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PumpkinMC

Minecraft Server Software · Rust · Pumpkin-MC (Open Source)

Configuring pumpkin.toml: every setting that matters

Q: Where is the file?

pumpkin.toml in the server's main directory, reachable through Files in the panel or via FTP.

The pumpkin.toml explained: game mode, whitelist, view distance, MOTD, RCON, query and Velocity proxy — with default values and examples for your Pumpkin server.

Last updated September 5, 2026 · RespawnHost

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Configuring pumpkin.toml
How is the file structured?
Which basic options exist?
Where do I set MOTD, player count and view distance?
Which other sections exist?
How do I enable RCON?
How do I attach Pumpkin to a Velocity proxy?
How do I restrict commands?
Frequently asked questions

Configuring pumpkin.toml

Pumpkin has no server.properties. The entire server is controlled through a single file in TOML format: pumpkin.toml in the server’s main directory. If the file is missing at startup, Pumpkin creates it with default values; if individual options are missing, Pumpkin adds them on the next start.

You can edit it in the RespawnHost panel under Files or via FTP. Changes take effect after a restart.

How is the file structured?

The basic options sit at the top without a section, followed by sections in square brackets:

# Basics
seed = ""
default_difficulty = "Normal"
default_gamemode = "Survival"
hardcore = false
white_list = false

# Sections
[networking.java]
address = "0.0.0.0:25565"
motd = "A blazingly fast Pumpkin server!"

[commands]
default_op_level = 0

Which basic options exist?

Option	Default	Meaning
`seed`	random preset	World generation seed
`default_difficulty`	`"Normal"`	Difficulty: Peaceful, Easy, Normal, Hard
`default_gamemode`	`"Survival"`	Game mode for new players
`force_gamemode`	`false`	Resets the game mode on every join
`hardcore`	`false`	Hardcore mode
`allow_nether`	`true`	Nether accessible
`allow_end`	`true`	End accessible
`op_permission_level`	`4`	Permission level for operators (0–4)
`tps`	`20.0`	Ticks per second
`default_level_name`	`"world"`	Folder of the loaded world
`white_list`	`false`	Whitelist active
`enforce_whitelist`	`false`	Removes players not on the whitelist
`use_favicon`	`true`	Server icon in the server list
`scrub_ips`	`true`	Strips IP addresses from the logs
`allow_chat_reports`	`false`	Allows chat reports to Mojang

Where do I set MOTD, player count and view distance?

Not at the top, but in the Java section — everything related to Java Edition access lives here:

[networking.java]
enabled = true
address = "0.0.0.0:25565"
encryption = true
online_mode = true
max_players = 1000
view_distance = 16
simulation_distance = 10
keep_alive_time = 15
motd = "A blazingly fast Pumpkin server!"

Option	Default	Note
`address`	`"0.0.0.0:25565"`	Must point to the port of your rented server
`online_mode`	`true`	Mojang authentication; set to `false` behind a proxy
`encryption`	`true`	Encrypted connections
`max_players`	`1000`	Displayed and enforced limit
`view_distance`	`16`	View distance in chunks (2–64)
`simulation_distance`	`10`	Simulated distance in chunks
`motd`	text	Description in the server list

Tip

View distance is the single most effective lever against load: going from 16 to 10 chunks cuts the chunks loaded per player to roughly a third. On small plans that pays off more than any other setting.

Which other sections exist?

Section	Purpose
`[networking.bedrock]`	Bedrock Edition access, see the crossplay guide
`[networking.rcon]`	Remote console
`[networking.query]`	GS4 query for server lists and monitoring
`[networking.proxy]`	Velocity, BungeeCord and BungeeGuard
`[networking.lan_broadcast]`	Visibility on the local network
`[commands]`	Console and command behaviour
`[chat]`	Chat format and anti-spam
`[pvp]`	Player versus player
`[world]`	World generation and dimensions
`[player_data]`	Player data storage
`[resource_pack]`	Server resource pack
`[plugins]`	WASM plugins, see the plugin guide
`[logging]`	Logging
`[advancement]`	Advancements
`[server_links]`	Links in the pause menu

How do I enable RCON?

RCON is remote access to the server console — needed for Discord bots or external management tools:

[networking.rcon]
enabled = true
address = "0.0.0.0:25575"
password = "use-a-long-password-here"
max_connections = 10

[networking.rcon.logging]
logged_successfully = true
wrong_password = true
commands = true
quit = true

Warning

RCON transmits commands unencrypted. Use a long, unique password — never the one for your customer account — and only enable RCON when you actually need it. A port without a password is an open server console for anyone on the internet.

How do I attach Pumpkin to a Velocity proxy?

Pumpkin supports Velocity (modern forwarding), BungeeCord and BungeeGuard. The principle matches Paper: the proxy handles authentication, the backend server trusts it through a shared secret.

[networking.proxy]
enabled = true

[networking.proxy.velocity]
enabled = true
secret = "same-value-as-in-velocity"

This requires online_mode = false under [networking.java] — otherwise the backend server verifies the login a second time and rejects every player. BungeeCord uses the same layout under [networking.proxy.bungeecord], where secret is the BungeeGuard protection that blocks direct connections bypassing the proxy.

Note

A backend server with online_mode = false and no proxy secret is open to anyone who knows the port, including impersonated player names. Always set both together: proxy mode on and a secret configured.

How do I restrict commands?

The [commands] section controls how commands are handled:

Option	Meaning
`use_console`	Accept commands from the server console
`use_tty`	Interactive console input
`log_console`	Log player commands
`broadcast_console_to_ops`	Mirror console output to operators
`default_op_level`	Permission level for regular players (0–4)

Individual commands can be disabled or raised to a higher permission level:

[commands.overrides.gamemode]
enabled = true
permission_level = 4

[commands.overrides.tp]
enabled = false

Frequently asked questions

Where is the file? pumpkin.toml in the server’s main directory, reachable through Files in the panel or via FTP.

Do I need to restart after every change? Yes. Pumpkin reads the configuration at startup.

I broke the file — what now? Pumpkin reports in the console that the TOML file could not be parsed and continues with default values. Restore a backup, or rename the file so Pumpkin writes a fresh default configuration.

Why isn’t max_players at the top? Because Java and Bedrock access have separate limits. For Java Edition the value under [networking.java] applies.

Rent a PumpkinMC server — configuration editable at any time, no support ticket needed.