# Setting Up a Whitelist – How to Protect Your Server

Setting Up a Whitelist – How to Protect Your Server – Step-by-step guide for your Fivem on NexoraHost.

**Quick answer:** Set up your server step by step – check requirements, install files, configure ports and start the service.

A whitelist is a list of players who are the only ones allowed to join your server. Everyone else is automatically rejected. This guide shows you how to set up a whitelist for various games – from Minecraft to FiveM to ARK.

## What is a whitelist?

A whitelist is the opposite of a blacklist (ban list). Instead of excluding certain players, you only allow specific players access. Everyone else is automatically rejected. This is the safest method to keep your server private.

## When is a whitelist useful?

    - Private servers for friends or communities
- Servers in testing phase – only testers are allowed
- Content creator servers – only selected players
- Protection against griefing and unwanted guests
- RP servers with an application process – only accepted players

## Minecraft Whitelist

### Via Console (while the server is running)

`# Enable whitelist
whitelist on

# Add player
whitelist add PlayerName

# Remove player
whitelist remove PlayerName

# Show all players on the whitelist
whitelist list

# Disable whitelist
whitelist off

# Reload whitelist (after manual changes to the file)
whitelist reload`

### Via whitelist.json (server must be offline)

The whitelist is stored in the `whitelist.json` file in the server directory:

`[
    {
        "uuid": "xxxxxxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxxxxxxxxxx",
        "name": "Player1"
    },
    {
        "uuid": "yyyyyyyy-yyyy-yyyy-yyyy-yyyyyyyyyyyy",
        "name": "Player2"
    }
]`
You can edit this file directly. Find a player's UUID on sites like [mcuuid.net](https://mcuuid.net).

### Via server.properties (on server startup)

`# In server.properties
white-list=true
enforce-whitelist=true`
`enforce-whitelist=true` immediately kicks all players who are not on the whitelist.

## FiveM Whitelist

FiveM has no built-in whitelist. Most servers use their framework for this:

### With QBCore

    - Open `server.cfg`
- Make sure QBCore is loaded
- In the database table `players` there is a column for whitelist status
- Set players to "whitelisted" in the database:
        `UPDATE players SET whitelist = 1 WHERE citizenid = 'ABC123';`
    

### With a Simple Lua Script

Create a `whitelist.lua` in your resource folder:

`local Whitelist = {
    "license:xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx",
    "license:yyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy",
}

AddEventHandler('playerConnecting', function(name, setKickReason, deferrals)
    local license = GetPlayerIdentifierByType(source, 'license')
    
    deferrals.defer()
    deferrals.update('Checking whitelist...')
    
    for _, id in ipairs(Whitelist) do
        if id == license then
            deferrals.done()
            return
        end
    end
    
    deferrals.done('You are not on the whitelist.\nApply on our Discord: discord.gg/yourlink')
end)`

## ARK Whitelist

### Via GameUserSettings.ini

`# In ShooterGame/Saved/Config/WindowsServer/GameUserSettings.ini

[ServerSettings]
bWhitelist=true
WhitelistFile=whitelist.txt`

### Create whitelist.txt

Create the file in the `ShooterGame/Saved/` folder:

`# One Steam64 ID per line
76561198012345678
76561198087654321`
Find the Steam64 ID on sites like [steamid.io](https://steamid.io) or by opening the console in-game and typing `ShowMyAdminManager`.

## CS2 Whitelist

CS2 has no native whitelist, but you can simulate it with a password and the reserved slots system:

### Via server.cfg

`# Set password
sv_password "my_secret_password"

# Reserved slots for specific players (via SteamID)
sv_reservation_file "reserved_slots.txt"`

### reserved_slots.txt

`STEAM_0:1:12345678
STEAM_0:1:87654321`

## General Tips for Whitelists

    - **Create backups:** Regularly back up your whitelist file
- **Application process:** For larger servers, an automated system (Discord bot, web form) is worthwhile
- **Test the whitelist:** Have a friend try to join who is not on the list
- **Document:** Note down when and why you added players

## Common Problems

**Whitelist not working (Minecraft):**

    - Check with `whitelist list` if the player is correctly entered
- Restart server after changes to whitelist.json or run `whitelist reload`
- OPs bypass the whitelist by default – set `enforce-whitelist=true` in `server.properties`

**Player not recognized (FiveM):**

    - The license changes when the player reinstalls FiveM
- Better: Use Steam identifier or Discord ID as whitelist criteria

**ARK whitelist not working:**

    - Restart server after changes to whitelist.txt
- File must be in the correct folder: `ShooterGame/Saved/`