RUST Ban Command, Hints and Tips

RUST ban command

The RUST ban command allows server admins to banish players from a server permanently. This command differs from the RUST kick command because it not only does it kick players from the server instantly, it also prevents players from reconnecting. Once a player has been banned, they are automatically added to a blacklist that applies only to the respective server.

As long as a player’s ID remains on the banned player list, they cannot reconnect to the server. The ban list can be found in the following directory for a given RUST server:

/server/server_identity_number/cfg/bans.cfg

RUST has 2 primary console commands for banning players. There are also several related commands that help support server admins with managing the banned players.

Here are a few practical reasons for using the RUST ban command:

• Dropping the proverbial hammer, of course…
• Removing known cheaters and hackers from your server
• Kicking and banishing players that are unable to comply with the server rules
• Preventing players from re-joining the server
• Using time-scoped punishments for breaking the rules (such as language, harassment, exploits)
• Reversing a previous player ban decision via the unban command

Who can enter the RUST ban command

The RUST ban command can only be issued on vanilla RUST servers by RUST admins and moderators.  Players on vanilla RUST servers cannot use the ban command or any of the server’s ban listing commands.

How to use the RUST ban command

Before initiating a ban command, ensure the following:

• If using the ban player command, that player will need to be online.
• Banning players by name will broadcast to the entire server.
• Banning players by SteamID will not broadcast to the server.
• Provide a reason for the ban. It will save you from future headaches, especially when people undoubtedly seek to appeal the ban. The server’s active players will want to know what offense was committed.
• When a player is offline banned, if a ban reason was provided, they will see it upon attempting to reconnect.
• Have an appeal process in place; otherwise, you will get looped into numerous conversations that aren’t worth your time.
• Remember, immediately after issuing a ban, run server.writecfg to save it. If the server crashes before it’s shut down or a save is performed, the bans will be lost.
• If you ban an admin or moderator, they will lose their auth level immediately, and if unbanned, they will need their auth level to be added back.

The RUST ban commands can be issued from RCON platforms and the in-game console. Press the F1 key to open the in-game console, type in the specific ban command syntax listed below, and then press enter.

Bans can be entered and saved directly through the server’s configuration files (the ban list). If this manual method is applied, it is important also to kick the player off the server if they’re actively playing.

RUST ban command (1 of 4)

This command is used to banish players by name.

• It works only for those players actively connected to the server.
• This will broadcast the ban and the reason provided to the entire server.

Note that this RUST admin command does work from RCON platforms and doesn’t require being logged into the game server.

ban “player_name” “optional_reason”

On success, the console will display the following:

Kickbanned User: players_steamid - players_name

On success, the server chat will display the following:

Kickbanning players_name (optional_reason)

RUST banid command (2 of 4)

This command is used to banish players by SteamID.

• It works for those actively connected to the server and those that are not.
• No message will be displayed in the server chat. This is a “stealthy” ban.

Note that this command does work from RCON platforms and doesn’t require being logged into the game server.

banid “steamid” “optional_reason”

On success, the console will display the following:

Kickbanned User: steamid - players_name - optional_reason

On success, the server chat will display the following:

N/A

RUST unban command (3 of 4)

This command is used to unban players using a SteamID.

Use the command below:

unban steamid

On the success of this command, the console will display the following:

Unbanned User: steamid

On success, the server chat will display the following:

N/A

RUST banlistex command (4 of 4)

This command lists all banned players on the server through the RUST console. The list would display the banned player’s order number, SteamID, name, and the reason if it were provided at the time of the ban.

Use the command below:

banlistex

On the success of this command being entered, the console will display the following:

1 steamid "players_name" "optional_reason"

On success, the server chat will display the following:

N/A