# Squad Server.cfg Reference — Every Setting Explained (/docs/squad/server-cfg-reference) `Server.cfg` is the main configuration file for a Squad dedicated server. On XGamingServer it lives at `SquadGame/ServerConfig/Server.cfg` — open it from the **Files** tab (or use the panel's config fields for the common settings). Stop the server before editing, then restart to apply. > Every setting is `Key=Value`, one per line. Lines starting with `//` are comments. Values are case-sensitive. Server Identity & Visibility [#server-identity--visibility] | Setting | Default | What it does | | ----------------- | ------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | `ServerName` | `"My Squad Server"` | Name shown in the server browser. Wrap in quotes. | | `ShouldAdvertise` | `true` | Whether the server appears in the in-game browser. Set `false` only for private/LAN testing. | | `IsLANMatch` | `false` | Runs the server in LAN-only mode. Keep `false` for public servers. | | `MaxPlayers` | `80` | Maximum player slots (up to 100 on licensed servers). | | `Tags` | *(varies)* | Server-browser filter tags — see [Server Tags & Rules](/docs/squad/server-tags). | | `Rules` | *(varies)* | Community rules shown as browser tags — see [Server Tags & Rules](/docs/squad/server-tags). | Queue & Reserved Slots [#queue--reserved-slots] | Setting | Default | What it does | | ---------------------- | ------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | `NumReservedSlots` | `0` | Slots reserved for players with the `reserve` admin permission. See [Reserved Slots](/docs/squad/reserved-slots). | | `PublicQueueLimit` | `25` | How many public players can wait in the join queue. | | `JoiningPlayerTimeout` | `90` | Seconds an accepted player has to finish connecting before their spot is released. | Map & Layer Rotation [#map--layer-rotation] | Setting | Default | What it does | | ------------------------------- | ---------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | | `MapRotationMode` | `LayerList_Vote` | `LevelList`, `LayerList`, `LayerList_Vote`, or the `_Randomized` variants. See [Map & Layer Rotation](/docs/squad/map-and-layer-rotation). | | `RandomizeAtStart` | `true` | Shuffle the rotation list when the server boots. | | `UseVoteFactions` | `false` | Vote for factions on generic layers (randomized if `false`). | | `UseVoteLevel` | `true` | Vote for the next **map** at end of round. | | `UseVoteLayer` | `false` | Vote for the next **layer** at end of round. | | `AllowFireteamLayersInRotation` | `false` | Include Fireteam mission layers in rotation. | Team Balance [#team-balance] See [Team Balance & Team Switching](/docs/squad/team-balance) for the full guide. | Setting | Default | What it does | | ------------------------------- | ------- | --------------------------------------------------------------- | | `AllowTeamChanges` | `true` | Whether players can switch teams at all. | | `PreventTeamChangeIfUnbalanced` | `true` | Block team switches that would unbalance teams. | | `NumPlayersDiffForTeamChanges` | `3` | Max allowed player-count difference between teams for a switch. | | `AllianceEnabled` | `false` | Enable faction alliance restrictions. | | `RejoinSquadDelayAfterKick` | `180` | Seconds before a kicked-from-squad player can rejoin one. | Teamkill Auto-Kick & Bans [#teamkill-auto-kick--bans] *(Required fields on licensed servers; adjustable on community servers.)* | Setting | Default | What it does | | ------------------------------- | ------- | --------------------------------------------- | | `TKAutoKickEnabled` | `true` | Auto-kick players who team-kill too much. | | `AutoTKBanNumberTKs` | `7` | Team-kills within a match before an auto-ban. | | `AutoTKBanTime` | `300` | Auto-ban length in seconds (`0` = permanent). | | `VehicleKitRequirementDisabled` | `false` | Remove the kit requirement to use vehicles. | | `AllowCommunityAdminAccess` | `true` | Allow community admin tools/access. | Match & Prep Timers [#match--prep-timers] | Setting | Default | What it does | | ----------------------- | ------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | `TimeBetweenMatches` | `60` | End-of-round timer before the next match, when voting is **off**. | | `TimeBeforeVote` | `60` | How long the end screen shows before the vote appears. | | `PrepTimeStandard` | `240` | Staging-phase length (seconds) for standard modes. Limit 60–300. Does not affect Invasion/Insurgency/Destruction/Skirmish. | | `PrepTimeSmallScale` | `180` | Staging length for small-scale modes like Skirmish. Limit 60–300. | | `ServerMessageInterval` | `300` | Seconds between periodic broadcast messages — see [Server Messages & MOTD](/docs/squad/server-messages-and-motd). | Demos & Recording [#demos--recording] | Setting | Default | What it does | | ---------------------------- | ------- | -------------------------------------------- | | `RecordDemos` | `true` | Record server-side demos of matches. | | `AllowPublicClientsToRecord` | `false` | Let public clients record client-side demos. | Optional / Advanced [#optional--advanced] | Setting | Default | What it does | | --------------------------------------- | ------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | `VehicleClaimingDisabled` | `false` | Disable the vehicle-claiming system. | | `ForceNonSeamlessTravelIntervalSeconds` | *(off)* | Force a disconnect-on-map-change every N seconds (memory-leak workaround). Commented out by default. | Related Guides [#related-guides] * [Server Tags & Rules](/docs/squad/server-tags) * [Map & Layer Rotation](/docs/squad/map-and-layer-rotation) * [Team Balance & Team Switching](/docs/squad/team-balance) * [Seeding Configuration](/docs/squad/seeding-config) * [Admin Permissions & Groups](/docs/squad/admin-permissions)