How to Password Protect Your Clone Hero Server
Add or remove a password on your Clone Hero server using startup arguments. Covers the password rules, how to share it with players, and what to do if you need to change it.
Adding a Password
In your DustBowl.Games control panel, update the startup arguments to use -ps instead of -np:
./Server -l 3 -n "My Clone Hero Server" -p 14242 -ps YourPassword
Restart the server. Players will be prompted for the password when they connect.
Password Rules
Clone Hero server passwords have strict formatting requirements:
- Alphanumeric characters and underscores only — letters (A–Z, a–z), numbers (0–9), and
_ - No spaces
- No special characters (no
!,@,#,-, etc.)
Valid: MyServer2024, dustbowl_private, CoolBand_123
Invalid: my server, cool-band, password!
If you use an invalid character, the server may fail to start or behave unexpectedly.
Removing a Password
Switch -ps YourPassword back to -np in the startup arguments:
./Server -l 3 -n "My Clone Hero Server" -p 14242 -np
Restart the server. It's now open to anyone with the IP and port.
Changing the Password
There's no way to change the password on a running server. To change it:
- Stop the server
- Update the
-psargument with the new password in the control panel - Start the server
Share the new password with your players before they try to reconnect.
Sharing the Password With Players
Clone Hero has no in-game server browser — players connect by IP and port directly. Send them:
- The server IP address
- The port (default
14242) - The password
A Discord channel or server info post works well for this. If you change the password, update that message immediately to avoid support requests from locked-out players.