# How to Enable a Whitelist on Your SCP: Secret Laboratory Server (/docs/scp-secret-laboratory/enable-whitelist)



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

A **whitelist** makes your SCP: Secret Laboratory server private: only the players you've approved can connect. It's the cleanest way to run a community-only or staff-testing server.

<Steps>
  <Step>
    Enable the whitelist in config_gameplay.txt [#enable-the-whitelist-in-config_gameplaytxt]

    In the [XGamingServer panel](https://panel.xgamingserver.com), open the **File Manager** and edit `config/<port>/config_gameplay.txt`. Set:

    ```
    enable_whitelist: true
    ```
  </Step>

  <Step>
    Add players to the whitelist file [#add-players-to-the-whitelist-file]

    Add each allowed player's **SteamID64** to the whitelist file (`SteamIDWhitelist.txt`), one per line:

    ```
    76561198012345678
    76561198087654321
    ```

    Players can find their SteamID64 with a lookup site like steamid.io. (Depending on your version, IDs may use the `76561198012345678@steam` format — match whatever the default file shows.)
  </Step>

  <Step>
    Restart the server [#restart-the-server]

    Restart your server from the panel for the whitelist to take effect. From now on, only the SteamIDs you listed can connect — everyone else is rejected at join.
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Callout type="info">
  To add someone later, just append their SteamID to the whitelist file and restart (or reload the whitelist via the console if your version supports it). To temporarily open the server to everyone, set `enable_whitelist: false` and restart.
</Callout>

<Callout type="warn">
  Config keys and the exact whitelist file name can change between SCP:SL versions. If the whitelist doesn't apply, confirm the current key/filename on the official [SCP:SL techwiki whitelist guide](https://techwiki.scpslgame.com/books/server-guides/page/how-to-enable-whitelist-and-whitelist-users).
</Callout>

Whitelist vs. password vs. admin roles [#whitelist-vs-password-vs-admin-roles]

* **Whitelist** — only listed players can join (best for private/community servers). See above.
* **[Password](/docs/scp-secret-laboratory/set-a-password)** — anyone with the password can join.
* **[Admin roles](/docs/scp-secret-laboratory/adding-admins)** — control who can *moderate*, separate from who can *join*.