Add a Password to Your Arma 3 Server

Overview

The people joining an Arma 3 server can change the entire session. Public players can be fun, unpredictable, and occasionally a little too unpredictable. If you want a private server for friends, a quiet place to test mods, or a safer space for trusted players, the server password setting is the cleanest option.

Arma 3 stores this setting inside the server config file. Once the password value is added and the server restarts, players must enter it before they can connect. The password can also be changed later, so you are not locked into one choice forever.

Set the Server Password

1. Open your server panel and stop your Arma 3 server.
2. From the panel sidebar, select Config Files.

1. Open the Server Config file.
2. In the editor, find the password setting.

1. Type your chosen password between the quotation marks.
2. Click Save at the top of the editor.
3. Restart the server when prompted.

After the restart finishes, the server will require that password before players can join.

Where Players Enter the Password

Depending on how someone connects, Arma 3 may ask for the password in more than one place. This is normal, even if it feels like the game is checking whether you really meant it.

Steam Server Browser

If a player connects through the Steam server browser, Steam will show a password prompt before continuing. Enter the server password, then press Connect. This opens the Arma 3 launcher so the connection process can continue.

Arma 3 Launcher

Players may also see a password field inside the Arma 3 launcher. This can happen when joining from Steam, the server panel, or the launcher itself. Enter the same password, then press Connect to continue to the DLC and mod selection prompt before joining the server.

In-Game Server List

If someone joins directly from inside Arma 3, the password prompt appears in the lower-left area of the screen. Enter the password there and the game should connect to the server immediately after it is accepted.

Common Problems

The server does not ask for a password. Return to the Server Config editor and confirm that the password field has a value inside the quotation marks. If it is blank, add the password again, save the file, and restart the server. Also check that the password line is not commented out with `//` before it. If the line and value both look correct, restart the server once more so the config reloads properly.

The game says the wrong password was given. This means the password entered by the player does not match the server config. Re-type it carefully or copy it directly from the Server Config editor. If needed, return to the config file, set the password you want again, save, and restart the server.