How to Enable the Whitelist on a Valheim Server

Context

To protect your Valheim server from unwanted guests and create a truly private experience, the best solution is to enable a whitelist. In Valheim, the process is straightforward: as soon as you add at least one player to the dedicated file, the server automatically blocks anyone who is not on that list. This guide shows you how to configure it on your Winheberg panel.

Prerequisites

An active Valheim server on your Winheberg panel.
The SteamID64 (a 17-digit identifier) of the players you want to allow.

Step 1: Retrieve Players' SteamID64

Each authorized player must be identified by their SteamID64.

Ask the player for their Steam profile URL.
Use a free tool like SteamID.io and paste the profile link.
Copy the line corresponding to the SteamID64 (e.g., 76561198796411813).

Step 2: Configure the permittedlist.txt file

Attention: You must stop your server before editing configuration files, otherwise your changes will be overwritten upon restart.

Stop your server from the dashboard on your Winheberg panel.
Open the File Manager tab.
Navigate through the folders following this path: .config/unity3d/IronGate/Valheim/.
Locate and open the permittedlist.txt file.
Add the SteamID64 of each authorized player, using one SteamID per line.
Click Save to apply the changes.

Do not forget to add your own SteamID64! If you don't, you will lock yourself out of your own server.

Step 3: Apply Changes

Return to the panel dashboard and start your server.
The whitelist is now active! Only the players listed in the permittedlist.txt file will be able to join the game.

Troubleshooting

❌ An authorized player cannot connect

Format check: Ensure the file only contains the 17-digit SteamID (no text like "Steam_" or player names).
Empty spaces: Check that there are no spaces before or after the numbers, and no empty lines at the beginning of the file.

❌ The whitelist does not activate or resets

Server running: This issue occurs if you edited the file while the server was online. Always stop the server first.

Best Practices

Keep the list updated: Remember to remove the SteamIDs of inactive players or those you no longer play with to maintain server security.
Back up: Before modifying your files, always perform a Backup from your panel.
Communicate: Warn your friends or community before enabling the whitelist so they don't mistake a connection rejection for a server crash.

Need Assistance?

If you encounter difficulties securing your server, our technical team is ready to help. Submit a ticket through Winheberg Support. 🎮