> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://help.freakhosting.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# How to Manage Server Settings and Reinstall

> Customize your FREAKHOSTING game server name, view debug information, and safely perform a fresh reinstall from the Server Settings page in the control panel.

## Personalizing and Maintaining Your Server

The **Settings** tab in the FREAKHOSTING Game Server Control Panel is where you go to customize how your server appears in the panel, view technical details about your server's infrastructure, and -- when absolutely necessary -- reinstall your server from scratch.

Think of it as your server's identity card and maintenance toolkit, all in one place.

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Difficulty" icon="gauge">
    Intermediate
  </Card>

  <Card title="Time" icon="clock">
    5 Minutes
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

***

## Accessing Server Settings

<Steps>
  <Step title="Log In to the Game Panel">
    Go to [games.freakhosting.com](https://games.freakhosting.com) and log in with your account credentials.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Select Your Server">
    Click on the server you want to manage from the server list.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Open the Settings Tab">
    Click the **Settings** tab in the server's navigation bar. The Settings page opens with four distinct sections stacked vertically.
  </Step>
</Steps>

***

## Settings Page Overview

The Settings page is divided into four clearly labeled sections. Here is what each one does and when you would use it:

| Section                   | Purpose                                                |
| ------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------ |
| **SFTP Details**          | Shows your SFTP connection credentials                 |
| **Change Server Details** | Customize your server's display name and description   |
| **Debug Information**     | View your server's node, location, and unique ID       |
| **Reinstall Server**      | Wipe and reinstall your server's software from scratch |

Let us walk through each one.

***

## SFTP Details

The top section of the Settings page displays your **SFTP connection credentials** -- the same information shown on the Dashboard. This gives you quick access without having to navigate back.

You will see:

* **Server Address:** `sftp://n20.freakhosting.com:2022`
* **Username:** `freak0705.41298f70`
* A note: **"Your SFTP password is the same as the password you use to access this panel."**
* A **Launch SFTP** button

For a full guide on connecting to your server via SFTP -- including step-by-step instructions for FileZilla and WinSCP -- see [How to Connect via SFTP](/portals/game-panel/how-to-connect-via-sftp).

***

## Changing Server Details

The **Change Server Details** section lets you customize how your server appears in the Game Panel. This is purely cosmetic -- it does not affect your server's functionality or performance. But if you manage multiple servers, giving each one a clear name and description makes life much easier.

<Steps>
  <Step title="Find the Change Server Details Section">
    Scroll down on the Settings page to the **Change Server Details** section. You will see two fields:

    * **Server Name** -- A text field with your server's current display name
    * **Server Description** -- A larger text area for a description of your server
  </Step>

  <Step title="Enter a Server Name">
    Click the **Server Name** field and type a name that helps you identify this server at a glance. For example:

    * `Minecraft SMP - Season 4`
    * `TeamSpeak - Community Voice`
    * `Rust - Vanilla PvP`
    * `ARK - Ragnarok Cluster`

    This name appears in your server list and at the top of the server management page, so make it descriptive.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Add a Server Description (Optional)">
    Click the **Server Description** text area and add any details that help you or your team. For example:

    * `Main survival server for the community. Paper 1.20.4 with 30 plugins.`
    * `Development testing server - OK to reset.`
    * `Production voice server - DO NOT restart during events.`

    The description is visible on the server's management page, serving as a handy note for anyone who has access.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Click Save">
    Click the green **Save** button to apply your changes. The new name and description take effect immediately.
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Tip>
  If you manage multiple servers, use the description field to note important details like the game version, installed mods, or any special configurations. Your future self will thank you when you cannot remember which server is which three months from now.
</Tip>

***

## Debug Information

The **Debug Information** section displays technical details about your server's infrastructure. This is read-only -- you cannot change any of these values, but they are useful for troubleshooting and support tickets.

| Field         | Example Value                          | What It Means                                        |
| ------------- | -------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------- |
| **Node**      | N20                                    | The physical or virtual node your server runs on     |
| **Location**  | Frankfurt, Germany                     | The data center location where your server is hosted |
| **Server ID** | `41298f70-f0d7-4b1e-b018-617a0ba9c07e` | Your server's unique identifier (UUID)               |

### When You Need Debug Information

* **Opening a support ticket:** Include your **Server ID** so our team can locate your server instantly. Saying "my Minecraft server" when you have three of them is not helpful -- the UUID removes all ambiguity.
* **Checking your server's location:** Useful if you want to confirm which data center your server is in, especially if you ordered a specific location for latency reasons.
* **Troubleshooting network issues:** Knowing which **Node** your server is on helps our support team diagnose infrastructure-level issues quickly.

<Info>
  The Server ID (UUID) is the unique fingerprint of your server. No two servers share the same ID across the entire FREAKHOSTING platform. When contacting support, providing this ID helps us find your server in seconds.
</Info>

***

## Reinstalling Your Server

The **Reinstall Server** section is at the bottom of the Settings page, and for good reason -- it is the most destructive action available. Reinstalling your server stops it, wipes certain files, and re-runs the original installation script that set it up when you first received it.

### What Reinstallation Does

When you reinstall:

1. **Your server is stopped** immediately.
2. **The original installation script runs again** -- the same one that set up your server when it was first created.
3. **Some files may be deleted or modified** during this process -- the exact behavior depends on your server type and its installation script.
4. **Your server starts fresh** as if it were newly provisioned.

### Before You Reinstall

The panel displays an important notice in the Reinstall Server section:

> *Please go to the 'Files' tab and select all files and folders. Before reinstalling the server, please ensure that all content has been removed. Reinstalling your server will stop it, and then re-run the installation script that initially set it up. Some files may be deleted or modified during this process, please back up your data before continuing.*

**Translation:** The reinstall process works best when you start with a clean slate. Before clicking the button, go to the **Files** tab, select all files and folders, and delete them. Then come back and reinstall.

<Warning>
  **Back up everything before reinstalling.** Download any files you want to keep -- world saves, configurations, plugin data, databases, logs, anything you care about. Once the reinstall runs, affected files are gone permanently. Use the [File Manager](/portals/game-panel/how-to-use-the-file-manager) to archive and download your data, or [connect via SFTP](/portals/game-panel/how-to-connect-via-sftp) to download folders in bulk.
</Warning>

### Performing the Reinstall

<Steps>
  <Step title="Back Up Your Data">
    This is not optional. Download everything you want to keep:

    * **World saves** (`world`, `world_nether`, `world_the_end` for Minecraft)
    * **Configuration files** (`server.properties`, `.yml` files, etc.)
    * **Plugin/mod data** (the `plugins` or `mods` folder)
    * **Any custom scripts or files** you have added

    Use the File Manager's archive feature to compress folders, then download the archives. Or connect via SFTP and download entire directories to your computer.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Clean Out Your Files (Recommended)">
    Go to the **Files** tab. Select all files and folders, then delete them. This ensures the reinstall script has a completely clean environment to work with, preventing conflicts between old files and the fresh installation.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Navigate to Settings">
    Go back to the **Settings** tab and scroll down to the **Reinstall Server** section at the bottom.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Click Reinstall Server">
    Click the **Reinstall Server** button. A confirmation dialog appears to make sure you understand the consequences.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Confirm the Reinstallation">
    Confirm that you want to proceed. The panel stops your server and begins running the installation script. This typically takes between 1 and 5 minutes depending on your server type.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Wait for Completion">
    The server reinstalls and starts up with a fresh configuration. Once it is back online, you can begin setting it up again -- uploading your configurations, installing plugins or mods, and restoring any data from your backups.
  </Step>
</Steps>

***

## When to Reinstall

Reinstalling is a significant step. Here are the scenarios where it genuinely makes sense:

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Switch Game or Server Type" icon="arrows-rotate">
    If your service plan supports multiple games, reinstalling lets you switch from one server type to another -- for example, moving from a Vanilla Minecraft server to a Paper server, or from Minecraft to a Terraria server.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Corrupted Installation" icon="triangle-exclamation">
    If your server will not start and troubleshooting has not helped, a reinstall gives you a clean slate. Core files may have been corrupted by a bad plugin, a failed update, or a crashed process.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Fresh Start" icon="broom">
    After months of adding and removing plugins, testing configurations, and accumulating leftover files, sometimes it is faster to start completely fresh than to untangle the mess. Reinstall, then restore only the files you actually need.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Clean Up After Experiments" icon="flask">
    Ran a bunch of tests or experiments that left your server in a weird state? A reinstall resets everything back to the default configuration without needing to track down every change you made.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

### What NOT to Use Reinstall For

| Problem                         | Better Solution                                                |
| ------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Server crashed once             | **Restart** the server from the Console or power controls      |
| A single plugin is broken       | Remove or replace that specific plugin in the File Manager     |
| Configuration mistake           | Edit the config file directly -- no need to wipe everything    |
| Want to update the game version | Use the panel's version settings or Startup tab, not reinstall |
| Ran out of disk space           | Clean up old logs, backups, and unused files                   |

***

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Will reinstalling delete all my files?">
    The reinstall process re-runs the original installation script, which may delete or overwrite files. The exact behavior depends on your server type and its installation script. Some scripts overwrite only core server files while leaving custom data intact; others wipe everything. To be safe, **always assume everything will be deleted** and back up your data before reinstalling.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Does reinstalling change my server's IP address or port?">
    No. Your server's IP address, port, and all network settings remain the same after a reinstall. Players can reconnect using the same address they always have. No DNS changes or firewall updates are needed.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="How long does a reinstall take?">
    Most reinstalls complete in **1 to 5 minutes**. The time varies depending on your server type -- a lightweight server like TeamSpeak reinstalls in under a minute, while a modded Minecraft server with a larger installation script may take a few minutes longer.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Can I undo a reinstall?">
    No. Once the reinstall process begins, there is no way to reverse it. The only way to recover your previous setup is from a **backup created before the reinstall**. This is why we stress backing up so heavily.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Do I have to delete all files before reinstalling?">
    The panel recommends it for the cleanest result. Leftover files from a previous installation can sometimes conflict with the fresh install script, causing unexpected behavior. Deleting everything first ensures a smooth reinstall.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Can I change my server name back after saving?">
    Yes. The server name and description can be changed as many times as you like. Just go to Settings, update the fields, and click **Save** again. There is no limit on how often you can rename your server.
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

***

<Note>
  ### Need Extra Help?

  If you encounter any issues, our support team is ready to assist:

  * **Live Chat:** Quick assistance via our website.
  * **Support Ticket:** [Open a Ticket](https://freakhosting.com/clientarea/submitticket.php)
  * **Discord:** [Join our Community](https://discord.gg/freakhosting)
  * **Email:** [support@freakhosting.com](mailto:support@freakhosting.com)
</Note>

<Tip>
  ### Save on Your Hosting

  Ready to get a new server? Use code **KB20** at checkout for **20% off** your first month!
</Tip>

***

<div align="center">
  **Last Updated:** March 2026 | **Game Panel Support:** Server settings and reinstall simplified.
</div>