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Terraria
Sandbox · 2D Adventure · Re-Logic
Terraria Admin Commands: Console, TShock & tModLoader
All vanilla console commands for Terraria servers (kick, ban, save, settle …), why there are no in-game admin commands and when TShock is the answer.
Last updated July 20, 2026 · RespawnHost
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Does Terraria have admin commands?
Short answer: vanilla Terraria has no in-game admin commands. All server commands run exclusively through the server console — at RespawnHost that’s the live console in the panel. If you want in-game commands, roles and permissions, use TShock (see below).
All vanilla console commands
| Command | Effect |
|---|---|
help | Lists all available commands |
playing | Shows all connected players |
save | Saves the world manually |
exit | Saves and shuts down the server |
kick <player> | Kicks a player off the server |
ban <player> | Bans a player (added to banlist.txt) |
password <text> | Sets or changes the server password |
say <text> | Sends a server message to chat |
motd <text> | Changes the welcome message |
dawn / noon / dusk / midnight | Sets the time of day |
settle | Settles all liquids (calms water/lava) |
clear | Clears the console output |
Tip
Before maintenance, run save first, then exit — that way no progress is ever lost. For planned restarts, the stop button in the RespawnHost panel does the job too.
What can TShock do that vanilla can’t?
TShock is the de facto standard for serious Terraria server administration. Instead of the narrow vanilla console you get:
- In-game commands with a
/prefix — right in chat instead of console-only - Permissions and groups — admins, mods, players with finely graded rights
- Registration/login, whitelist, advanced ban management
- Plugins for region protection, warps, economy and more
TShock runs as its own server software (currently TShock 6.1 for Terraria 1.4.5.6) — you can carry your world over.
What about mods (tModLoader)?
Modded Terraria runs on tModLoader — a separate app on Steam (app ID 1281930) with its own dedicated server. Important for planning:
Note: version status
The tModLoader stable branch is still based on Terraria 1.4.4 as of July 2026 — the 1.4.5 port is in progress. A tModLoader server and a vanilla 1.4.5 client won't match: all players need the tModLoader client.
Frequently asked questions
How do I become admin on my Terraria server? Vanilla has no admin concept — commands run through the server console in the panel. In-game admin rights with roles and permissions come with TShock.
Can I ban players while they are offline?
The ban command targets connected players. Existing bans are managed via banlist.txt (see the configuration guide); TShock offers more comfortable ban management.
Do vanilla commands still work with TShock?
TShock brings its own, far more powerful commands (in chat via /). The console remains usable.
Can I cheat to spawn items? Vanilla servers have no item spawn commands. Options: a Journey world (difficulty 3) with duplication — or TShock with the matching commands and permissions.
Related guides
- Rent a Terraria Server — from €4/month, online in under 90 seconds
- Creating and setting up a server — from ordering to your first join
- serverconfig.txt explained — banlist, secure, Journey permissions
- How much RAM do I need? — including tModLoader servers