Your Unturned server's rules, from the map and camera perspective to who is admin, are set in Commands.dat and Config.json inside your server's instance folder.
Where the config files live
In the GuavaHost panel, open the Files tab and browse to your server instance folder, usually Servers/ then your instance name (often unturned) then Server. Inside you will find Commands.dat, the classic list of startup commands. Alongside your instance folder, Unturned also keeps a Config.json for browser and gameplay settings. Both are read when the server starts.
Before you edit either file:
- Stop the server. Unturned reads these files at boot, so changes only take effect on a restart.
- Take a snapshot on the Backups tab, so a typo is never permanent.
Commands.dat basics
Commands.dat is a plain text file with one command per line. The common ones are:
- Name My Unturned Server - the name shown in the server browser.
- Port 27015 - the game port. Leave it as GuavaHost set it.
- Map PEI - the map to load (more on this below).
- MaxPlayers 24 - the player slot count.
- Perspective First - the camera view (see below).
- Mode Normal - difficulty, one of Easy, Normal, or Hard.
- PvP or PvE - whether players can hurt each other.
- Password yourpassword - require a password to join.
- Owner 7656119XXXXXXXXXX - makes that Steam account the admin.
- Cheats - allows admin and cheat commands to be used.
Add or remove lines to suit, save, and restart to apply.
Setting the map
The Map line chooses the world. Unturned ships with several maps you can use by name, such as PEI, Washington, Russia, Yukon, Germany, Hawaii, and Elver. Type the map name exactly. If you want a community or curated map, you first download it from the Steam Workshop, then set Map to that map's name. Our Unturned Workshop guide covers the download step.
Choosing the perspective
Perspective controls the camera and can be:
- First - first person only.
- Third - third person only.
- Vehicle - first person on foot, third person in vehicles.
- Both - players pick their own.
Making yourself admin
To run admin commands in-game, you need to be the server owner. Add Owner followed by your SteamID64 (the long 17-digit number for your Steam account) to Commands.dat, and include the Cheats line so commands are enabled. You can find your SteamID64 by looking up your profile on a SteamID lookup site. Once set, restart the server and you can use admin commands from the in-game chat or from the Console tab in your panel.
The Config.json file
Newer Unturned versions also use Config.json, a structured file grouped into sections like Browser (your server name, description, and thumbnail), Server (slots, password, and anti-cheat options such as VAC and BattlEye), and Gameplay. Where a setting exists in both files, keep them consistent so they do not fight each other. Config.json must stay valid JSON, so watch for missing commas or quotes. If you are ever unsure, Commands.dat on its own is enough to run a solid server.
Save and restart
When your edits are done, save the file, start the server, and watch the Console tab until the map has loaded and the server reports it is ready. Hop in and confirm your map, perspective, and admin access all look right. If anything is broken, restore the backup you took and adjust.
Still stuck? Jump into our Discord at discord.gg/GuavaHost and the team will help you out.