Set Up a Whitelist on Your Valheim Server
Restrict your Valheim dedicated server to approved players only using the permittedlist.txt allowlist.
Valheim's whitelist (called the permitted list) restricts access to specific players. Unlike a password — which anyone with the password can use — the whitelist locks the server to specific Steam or PlayFab IDs.
How the Whitelist Works
| State | Who Can Join |
|---|---|
permittedlist.txt has entries | Only listed players can join |
permittedlist.txt is empty / missing | Anyone with the password can join |
The whitelist accepts SteamID64 (Steam players) or PlayFab ID (crossplay players).
Enable the Whitelist
Stop your server
In the XGamingServer Panel, go to Console and stop the server.
Open permittedlist.txt
Click Files in the sidebar and open permittedlist.txt in the server root. If it doesn't exist, create it.
Start the server
Click Save Content and start from Console.
Find a Player's ID
| Player Type | How to Find |
|---|---|
| Steam (PC) | Press F2 in-game while connected — shows all players' SteamID64. Or look up their profile at steamid.io |
| Crossplay (Xbox/Game Pass) | Press F2 in-game to see PlayFab IDs, or check Console for connection logs |
Remove a Player
Edit permittedlist.txt, delete the player's line, save, and restart the server.
Disable the Whitelist
To allow any player (with the password) to join again, either delete permittedlist.txt entirely or remove all entries from it.
Whitelist vs Password
| Feature | Password | Whitelist |
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Anyone with the password can join | Only specific players can join |
| Sharing risk | Passwords leak easily | IDs are unique to each player |
| Management | One password for everyone | Per-player control |
| Best for | Semi-private friend groups | Fully private / trusted communities |
Tip: For maximum security, use both a password and a whitelist. The password prevents random connection attempts and the whitelist ensures only approved players get in.
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