How to Add Admins and Set Permissions on Your Barotrauma Server
Grant admin access and fine-grained permissions to players using clientpermissions.xml or the in-game menu. Covers all permission flags and useful console commands.
The Permissions File
Player permissions are stored in Servers/<ServerName>/clientpermissions.xml. This file is created automatically when you first grant or modify permissions. You can edit it directly or manage permissions in-game.
Adding an Admin via File
<ClientPermissions>
<Client name="PlayerName" steamid="76561198XXXXXXXXX" permissions="All" />
<Client name="AnotherPlayer" steamid="76561198YYYYYYYYY" permissions="ManagePlayers, ManageRound" />
</ClientPermissions>
To find a player's SteamID, have them connect to the server and check the server console — it logs SteamIDs on join. You can also look up their Steam profile URL at steamid.io.
Changes to clientpermissions.xml take effect immediately without a server restart.
Permission Values
| Permission | What it allows |
|---|---|
All |
Full access to everything below |
ManageRound |
Start and end rounds |
ManagePlayers |
Kick and ban players |
ManageCampaign |
Campaign-specific actions (buy subs, manage crew) |
ConsoleCommands |
Use in-game server console commands |
ServerLog |
View the server log |
SelectSub |
Choose the active submarine |
SelectMode |
Choose the game mode |
Combine multiple permissions with a comma: "ManagePlayers, ManageRound, ConsoleCommands".
Granting Permissions In-Game
You can also manage permissions without editing files:
- Open the crew/player list (tab key by default)
- Right-click a player's name
- Select Manage Permissions
- Toggle the permissions you want to grant
This writes to clientpermissions.xml automatically. No restart needed.
Useful Admin Console Commands
These require ConsoleCommands permission (or direct server console access):
| Command | What it does |
|---|---|
kick "Player Name" |
Remove a player from the server |
ban "Player Name" |
Ban a player |
unban "Player Name" |
Remove a ban |
respawn "Player Name" |
Force-respawn a specific player |
heal "Player Name" |
Fully restore a player's health |
teleport "Player Name" |
Teleport a player to your location |
spawn [creature] [count] |
Spawn creatures in the current level |
god |
Toggle god mode for yourself |
traitor |
Reveal the current round's traitor |
Player names with spaces must be wrapped in quotes.