How to Enable and Configure a Password on Your Don't Starve Together Server

By default, your Don't Starve Together server is open to anyone who finds it in the server browser. Setting a password is the easiest way to keep your world private so that only the people you invite can join. You can do this in just a few clicks from the RiverHosting panel without editing any files manually.

Before you start

• Make sure you have an active Don't Starve Together server on your RiverHosting account.
• Log in to the RiverHosting panel at panel.riverhosting.com.
• You will need to restart your server after saving the password for the change to take effect.

1. How to set a password on your Don't Starve Together server

The easiest way to password-protect your server is through the Cluster Config page in the panel. This page lets you adjust the core settings for your Don't Starve Together cluster, including the server password, without touching any files directly.

1. Open the RiverHosting panel and select your Don't Starve Together server.
2. In the left-hand menu, click Cluster Config.
3. Look for the password field. It may be labelled something like Cluster Password or Server Password.
4. Type the password you want players to use when joining your server.
5. Click Save or the equivalent save button on the page.
6. Restart your server using the restart button at the top of the panel so the new password takes effect.

2. How to remove or change the password later

If you want to open your server back up to the public, or swap to a different password, the process is exactly the same.

1. Go back to Cluster Config in the left-hand menu.
2. To remove the password entirely, clear the password field so it is blank and save the page.
3. To change the password, replace the existing value with your new password and save.
4. Restart your server for the change to apply.

3. How to confirm your server is password protected

After restarting, you can quickly check that the password is working correctly.

1. Launch Don't Starve Together on your own computer.
2. Browse the server list and search for your server by name.
3. Your server should display a lock icon, which indicates it is password protected.
4. Try joining it. The game should prompt you for a password before letting you in.

Troubleshooting

• The password prompt is not appearing. Make sure you saved the Cluster Config page and fully restarted the server afterwards. A server that was only stopped and not fully restarted may not have picked up the change.
• Friends cannot join even with the correct password. Double-check that you shared exactly the right password including any capital letters or symbols. Passwords are usually case-sensitive.
• The server still appears open in the browser. It can take a few minutes for the server list to refresh. Wait a moment and search again, or ask a friend to try joining to confirm the password prompt appears.
• The Cluster Config page does not show a password field. Your server setup may differ slightly. If you cannot find the password option, try checking the File Manager for a file called cluster.ini in your cluster folder. Look for a line that reads cluster_password and add or update the value there. Save the file and restart your server.

Need help?

If you run into any issues setting up or managing your Don't Starve Together server password, the RiverHosting support team is happy to help.