How to Enable and Configure a Password on Your Project Zomboid Server

Adding a password to your Project Zomboid server is one of the easiest ways to keep your world private. Once a password is set, players will need to enter it before they can join. This guide walks you through setting up and changing your server password from the RiverHosting panel in just a few steps.

Before you start

• You need an active Project Zomboid server on RiverHosting.
• Log in to the RiverHosting panel at panel.riverhosting.com and open your server.
• You will need to restart your server after saving the change for it to take effect.

1. How to set a password on your Project Zomboid server

The quickest way to set a server password is through the World Settings page in the RiverHosting panel. This lets you update the password without editing any files by hand.

1. Log in to the RiverHosting panel and select your Project Zomboid server.
2. Click World Settings in the left-hand menu.
3. Look for the password field. It may be labelled Server Password or similar.
4. Type your chosen password into the field. Use something easy to share with your friends but hard for strangers to guess.
5. Click Save to apply the change.
6. Go back to the main server page and click Restart to restart your server so the new password takes effect.

2. How to remove the password from your Project Zomboid server

If you want to open your server to the public or stop requiring a password, you can remove it just as easily.

1. Open your server in the RiverHosting panel.
2. Click World Settings in the left-hand menu.
3. Find the password field and clear it completely so it is empty.
4. Click Save.
5. Restart your server from the main server page for the change to apply.

3. How to share the password with your players

Once your password is set, you need to share two things with the players you want to invite: your server address and the password.

1. Open your server in the RiverHosting panel.
2. Click Network in the left-hand menu to find your server's IP address and connection port.
3. Share the IP address, port, and password with your players privately, such as through a Discord message or a private group chat.

In Project Zomboid, players enter the server password when they click Join and browse for your server or enter the address directly in the server list.

Troubleshooting

• Players say the password is wrong. Double-check the password you saved in World Settings. Passwords are case-sensitive, so make sure you share it exactly as you typed it.
• The password change does not seem to have worked. Make sure you clicked Save before restarting. If the server was already running when you saved, try a full restart from the main server page.
• The password field is missing from World Settings. Make sure your server is fully set up and has been started at least once. If you still cannot see the field, contact RiverHosting support for help.
• Players can still join without a password. This usually means the restart has not completed yet. Wait for the server to come back online fully and ask players to try again.

Need help?

If you run into any issues setting up your Project Zomboid server password, the RiverHosting support team is happy to help.