Auto-Executing Commands on Your Unturned Server with Commands.dat

Unturned gives server owners plenty of dials to turn: difficulty, day length, loot rates, perspective rules, and more. Most of those toggles live behind in-game commands, which is great until you remember that commands typed into the console vanish the moment the world restarts. To make a setting stick across reboots, you have to write it into a configuration file that gets reapplied every time the server boots.

The file responsible for that is helpfully named `Commands.dat`. Anything dropped inside runs on startup, so a freshly restarted server greets players with the exact ruleset you want. This guide walks through where to find the file, how to edit it, and which commands are worth putting in.

Editing Commands.dat from the Panel

`Commands.dat` is a plain text file that stores generic command-line instructions. It sits alongside the rest of your server's config, so you do not need an FTP client or any external tool to touch it.

1. Open the HolyHosting control panel and find Config Files near the top left.

1. Look for the Commands.dat entry and open it.

1. Add one command per line. Every command must be on its own row, and the names are case sensitive, so copy them carefully.

1. Save the file once you are happy with the list.

1. Go back to the main panel and restart the server. The commands run automatically as soon as it finishes loading.

Commands Worth Adding

Almost any registered Unturned command works inside `Commands.dat`. The file is essentially a startup script, not a separate system, so the same syntax you would type in the console belongs here. Useful candidates include rules that you would otherwise have to set by hand every session: difficulty, perspective lock, welcome messages, server name overrides, gold mode, and admin entries.

If you want a fuller list, check the dedicated Unturned commands reference. And remember, names are case sensitive. A command that looks correct but uses the wrong casing simply will not register.

Wrapping Up

Once `Commands.dat` is configured, it keeps applying your rules forever, or at least until you decide to edit the file again. That is what makes it useful: spawning players with a starter loadout, posting a welcome message, or enforcing a strict ruleset all become invisible background tasks instead of repeated manual chores. Whether the server is public or a private game with friends, the file behaves the same way and the control stays with you.

If a setting ever looks off, jump back into the editor, tweak the line, and restart. The next boot brings the new behavior, no console babysitting required.