Default Admin Commands for Terraria Servers

Overview

Running a Terraria server gives you more control than simply starting a world and hoping everyone behaves. Commands let you adjust the world, manage players, save progress, shut the server down properly, and handle a few problems before they become a full goblin invasion. They are often the quickest way to make server-side changes without digging through every config file.

Most default Terraria commands are entered through the server console. If your server uses TShock or tModLoader, some commands may instead be used in-game and require a leading slash. The exact behavior depends on the server type, so it helps to know which category a command belongs to before using it.

Main Command Categories

Terraria admin commands generally fall into three groups: world options, player moderation, and server management. Each group handles a different part of running the server.

World Controls

World commands are used when you need to adjust the state of the map or reduce server strain. For example, an owner may change the time of day to improve visibility, save the world after major building progress, or control water movement if it is causing performance issues. These commands are useful for small quality-of-life changes as well as emergency fixes.

Player Moderation

Player control is one of the most common reasons to use admin commands. A server owner may need to kick someone temporarily, ban a player who is griefing, or send a message to everyone online. Vanilla Terraria includes basic moderation commands for these situations, while TShock can expand those tools depending on your setup.

Server Management

Server management commands cover actions such as setting a password, saving progress, viewing information, or stopping the server. These are especially important when making changes that should persist after a restart. If a command shuts the server down without saving, any recent edits can be lost, which is rarely the dramatic twist anyone wanted.

How to Run Terraria Commands

Before running commands, make sure the server is online and fully loaded. Commands sent to an offline server will not do anything.

1. Open the HolyHosting server panel and select Console.

1. Type the command into the console text field.

1. Press Send to execute it on the server.

When using the standard server console, do not include a slash before the command. For TShock or tModLoader commands used in-game, include the slash, such as `/command`, if that server type requires it.

Troubleshooting

Commands do not run

The most common cause is incorrect formatting. Check for spelling mistakes, missing arguments, or extra symbols. Console commands should usually be entered without slashes or brackets. If nothing works at all, confirm that the server is started and responsive in the panel.

For TShock or tModLoader, some commands must be entered from inside Terraria instead of the console. In that case, use the correct in-game format, including the slash when needed.

Changes are not saving

Some settings are better changed through the server panel or configuration files, such as passwords or Terraria-specific settings. Also be careful with commands like `exit-nosave`, since they stop the server without writing recent progress. To keep changes, stop the server normally from the panel or use the regular `exit` command in the console.

Related Guides

• How to join a Terraria server
• Installing TShock on a Terraria server
• Setting up and using tModLoader
• Configuring crossplay for Terraria servers