Permissions and Admin Setup Print

Hytale's permission system lets you control what players can do on your server — from basic admin access through to fine-grained role management. Permissions are handled through a file called permissions.json in your server directory, alongside config.json, whitelist.json, and bans.json.

This guide covers how to give yourself admin, how groups work, and how to manage players over time.

How permissions.json Is Structured

The file has two main sections: groups (which define a set of permissions) and users (which are assigned to one or more groups). A basic example:

{
  "groups": {
    "admin": {
      "permissions": ["*"]
    },
    "moderator": {
      "permissions": []
    },
    "player": {
      "permissions": []
    }
  },
  "users": {
    "<your-uuid>": {
      "groups": ["admin"]
    }
  }
}

The "*" wildcard grants all permissions. You can add specific permission nodes to other groups as needed.

Important: Always stop your server before editing permissions.json. If you edit the file while the server is running, your changes can be overwritten when the server shuts down.

Finding Your UUID

Players are identified by a UUID (a unique identifier tied to their Hytale account) rather than their username. This is important because usernames can change, but a UUID never does.

The easiest way to find your UUID is to join the server once, then check the server console or log — your UUID is logged alongside your name when you connect. Look for a line containing your username shortly after you join.

Giving Yourself Admin Access

1. Stop your server.
2. Open permissions.json via the Files section of your game panel.
3. Make sure an admin group exists with "permissions": ["*"].
4. Add your UUID to the users section and assign it to the admin group (see the example above).
5. Save the file and start your server.

When you join after the restart, you will have admin permissions.

Setting Up Roles for Your Server

Most servers use a few tiers of access:

• Admin / Owner — full permissions ("*"). Only give this to people you fully trust.
• Moderator — moderation powers like kick, ban, and whitelist management, but not full server control.
• Player — the default group. Typically has no extra permissions beyond what all players can do.

To add another player to a group, add their UUID to the users section of permissions.json and assign them to the appropriate group. Stop the server first, make your edit, then start it again.

Frequently Asked Questions

I edited permissions.json but nothing changed — why?
The most common cause is editing the file while the server was running. The server can overwrite the file on shutdown, reverting your changes. Always stop the server first, make your edits, then start it again.

My changes to permissions.json keep reverting.
This is the same issue — the server was running when you saved the file. Stop → edit → start is the correct order.

How do I find a player's UUID if they've already left?
Check your server logs. Every time a player connects, their UUID and username are recorded. You can browse logs in the Console tab of your game panel.

Can I manage permissions with in-game commands instead?
Some commands for permission management exist in the console, but their names and syntax can change between Hytale Early Access updates. Editing permissions.json directly is the most reliable method that works across all builds. If you want to use console commands, run /help to see what your current server version supports.