TheGameHosting Team
A Palworld server password is set with ServerPassword in PalWorldSettings.ini. Put the password between the quotes, save the file and restart the server; players then need it to join. A second setting, AdminPassword, is not for joining: it is what you type with /AdminPassword in the game chat to get admin rights. Leave ServerPassword="" empty to open the server to anyone.
This guide shows where both settings are, how to set and change them on a dedicated server, how players enter the password, and why the server sometimes keeps the old one.
The two Palworld passwords
Pocketpair's configuration guide describes them like this:
| Setting | Official description | Who uses it |
|---|---|---|
ServerPassword | Password required to log in to the server | Every player who joins |
AdminPassword | Password used to obtain administrative privileges on the server | Only you and your admins |
Never use the same value for both. If a player knows the join password and it is also the admin password, they can kick, ban and shut down your server. The admin password is also what tools such as the REST API use, so keep it long and private.
Where the Palworld server password is set
Both settings are inside PalWorldSettings.ini, on the long OptionSettings=(...) line:
| Server build | File path |
|---|---|
| Linux | Pal/Saved/Config/LinuxServer/PalWorldSettings.ini |
| Windows | Pal/Saved/Config/WindowsServer/PalWorldSettings.ini |
If that file is empty, copy the contents of DefaultPalWorldSettings.ini (in the server's main folder) into it first. The official guide warns that editing the default file changes nothing. All the other settings in that line are covered in our PalWorldSettings.ini guide.
How to set a password on a Palworld server
- Stop the server from Console. Settings are read when the server starts, so edit with it off and the change is picked up cleanly.
- Open Files and go to
Pal/Saved/Config/LinuxServer/(orWindowsServer). - Click
PalWorldSettings.inito edit it in the browser. - Find
ServerPassword=""and type your password between the quotes. - Find
AdminPassword=""and set a different, longer password. - Save the file and start the server.
- Join the server yourself to test it, then share the join password with your group.
The two values in the line look like this:
AdminPassword="Kr4ken-Admin-2026",ServerPassword="pals4friends",These are examples only. Keep the quotes and the comma after each value, and do not break the line in two.
How players join with the password
Players connect from the multiplayer menu, either from the server list or by typing your address and port at the bottom of the screen. When the server has a password, the game asks for it before letting the player in. A typo here gives a connection error, so share it by text, not by voice.
The address and port to share are the ones shown in your panel. If friends cannot see the server at all, the problem is not the password: see Palworld server not showing up.
How to use AdminPassword in game
Once AdminPassword is set and the server has restarted:
- Join the server and open the chat.
- Type
/AdminPasswordfollowed by a space and your admin password, then press Enter. - Admin commands such as
/Save,/ShowPlayers,/KickPlayerand/BanPlayernow work for you.
Each admin does this once per session. The full list of commands is in our guide on how to become admin on a Palworld server.
How to change or remove the password
To change it, repeat the steps above with a new value and restart. Players who saved the old password simply type the new one at the next connection.
To remove it, leave the quotes empty: ServerPassword="". Anyone who finds your server can then join. If you open it to the public, keep a strong AdminPassword and a couple of trusted admins online to kick and ban.
Palworld server password not working: fixes
| Symptom | Cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| The old password still works | The file was edited while the server was running, or a Startup value overwrote it | Stop the server, edit again, check the Startup tab, start |
| No password is asked for | You edited DefaultPalWorldSettings.ini | Edit PalWorldSettings.ini in the Config folder |
| Server will not start after editing | A quote or comma was deleted in the OptionSettings line | Restore the line from the default file or a backup |
/AdminPassword is refused | Typo, or AdminPassword is empty | Check the exact value in the file and restart |
| Password breaks the line | It contains quotes, commas or parentheses | Use letters, numbers and dashes only |
Before you start editing, make a backup from the panel. If something goes wrong, you can restore the Palworld server backup in one click.
Run a private Palworld server with TheGameHosting
On a home PC, a password only protects the world while your computer is on. A Palworld server from TheGameHosting stays online 24/7: you edit PalWorldSettings.ini in Files or over SFTP, restart from Console and share the address from the panel, with DDoS protection included. Palworld runs from the 8 GB plan at $6.96 USD a month, with no per-player fees and support 24/7 in English and Spanish. Compare the plans and prices and use FULL2026 for 15% off for life.
FAQ
How do I put a password on my Palworld server?
Set ServerPassword="yourpassword" in PalWorldSettings.ini, save the file and restart the server. Players will need that password to join.
What is the difference between ServerPassword and AdminPassword?
ServerPassword is what players type to join. AdminPassword is what you type with /AdminPassword in the chat to get admin commands.
How do I remove the password from a Palworld server?
Leave the value empty, as ServerPassword="", and restart the server. Anyone with the address can then join.
Why does my Palworld server still use the old password?
The file was probably changed while the server was running, or a Startup field in the panel wrote the old value back. Stop the server, check both places and start it again.
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Written by TheGameHosting Team, the people who run our servers in Dallas and Amsterdam and answer your tickets.
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