Barotrauma server commands: mode, submarine, start round, kick

Updated Oct 23, 2026

These are the server commands you can run from the web console on your server page. Each one was run on a live server; the reply you should see is noted where there is one.

Set up and start a round

gamemode mission (or sandbox, pvp) switches the mode. Reply: Set gamemode to Mission.
sub Typhon picks the submarine by name. Reply: Selected sub: Typhon.
startgame starts the round. start and startround do the same.
startwhenclientsready true lets the crew start the round by readying up. Use false to start only by hand.
botcount 2 sets how many AI crew join the round.
difficulty changes the level difficulty in the lobby. help shows how to use it.

Campaign

Do not send gamemode campaign from the web console. It does not switch the mode; it opens a text setup in the server console that waits for answers. Set up a campaign from the in-game lobby instead, where your Steam account has admin. Campaign progress does not persist after the session ends.

Players

clientlist lists who is connected. It also shows each player's IP address, so keep that output to yourself.
kick Name removes a player. Use the name exactly as clientlist shows it.
ban Name removes a player and keeps them out.
servermsg Welcome aboard sets the message of the day. Reply: Message of the day: Welcome aboard.

Everything else

help prints the full command list. In the game, your admin rights give you the same commands from the in-game console.

What is blocked

A few commands are refused on purpose: quit, exit, restart, shutdown and stopserver (the server runs for the time you booked), setpassword (the join password is set on deploy, so your server page always shows the right one), and maxplayers or setmaxplayers (the player cap matches the size you picked).