How to Use the Time of Day Plugin on a Rust Server

Overview

Rust nights can be punishing. When the map gets dark and your players have few light sources nearby, basic jobs like scouting, gathering, and not walking straight into danger become harder than they need to be. Some servers enjoy that survival pressure. Others prefer longer daylight, shorter nights, or direct control over the in-game clock.

The Time of Day uMod plugin gives Rust server owners a simple way to manage the day and night cycle. With it, you can check the current time, skip ahead, freeze time, or adjust how the cycle behaves through a configuration file. It is especially useful for event servers, build servers, PvE communities, or anyone tired of squinting at a black screen and calling it atmosphere.

This guide covers downloading the plugin, uploading it to your Rust server, using its commands, editing its config file, and fixing common setup problems.

Downloading Time of Day

1. Open the Time of Day page on uMod.
2. Select Download near the top-right area of the page.

1. Save the plugin file somewhere easy to find, such as your desktop or downloads folder.

The downloaded file should be kept as-is. Do not rename it unless the plugin documentation specifically says to, since uMod plugins usually expect their file names to match the plugin class.

Installing the Plugin

Before uploading the file, make sure your Rust server is already using uMod or Oxide. The Time of Day plugin belongs in the server's Oxide plugin folder.

1. Open your server panel.
2. Confirm you are working on the correct Rust server profile.
3. Open FTP or the file manager from your panel.

1. Log in with your panel password.
2. Open the `oxide` directory.

1. Go into the `plugins` folder.
2. Choose Upload.
3. Drag and drop the downloaded Time of Day plugin file into the upload area.

1. Wait until the upload reaches 100%.
2. Return to the main server panel.
3. Restart the server so uMod can load the plugin.
4. Join the server and test a Time of Day command to confirm it is active.

If the plugin loads correctly, you should be able to use its chat or console commands without seeing unknown command errors.

Checking and Changing Server Time

After joining the server, run `/tod` in chat to view the current time information. This command displays details about the server's day and night cycle, including exact timing values. It is a quick way to confirm the plugin is running and to understand what the world clock is doing.

Most actual time-control commands are intended for the server console rather than normal player chat. That makes sense, because giving every player the power to casually rearrange the sun would be a bold administrative choice.

You can manage Time of Day in two main ways:

• Use console commands for immediate changes, such as skipping time or freezing the clock.
• Edit the plugin configuration file for persistent behavior, such as day length or date settings.

Running Time of Day Commands

Time of Day includes several commands for controlling the Rust world clock. Some commands display information, while others directly change how time passes. Use these from the console unless the plugin documentation marks them as chat commands.

Using the Server Console

1. Open your server panel.
2. Select Console.

1. Find the command input box near the bottom of the console.
2. Type or paste the command you want to run.

1. Press Send to execute it.
2. Watch the console output for a response.

Successful plugin responses should begin with `[TimeOfDay]`, which helps separate the plugin's messages from normal server logs.

Command Examples

One commonly used command is `tod.skipday`. This lets you move the server ahead by a day while keeping the cycle under control. Depending on the current time and the plugin's settings, this can be used to push the world into a different lighting state, including night.

When skipping time, visual changes may not always appear instantly for every player. Give the server and connected clients a moment to catch up before assuming the command failed.

The `/tod` chat command is useful for checking the active time settings from inside the game. It does not change the clock, but it does provide a quick readout of the current day, time, and cycle information. This makes it handy for admins who want to verify settings without switching back to the panel every few seconds.

Editing the Configuration File

The plugin's config file controls its persistent settings. Use it when you want to change values such as day length, night behavior, date options, or other plugin-defined defaults. The exact options can vary by plugin version, so compare your file with the Time of Day page on uMod if you are unsure what a setting does.

1. Open FTP or the file manager in your server panel.
2. Go to the `oxide` directory.
3. Open the `config` folder.
4. Locate `TimeOfDay.json`.

1. Click Edit next to the file.

1. Change the settings you need.
2. Select Save.

1. Return to the main panel.
2. Restart the server so the updated configuration can load.

Be careful when editing JSON. Values such as `true` and `false` must stay lowercase, commas need to remain in the right places, and quoted text must keep its quotation marks. A tiny formatting mistake can stop the plugin from reading the file correctly.

Troubleshooting

If Time of Day commands do not work, the plugin is usually not installed in the correct location or the server is not loading uMod properly. Confirm that your Rust server profile is selected, then check that the plugin file is inside `oxide/plugins`. After correcting the location, restart the server and watch the console for plugin load messages.

If configuration changes are ignored, make sure the file was saved and the server was restarted afterward. Also check the JSON formatting in `TimeOfDay.json`. A typo, missing comma, incorrect capitalization, or broken value can prevent the config from applying.

If the plugin still does not respond, review the server console for errors mentioning Time of Day or Oxide. Those messages usually point to the exact file or setting that needs attention.

Useful References

• Time of Day on uMod
• How to add plugins to a Rust server
• Becoming an admin on Rust
• How to edit Rust plugin configuration files