Ban or Unban a Player on Core Keeper Server

This guide walks you through banning and unbanning players on a Core Keeper dedicated server, whether you run it on your own machine or rent from a hosting provider. You’ll need access to the server’s configuration files or its console/command interface, depending on your setup. The steps are the same for a small friend group or a larger community server.

What You’ll Need

• Access to the server’s console (the command-line window where the server runs) or a remote console if you’re using a hosting panel.
• File access to the server’s game folder (usually via FTP or a file manager in your hosting panel) to edit the ban list file directly if needed.
• The player’s Steam ID (17-digit number) or their in-game name. The Steam ID is more reliable because names can change.

Step-by-Step

1. Identify the player’s Steam ID. If you don’t have it, ask the player to open Steam, go to their profile, right-click, and select “Copy Page URL.” The long number at the end of that URL is their Steam ID. Alternatively, you can find it in the server logs or by using a site like steamid.io.
2. Open the server console. If the server is running in a terminal window on your PC, click on it. If it’s a hosted server, look for a “Console” or “Terminal” button in your hosting control panel.
3. Type the ban command. In the console, type:
   ban <SteamID>
   For example: ban 76561198012345678
   Press Enter. The server will confirm the player is banned.
4. To unban, use the unban command. Type:
   unban <SteamID>
   Again, press Enter. The server will confirm the player is unbanned.
5. If the console commands don’t work (some older versions or custom setups may not support them), edit the ban list file directly. Navigate to your server’s game folder, find a file named banlist.txt (or similar, like banned.txt). Open it with a text editor.
6. Add a Steam ID to the file to ban: paste the Steam ID on a new line, save the file, and restart the server (or use the reloadbanlist command if available).
7. Remove a Steam ID from the file to unban: delete the line containing the Steam ID, save, and restart or reload.
8. Verify the ban/unban. Have the affected player try to join. If they were banned, they should see a message like “You are banned from this server.” If unbanned, they should be able to connect normally.

Common Mistakes

• Using the wrong ID. Make sure you’re using the Steam ID (17 digits) and not the Steam3 ID (which starts with U:1:) or the account name. The console command expects the numeric ID.
• Typing the command in the game chat. The ban command only works in the server console, not in the game’s chat window. If you type it in chat, it will just appear as a message.
• Forgetting to save the banlist file. If you edit the file manually and don’t save it, or if you don’t restart the server, the change won’t take effect.
• Banning the wrong player. Double-check the Steam ID before you hit Enter. A typo can ban an innocent player.
• Not telling the player. If you ban someone, they may not know why. It’s good practice to send them a message (via Steam) explaining the reason, unless it’s a blatant cheating case.

Tips

• Use Steam IDs, not names. A player can change their display name at any time, making name-based bans useless.
• Keep a record of bans. Maintain a separate text file on your computer with the Steam ID, the date, and the reason. This helps you decide later whether to unban.
• Test with a friend. Before you need to ban someone, practice with a friend to make sure you know how the commands work on your setup.
• Consider a whitelist. If you run a private server, you can set it to whitelist mode so only approved players can join. This is easier than banning individuals.
• Use the server’s web panel. Many hosting providers offer a web-based control panel with a “Players” tab where you can ban/unban with a click. Check your provider’s documentation.

Troubleshooting

• Command not recognized. If the console says “unknown command,” your server version may not support the ban command. In that case, edit the banlist file manually. If that file doesn’t exist, create it in the server root folder.
• Player can still join after being banned. This usually means the ban didn’t save. If you used the console, check that the server output confirmed the ban. If you edited the file, make sure you saved it and restarted the server. Also, verify the Steam ID is correct.
• Unban doesn’t work. The player might still be blocked by a different ban (e.g., IP ban) or the server may have cached the ban. Try restarting the server after unbanning. If the player still can’t join, ask them to restart their game as well.
• Can’t find the banlist file. The file might be in a subfolder like saves or worlds. Use your file manager’s search function. If you still can’t find it, check the server logs for the exact file path.
• Hosting panel doesn’t have a console. Some budget hosts only offer file access. In that case, you’ll have to edit the banlist file and restart the server each time. If that’s too tedious, consider switching hosts.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to restart the server after banning or unbanning?

No, the console commands take effect immediately. If you edit the banlist file manually, you’ll need to restart the server or use the reloadbanlist command if available.

Can I ban a player by their in-game name?

No, the ban command only accepts Steam IDs. You can look up a player’s Steam ID from their profile or from the server logs.

What happens when a banned player tries to join?

They’ll see a message saying they are banned from the server. They won’t be able to connect until you unban them.

Can I ban someone temporarily?

Core Keeper doesn’t have a built-in temporary ban. You’ll have to manually unban them after the time period you want.

I accidentally banned the wrong player. How do I fix it?

Immediately use the unban command with the correct Steam ID. If you’re not sure of the ID, check the server logs to see which ID you banned.

Is there a way to see who is currently banned?

Yes, you can view the contents of the banlist file. Some console versions may also have a listbans command, but this is not standard.

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