Control Server Access & Restrict Who Can Join
Keep your server private — This guide shows you how to enable a whitelist on your Hytale server, add or remove players, and maintain complete control over who can join.
| Reading Time | Difficulty | Last Updated |
|---|
| 5 minutes | Beginner | January 2026 |
Quick Navigation
| Section | What You’ll Learn |
|---|
| What is a Whitelist | Overview and benefits |
| Enable Whitelist | Turn on access control |
| Manage Players | Add and remove players |
| Command Reference | All whitelist commands |
What is a Whitelist?
A whitelist restricts server access to only approved players. When enabled:
| Access Level | Can Join? |
|---|
| Players on the whitelist | Yes |
| Server admins/operators | Yes |
| Everyone else | No |
When to Use a Whitelist
| Use Case | Description |
|---|
| Private Server | Limit access to friends and family only |
| Community Server | Pre-approve members before they can join |
| Event Server | Restrict access during special events |
| Development | Keep testing servers closed to the public |
Enable the Whitelist
Whitelisting can be toggled using commands — no server restart required.
Via Control Panel Console
| Step | Action |
|---|
| 1 | Log in to your Game Server Control Panel |
| 2 | Navigate to the Console tab |
| 3 | Enter the command: whitelist on |
Via In-Game (Admin Required)
If you have admin or operator permissions, run the command directly in chat:
[!IMPORTANT]
Once enabled, only players on the whitelist and admins will be able to join. All other connection attempts will be rejected.
Disable the Whitelist
To make your server public again:
This immediately allows all players to join without restriction.
Manage Whitelist Players
After enabling the whitelist, you can add or remove players at any time.
Add a Player
whitelist add <playername>
Remove a Player
whitelist remove <playername>
Changes apply immediately. Players gain or lose access as soon as the command is executed.
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Command Reference
| Command | Description |
|---|
whitelist on | Enable the whitelist |
whitelist off | Disable the whitelist |
whitelist add <player> | Grant a player access |
whitelist remove <player> | Revoke a player’s access |
Whitelist File Location
The whitelist is stored in a JSON file on your server:
| File | Location |
|---|
whitelist.json | Server root directory |
Manual Editing (Advanced)
You can also edit whitelist.json directly via FTP or the file manager:
[
{
"name": "PlayerOne"
},
{
"name": "PlayerTwo"
}
]
[!CAUTION]
If editing the file manually, stop the server first to prevent conflicts. Restart the server after saving changes.
Troubleshooting
Player Cannot Join Despite Being Whitelisted
| Issue | Solution |
|---|
| Name misspelled | Check exact spelling in add command |
| Whitelist not enabled | Run whitelist on |
| Player not on list | Run whitelist add <name> again |
Admin Locked Out
Admins and operators can always join, even if not explicitly on the whitelist. If you’re locked out:
- Access the server console via control panel
- Run
whitelist off or add yourself with whitelist add <yourname>
Additional Resources
| Resource | Link |
|---|
| Official Hytale Website | hytale.com |
| Hytale Support Portal | support.hytale.com |
Support Channels
If you need assistance or have any questions, please contact our support team:First Month Discount
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Last Updated: January 2026 | Need Help? Contact our 24/7 support team!