# How to Change Max Players on Your Quake 3 Server (/docs/quake-3/player-slots)



import { Tab, Tabs } from 'fumadocs-ui/components/tabs';
import { Step, Steps } from 'fumadocs-ui/components/steps';

The default Quake 3 player limit is **16**. The id Tech 3 engine supports higher counts, but most Q3 maps cap around 16–32.

<Tabs items={['Via Startup (Recommended)', 'Via server.cfg']}>
  <Tab value="Via Startup (Recommended)">
    <Steps>
      <Step>
        Open Startup [#open-startup]

        In the [XGamingServer Panel](https://panel.xgamingserver.com), click **Startup** in the sidebar.
      </Step>

      <Step>
        Set Max Players [#set-max-players]

        Find the **Max Players** field and enter your desired count.
      </Step>

      <Step>
        Restart [#restart]

        Restart from **Console** to apply.
      </Step>
    </Steps>
  </Tab>

  <Tab value="Via server.cfg">
    <Steps>
      <Step>
        Stop the server [#stop-the-server]
      </Step>

      <Step>
        Open server.cfg [#open-servercfg]

        In **Files**, open `baseq3/server.cfg`.
      </Step>

      <Step>
        Set sv_maxclients [#set-sv_maxclients]

        ```
        seta sv_maxclients 16
        ```
      </Step>

      <Step>
        Save and start [#save-and-start]
      </Step>
    </Steps>
  </Tab>
</Tabs>

Recommended Counts by Game Mode [#recommended-counts-by-game-mode]

| Mode                 | Recommended            |
| -------------------- | ---------------------- |
| **Tournament (1v1)** | 4 (2 players + 2 spec) |
| **Free For All**     | 8–16                   |
| **Team Deathmatch**  | 8–12                   |
| **Capture the Flag** | 12–20                  |

Related Guides [#related-guides]

* [Server Configuration](/docs/quake-3/server-config)
* [Connect to Your Server](/docs/quake-3/join-server)