How to Add an Admin on your Project Zomboid Server

Gaining administrative access lets you manage players, adjust settings and use powerful commands. This guide explains how to find the default admin password, log in as an administrator and assign different access levels to players using the Wabbanode Control Panel.

Retrieve or Set the Admin Password

Every Project Zomboid server stores its admin password in the configuration file. To check or change the password:

1. Navigate to the Wabbanode Control Panel and Stop your server.
2. Click the Settings tab and select Project Zomboid Server Settings.
3. Locate the Admin Password setting and enter your desired password.
4. Click Save and Start your server. The new admin password will be in effect.

Log in as Administrator

To active administrative control in‑game:

1. Launch Project Zomboid and select Join. Enter your server’s IP address and port.
2. When prompted for credentials, set the Username to admin and use the password you noted or set in the previous section. Logging in with this special account gives you full privileges.
3. Once in game, press T or open the chat window and type commands without a slash. For example, running save will save the current world.

If you prefer not to use the admin account, you can assign elevated privileges to your normal player account. The next section explains how.

Grant Admin or Moderator Access to Other Players

Administrators can promote players to various roles. Each role grants different permissions; “admin” has full control while “moderator”, “overseer”, “gm” and “observer” have progressively fewer rights.

To change a player’s access level:

1. Open the Console in the Wabbanode Control Panel. This console allows you to execute server commands in real time.
2. Use the SetAccessLevel command with the player’s in‑game username and the desired level. For example:
   • SetAccessLevel <username> admin grants full administrative rights.
   • SetAccessLevel <username> moderator allows basic moderation (kicking/banning players, toggling settings).
   • SetAccessLevel <username> none revokes special permissions.
3. Have the player disconnect and reconnect for the change to take effect.

You can remove a user’s admin status at any time by assigning the level none. Keep a record of who has elevated permissions to avoid abuse.

Tips for Managing Admin Access

• Use strong passwords: Attackers commonly target default credentials. Changing the admin password regularly reduces risk.
• Create a backup before modifying permissions: If something goes wrong or you misconfigure a file, having a backup ensures you can recover quickly.
• Limit who gets admin rights: Only give admin or moderator roles to people you trust. Too many administrators can lead to accidental or malicious changes.