How to Install Save Announcer on a Rust Server

Overview

Rust servers save world and player progress automatically, but the base game does not always make that obvious to players. That can be awkward when a save causes a short lag spike, especially if someone is mid-fight and suddenly wonders whether their internet has betrayed them.

Save Announcer is a uMod plugin that posts a message when your Rust server saves. It can also show the number of saved entities, which is useful for keeping an eye on world size and server activity. With most hosting panels, you can upload the plugin through FTP or the file manager, restart the server, and begin using it after uMod support is enabled.

Installing Save Announcer

1. Open the Save Announcer page on uMod and select the Download button.

1. Save the plugin file somewhere easy to find on your computer.

1. Open your Rust server panel, then select the FTP or file manager option. Make sure you are using the correct server profile before uploading files.

1. Log in with your panel password, then open the `oxide` directory.

1. Open the `plugins` folder and choose Upload.

1. Drag the Save Announcer plugin file into the upload area, then wait until the upload reaches 100%.

1. Restart the Rust server from the main panel, then join the game to confirm the plugin loads.

Save Announcer requires uMod support. In most setups this is enabled from the server settings in your panel, but it is worth checking before troubleshooting the plugin itself.

Using the Plugin

Once installed, Save Announcer will begin posting a chat notice whenever the server saves. That default behavior is the main reason to use the plugin, but the configuration file gives you a few extra controls.

For example, you can set when entity counts appear, decide whether console notifications should be enabled, and turn on GUI announcements if you install the required companion plugin. The defaults are usually fine for a simple setup, but busier servers may want cleaner messages or fewer announcements.

Editing the Configuration

The plugin configuration controls how save notifications behave. There are not many settings, so setup is fairly quick.

1. Open FTP or your file manager from your server panel and log in.

1. Go to the `oxide` directory, then open the `config` folder.

1. Find `SaveAnnouncer.json` and select Edit.

1. Adjust the settings you want to change, then select Save.

1. Restart the Rust server so the new configuration is applied.

Optional GUI Notices

Save Announcer can display a GUI-style save notice at the top of the player's screen, but this feature needs the GUI Announcements plugin. Install GUI Announcements the same way you installed Save Announcer, then return to `SaveAnnouncer.json` and set Enable GUI Announcements to `true`.

This can be useful if you want save messages to stand out without filling chat. The tradeoff is that GUI notices are easier to miss if players are focused on the middle of the screen, which in Rust usually means something loud is happening.

Common Problems

Save Announcer is not loading

Check that the plugin was uploaded to the correct server profile. Server profiles use separate file directories, so uploading the plugin to the wrong one means the active server will never see it.

Also confirm that uMod support is enabled and that the server was restarted after the upload. If the plugin file is in `oxide/plugins` and uMod is active, Save Announcer should load on the next restart.

GUI announcements do not appear

GUI notices require the GUI Announcements plugin. If that plugin is missing, the Save Announcer setting cannot display the extra on-screen message.

If GUI Announcements is installed, open `SaveAnnouncer.json` and confirm that Enable GUI Announcements is set to `true`. Save the file, restart the server, and check again in-game.

Helpful References

• Save Announcer on uMod
• How to add plugins to a Rust server
• How to become an admin on a Rust server
• Installing a welcome message plugin for Rust