How to Become Admin on Your Nightingale Server

Sep 29, 2026 3 min read

Being an admin on your Nightingale server gives you access to the debug menu, along with the tools to remove disruptive players. Getting there takes three quick parts: turning on cheats in your game, turning them on for your server, and entering your admin password in-game.

⚠️ Important Warning
Cheats must be enabled on both your game and your server. If only one side has them, admin mode will load with limited features. Always restart your server after changing these settings.

Step 1: Enable Cheats In Your Game

Open your Steam library, right-click Nightingale, and select Properties.

Under Launch Options, type -EnableCheats.

Close the Properties window and launch the game.

This only affects your own copy of the game, so every player who wants admin access needs to do this on their own computer.

Start Your Nightingale ServerUnlimited RAM · Unlimited slots · From $9.99/month

Start My Server

Step 2: Enable Cheats And Set An Admin Password On Your Server

Log into your MintServers Game Panel and open your Nightingale server.

Click the Game Settings tab in the left-hand sidebar.

Turn on Cheats Mode.

Type your own secret password into the Admin Password field. This is different from the join Password, so make sure you do not mix them up.

Save your changes and click Restart at the top right of the panel so they take effect.

Step 3: Enter Admin Mode In-Game

Join your server. If you need help, see our Join Server guide for Nightingale.

Press the ESC key to open the menu and select Admin Mode: OFF.

Enter your Admin Password and click Confirm.

Close the message telling you that administrative features are now unlocked.

You are now an admin! You can use the DEBUG menu for most admin features.

💡 Tip
Only share the Admin Password with people you trust. Anyone who knows it and has cheats enabled in their game can use admin tools on your server.

Kick And Ban Players

Admins can remove problem players without shutting the server down. A kick removes a player from the current session, while a ban stops them from coming back.

Join the server and enter admin mode using the steps above.

Press the O key to open the social screen.

Find the player you want to remove and choose to kick or ban them.

Turning Admin Mode Off

Press ESC, select Admin Mode: ON, and click Confirm. You may need to rejoin the server before the change fully applies.

Troubleshooting

I don't see the Admin Mode option
Make sure -EnableCheats is in your Steam launch options, and fully restart the game after adding it.

I see a "limited function" message
Cheats need to be enabled on both the game and the server. Double-check your launch option and that Cheats Mode is on in the Game Settings tab, then restart your server.

Incorrect admin password
The password must match the Admin Password in the Game Settings tab exactly. If you changed it, restart the server so the new one takes effect.

The join password will not work as the admin password
The Password and Admin Password are two separate settings. See our Configure Server guide for Nightingale for details.

Now you are ready to manage your Realm like a pro.

Still stuck?

Our team is happy to help. Open a ticket through the live chat button in the bottom-right corner of our website, or join our Discord and open a ticket there.

Join our Discord

Start Your Own Nightingale Server

Build elaborate estates in a visually stunning world 24/7 Expert Support Swap between 60 games at any time