How to Make Yourself an Admin on a TShock Terraria Server

Overview

TShock adds powerful administration tools to a Terraria server, but those commands are locked until an owner account is created. Once your admin account is set up, you can run moderation commands, teleport, manage players, and use the rest of TShock's in-game tools without fighting the console like it owes you rent.

The process starts with finding the one-time setup code, then using it in Terraria chat to create and log into an owner account.

Find the TShock Setup Code

1. Open your server panel and start your TShock Terraria server.
2. Wait for the server to finish loading, then check the server console for the setup code.

If you cannot find it in the console, you can also retrieve it from the server files:

1. Open FTP or your file manager from your panel menu.
2. Open the `tshock` folder.

1. Find `setup-code.txt`, then use the edit option to open it.
2. Copy the setup code and keep it ready for the next step.

Create the Owner Account

1. Join your Terraria server in-game.
2. Press `Enter` to open chat.
3. Type `/setup`, followed by the setup code you copied earlier.

After the setup code is accepted, create the admin user with this command:

`/user add [username] [password] owner`

Replace `[username]` and `[password]` with the login details you want to use. Keep the `owner` group at the end, since that is what grants full permissions.

Next, log into the account:

`/login [username] [password]`

Use the same username and password from the previous command.

If everything was entered correctly, TShock will confirm that your account has been authenticated.

You can now use TShock commands in-game, including commands such as `/home`, `/kick`, and other owner-level tools.

Common Problems

The setup code is missing

This usually means TShock is not actually running. Join the server and check whether the welcome message mentions TShock. If it does not, return to the main server panel page and confirm the server is using the Terraria TShock server type, then restart the server.

Commands stop working after rejoining

Creating the account does not keep you logged in forever. Each time you join the server, use `/login [username] [password]` again to authenticate as the admin account. After logging in, your TShock commands should work normally.