Your Server

Start your server — permissions take effect when the player joins.

Permission Presets

Moderator

Can manage gameplay and players:

Start/end rounds
Kick players
Select submarine and game mode
Manage campaign settings
Console commands: kick, kickid, clientlist, gamemode, sub, difficulty, respawnnow, traitorlist

Admin

Everything Moderator can do, plus:

Ban/unban players
Manage server settings and other players' permissions
Karma immunity (unaffected by karma penalties)
Extended commands: ban, unban, spawn, heal, revive, godmode, teleportcharacter, mute, unmute, freeze, fixitems, fixhulls, power, oxygen, explosion

God

Full control — everything Admin can do, plus:

Grant/revoke permissions for other players
All commands including: giverank, autorestart, botcount, botspawnmode, servermsg, togglekarma, setkarma, resetkarma, showkarma, restart, endgame

Method 2: Console Commands (In-Game)

If you already have God-level permissions, manage permissions live without stopping the server.

Open the Console in the panel or press F3 in-game:

# Assign a full rank
giverank [PlayerName] [Moderator/Admin/God]

# Grant a specific permission
giveperm [PlayerName] [permission]

# Grant access to a specific command
givecommandperm [PlayerName] [commandname]

# Remove all permissions
revokeperm [PlayerName]

📝 Note: Changes made via console are saved to clientpermissions.xml automatically.

Fine-Grained Permissions

Instead of a preset, specify exact permissions and allowed commands:

<Client name="PlayerName" steamid="76561198000000001"
        permissions="ManageRound, ConsoleCommands, Kick, Ban">
  <command name="heal" />
  <command name="spawn" />
  <command name="kick" />
</Client>

Available permissions: ManageRound, Kick, Ban, ManagePermissions, ConsoleCommands, ManageSettings, ManageCampaign, SelectSub, SelectMode, ServerLog, KarmaImmunity

💡 Tip: Have the player join your server, then run clientlist in the console — it shows all connected players and their SteamIDs.

💡 Tip: Need help? Join our Discord for support.

How To Add Admins to Your Barotrauma Server

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