Whitelist Players on Sons of the Forest Dedicated Server

Whitelisting on a Sons of the Forest dedicated server restricts access to only the players you approve, keeping your private game free from randoms. This guide walks you through adding players to the whitelist using the server’s configuration files, whether you run the server on Windows or Linux.

What You’ll Need

• Access to the server’s file system (via console, FTP, or hosting panel).
• The Steam64 ID of each player you want to whitelist (find it at steamid.io or via Steam profile URL).
• Text editor (Notepad, VS Code, nano) to modify config files.
• Ability to restart the dedicated server.

Step-by-Step

1. Stop the server – Before editing any files, shut down the dedicated server cleanly to avoid file corruption.
2. Locate the config folder – Navigate to the server’s installation directory. Typically it’s steamapps/common/Sons of the Forest Dedicated Server/ on Windows, or the path you installed via SteamCMD on Linux. Inside, find the config folder.
3. Open the whitelist file – In the config folder, open whitelist.txt with a text editor. If it doesn’t exist, create it.
4. Add Steam64 IDs – Enter each player’s Steam64 ID on a new line. No commas, no quotes, just the number. For example:
   76561198012345678
76561198087654321
5. Save the file – Save the changes and close the editor.
6. Restart the server – Start the dedicated server again. The whitelist will be loaded on startup.
7. Test access – Have a whitelisted player join, and confirm a non-whitelisted player is denied.

Common Mistakes

• Using the wrong ID – Steam64 IDs are 17 digits. Using the shorter SteamID3 (e.g., [U:1:123456]) won’t work.
• Editing while server is running – Changes may be overwritten when the server shuts down.
• Forgetting to save – Ensure the file is saved with UTF-8 encoding (default in most editors).
• Whitelist not enabled – The whitelist file only takes effect if the server is set to use it. Check your ServerAdminConfig.xml for WhitelistEnabled set to true. If it’s false or missing, the whitelist is ignored.

Tips

• Backup the file – Keep a copy of the whitelist before making changes, especially if you have many players.
• Use a hosting panel – Many providers have a GUI for whitelisting; if so, use that instead of editing files directly.
• Add a comment line – You can add lines starting with # to label IDs (e.g., # Friend from work). The server ignores these.
• Check for updates – After game updates, verify the whitelist file still exists and is intact.

Troubleshooting

• Players still can’t join – Ensure the whitelist file is in the correct directory and the server was restarted. Also verify the Steam64 ID is correct – a single digit off will block them.
• Non-whitelisted players can join – This means whitelisting isn’t enabled. Open ServerAdminConfig.xml (in the same config folder) and set WhitelistEnabled to true. Restart the server.
• Server won’t start after editing – The whitelist file might have invalid characters. Remove any extra spaces or symbols and ensure each ID is on its own line.
• Whitelist resets on restart – If you’re using a hosting service, some panels overwrite config files. Check if there’s a separate whitelist option in the panel.
• Can’t find the config folder – On Linux, the path might be ~/.config/Epic/... or similar. Use find / -name whitelist.txt to locate it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to whitelist myself?

Yes, if whitelisting is enabled, the server admin must also be on the whitelist, otherwise you’ll be locked out too.

Can I use a player’s Steam username instead of the ID?

No, the whitelist only accepts Steam64 IDs. Usernames can change, IDs are permanent.

How do I find a player’s Steam64 ID?

Ask them to copy their Steam profile URL (e.g., https://steamcommunity.com/profiles/76561198012345678) – the number at the end is the Steam64 ID. Or use a site like steamid.io.

Does the whitelist work for players joining via the in-game server browser?

Yes, whitelisting applies to all connection methods, including the browser and direct connect.

Can I whitelist an entire group?

No, only individual Steam64 IDs are supported. You must add each player manually.

What happens if I add a Steam64 ID that doesn’t exist?

The server will ignore it, and no one with that ID can join (since it’s invalid). It won’t cause errors.

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