Maintaining a fun, fair environment sometimes requires removing disruptive players. Project Zomboid provides several commands for kicking or banning users. This article explains the difference between kicks and bans, how to use each command via the console, and how to unban someone when necessary.
Kick vs. Ban
- Kick Temporarily removes a player from the server. The player can reconnect immediately unless you’ve also enabled a password or whitelist.
- Ban Prevents a player from rejoining until you explicitly unban them. Bans can be applied to a Steam ID or a username.
Use kicks for minor infractions and bans for repeated or severe rule violations.
Opening the Console
- Log in to your Wabbanode Control Panel and ensure your server is online.
- Navigate to the Console tab. This window allows you to send commands directly to the server.
Ban by Steam ID
Banning by Steam ID is more reliable than by username because players can change their names.
- Obtain the Steam ID. Use the
playerscommand in the console to list connected users and their IDs. - In the console, enter
banid <SteamID64>and press Enter. - Press Enter. The server will immediately disconnect and ban the user.
- To reverse the ban later, enter
unbanid <SteamID64>
Ban by Username
If you know the player’s in‑game name but not their Steam ID, you can ban by username.
- Run the command
banuser <Username> - The player will be banned based on their current name. They could circumvent the ban by changing their name, so use Steam ID bans when possible.
- To lift the ban, run:
unbanuser <Username>
Kick a Player
To simply remove someone without banning them, you can use kickuser <Username>.
The player is disconnected but can immediately reconnect unless other restrictions (password, whitelist, etc.) apply.
Additional Moderation Commands
Here are a few other useful commands for managing your server:
playersLists all connected players and their Steam IDs.setaccesslevel <user> <level>Changes a player’s permission level (e.g.moderatororadmin). See our article on becoming an admin for details.servermsg "message"Broadcasts a message to all players.
Always document when and why you ban someone. A brief note in a shared moderation log helps other admins understand the reason behind a ban and makes appeals easier to process.
With these commands, you can enforce your server’s rules and keep the experience enjoyable for everyone. Remember to favour Steam ID bans for reliability and to unban users when issues are resolved.
