Your 7 Days to Die server keeps its settings in serverconfig.xml, in the server’s main folder. Admins, the whitelist and bans live in serveradmin.xml. Since V3.0, most game rules, like blood moons, loot and XP, are stored together as one SandboxCode value instead of separate settings.
Where the files are
| File or folder | What it holds |
|---|---|
serverconfig.xml |
Server settings: name, password, players, world, land claims |
.local/share/7DaysToDie/Saves/serveradmin.xml |
Admins, whitelist, bans and command levels |
.local/share/7DaysToDie/Saves/ |
Your saved games, one folder per world and save name |
.local/share/7DaysToDie/GeneratedWorlds/ |
Random worlds the server has built |
Mods/ |
Mods and modlets. See mods |
serverconfig.xml and Mods/ are at the top of Files. The other paths are inside the server’s home folder, which Files also shows.
How to change settings
You have three ways, from easiest to most detailed:
- Settings in the panel. Easy settings with plain labels: server name, password, max players, world, seed and world size. The game rules code is under More settings as Sandbox code.
- Advanced under Settings. The real files, in an editor that checks the XML before saving.
- Files, or SFTP with the details from the SFTP card in Files.
Each setting is one line like this. Change only the text inside value="...":
<property name="ServerMaxPlayerCount" value="8"/>Restart the server after a change. A sleeping server picks it up the next time it starts.
Server settings
These are the ones most owners change. Defaults are from the file that ships with the server in V3.4.
| Setting | Default | What it does |
|---|---|---|
ServerName |
My Game Host |
The name in the server browser |
ServerDescription |
A 7 Days to Die server |
The description in the browser |
ServerPassword |
empty | The join password. Empty means none |
ServerVisibility |
2 |
2 public, 1 friends only, 0 not listed |
ServerMaxPlayerCount |
8 |
Players at once. Crossplay needs 8 or fewer |
ServerAdminSlots |
0 |
Extra slots so admins can join a full server |
Region |
NorthAmericaEast |
The region shown in the browser. Use Europe for an EU server |
GameWorld |
Navezgane |
The world: Navezgane, a pregenerated map like Pregen06k01, RWG for a new random world, or the name of one you generated |
WorldGenSeed |
MyGame |
The seed for a random world |
WorldGenSize |
6144 |
Random world size: 6144, 8192 or 10240 |
GameName |
MyGame |
Your save’s name. A new name starts a new save |
PlayerKillingMode |
3 |
PvP: 0 none, 1 allies only, 2 strangers only, 3 everyone |
BuildCreate |
false |
Creative mode with free items |
LandClaimCount |
5 |
Land claim blocks each player can place |
LandClaimSize |
41 |
Size of the protected area, in blocks |
LandClaimExpiryTime |
7 |
Real days a player can be offline before their claims stop protecting |
BedrollDeadZoneSize |
15 |
No zombies spawn this close to a bedroll |
MaxSpawnedZombies |
64 |
Zombies alive across the whole world. Big effect on performance |
ServerMaxAllowedViewDistance |
12 |
How far players may see, from 6 to 12. Big effect on memory |
ServerAllowCrossplay |
false |
Lets PlayStation and Xbox players join |
EACEnabled |
true |
EasyAntiCheat. Turn off only for mods that need it |
CameraRestrictionMode |
0 |
0 free, 1 first person only, 2 third person only |
SandboxCode |
AAAJABJACJADJARFBNC |
All the game rules in one code. This default matches the classic Adventurer difficulty |
Settings that stay with us
Leave these alone. Changing them can stop the panel or your friends reaching the server.
ServerPort: we set it to your server’s own port.TelnetEnabled,TelnetPortandTelnetPassword: the panel’s Console uses telnet inside your server. It isn’t open to the internet.WebDashboardEnabledandWebDashboardPort: the game’s web dashboard stays private. If you want it, open it from the panel, which gives it a port and shows a warning first.UserDataFolder: where saves live. Moving it hides your worlds from backups.
Game rules and the SandboxCode
In V3.0, The Fun Pimps added about 150 sandbox options and moved many old settings into one SandboxCode property. These old names no longer work in serverconfig.xml: GameDifficulty, XPMultiplier, DayNightLength, DayLightLength, BloodMoonFrequency, BloodMoonRange, BloodMoonWarning, BloodMoonEnemyCount, LootAbundance, LootRespawnDays, AirDropFrequency, the zombie speed settings and a few more.
To change them, make a code in the game and paste it into Sandbox code in Settings. The panel can’t build the code for you yet. The steps and every setting are in blood moon and difficulty settings.
Admins, whitelist and bans
serveradmin.xml keeps your lists. Permission levels run from 0 (full admin) to 1000 (normal player). The easiest way to change it is with commands in Console, while the player is online:
| Command | What it does |
|---|---|
admin add YourName 0 |
Makes a player a full admin |
admin remove YourName |
Removes their admin level |
whitelist add YourName |
Adds a player to the whitelist |
kick YourName "reason" |
Kicks a player |
ban add YourName 7 days "reason" |
Bans a player for a time, like 7 days or 2 weeks |
ban remove YourName |
Lifts a ban |
say "Blood moon tonight" |
Sends a message to everyone |
As soon as anyone is on the whitelist, only whitelisted players and admins can join. Add yourself and your friends before you add strangers.
You can also edit the file. Admins look like this, with the player’s platform and ID:
<users>
<user platform="Steam" userid="76561198000000000" name="YourName" permission_level="0" />
</users>The admin, allow and ban lists under Settings > Players write this file for you.
Which changes need a restart or a new world
| You changed | What happens |
|---|---|
| Most server settings | Applies after a restart |
SandboxCode |
Applies after a restart |
GameName |
Starts a new save. The old one stays in Saves |
GameWorld, WorldGenSeed or WorldGenSize |
Loads or builds a different world, with a new save |
| Admins, kicks and bans by command | Right away |
Questions
Where is serverconfig.xml on my 7 Days to Die server?
In the server's main folder, at the top of Files in the panel. You can also edit it under Advanced in Settings. Restart the server after you change it.
Why don't BloodMoonFrequency and LootAbundance work in serverconfig.xml anymore?
Since V3.0, those settings and many others moved into one SandboxCode property. The game ignores the old names. Make a code in the game's Sandbox Options screen and paste it into Sandbox code in the panel's Settings, or into SandboxCode in the file.
How do I add an admin on my 7 Days to Die server?
Type admin add followed by the player's name and 0 in Console, while they're online. That saves them to serveradmin.xml. You can also use the players list in Settings.
Sources we checked
- V3.0 Dead Hot Summer release notesThe Fun Pimps
- Server7 Days to Die Wiki (official)
- Command Console7 Days to Die Wiki (official)
