Teeworlds autoexec.cfg Explained: Every Server Setting That Matters

Q: How do I change the game mode on a Teeworlds server?

Set svgametype to dm, tdm, ctf, lms or lts in autoexec.cfg and restart, or change it in rcon and then change map.

Q: Why does my CTF match end after one capture?

The default svscorelimit is 20 and a capture is worth 100. Raise it to 500 or more.

Q: How do I become admin on my Teeworlds server?

Set svrconpassword, press F2 in game and log in with it.

Q: What is the difference between svmaxclients and svplayerslots?

svmaxclients is everyone connected, spectators included. svplayerslots is how many of them can play, up to 16.

A Teeworlds server is configured with plain console variables in autoexec.cfg, one per line, read every time the server starts. The ones you will touch most are sv_gametype (dm, tdm, ctf, lms or lts), sv_maprotation, sv_scorelimit, sv_timelimit, sv_player_slots, password and sv_rcon_password. Below is every setting worth knowing for Teeworlds 0.7, grouped by job, with sensible values and the traps.

How the file works

autoexec.cfg sits in the same folder as teeworlds_srv. Each line is a console command, exactly as you would type it in the remote console:

sv_gametype ctf
sv_scorelimit 500

Text with spaces goes in quotes. Lines starting with # are comments. Settings apply on the next start, and most can also be changed live from the remote console (F2) so you can test before saving. These names are for the official 0.7 server. DDNet and 0.6 servers share many of them but not all.

Teeworlds deathmatch on a stock map

Identity and listing

Setting	Default	What it does
`sv_name`	unnamed server	Name on the server list
`sv_motd`	empty	Message shown when players join
`sv_register`	1	1 lists the server publicly, 0 hides it
`sv_port`	8303	UDP port the server listens on
`sv_external_port`	0	Port to report to the master server, if a router maps a different one
`bindaddr`	empty	Address to bind to, leave empty or `0.0.0.0`
`sv_skill_level`	1	Skill level tag shown in the browser (casual, normal, competitive)

Hiding the server with sv_register 0 does not lock it. Anyone with the address can still connect, so pair it with a password for a truly private server.

Game type and rules

Setting	Default	What it does
`sv_gametype`	dm	`dm`, `tdm`, `ctf`, `lms` or `lts`
`sv_scorelimit`	20	Score to win, 0 disables
`sv_timelimit`	0	Minutes per match, 0 disables
`sv_warmup`	0	Warmup seconds before a match, -1 waits for all players to be ready
`sv_countdown`	0	Freeze countdown before a match. 0 only in survival modes, -1 off
`sv_teamdamage`	0	1 lets teammates hurt each other
`sv_powerups`	1	Allows powerups such as the ninja
`sv_respawn_delay_tdm`	3	Seconds before respawning in tdm

What the game types mean in practice:

dm: everyone for themselves. Score limit 20 to 30 works on small maps.
tdm: red against blue, kills count for the team. Raise the score limit, 50 to 100.
ctf: steal the enemy flag and bring it home. Captures are worth 100 points, so a score limit of 500 means about five captures. Use the ctf maps.
lms: last man standing, no respawns within a round. Uses sv_countdown by default.
lts: last team standing, the team version.

For CTF, sv_scorelimit 20 (the default) ends the match on the first capture, which surprises most new hosts.

Maps and rotation

Setting	Default	What it does
`sv_map`	dm1	Starting map
`sv_maprotation`	empty	Space separated list of maps to cycle
`sv_matches_per_map`	1	Matches on each map before moving on
`sv_match_swap`	1	Swap teams between matches
`sv_map_download_speed`	8	How fast new players download custom maps

Example rotation for a CTF night on stock maps:

sv_map ctf1
sv_maprotation "ctf1 ctf2 ctf5 ctf7"

Stock 0.7 maps include dm1, dm2, dm3, dm6 to dm9, ctf1 to ctf8 and lms1. Custom .map files go in the server's maps folder and download to players on join.

Slots and players

Setting	Default	What it does
`sv_max_clients`	8	Total connections including spectators, up to 64
`sv_player_slots`	8	How many can actually play, up to 16
`sv_max_clients_per_ip`	4	Connections allowed from one IP
`sv_tournament_mode`	0	1 makes joiners spectate until moved in
`sv_player_ready_mode`	0	Players ready up to start or pause

Leave a few spectator slots above sv_player_slots so friends can watch a full match. If a group plays from one house or one dorm, raise sv_max_clients_per_ip.

Passwords and admin

Setting	What it does
`password`	Join password, empty for an open server
`sv_rcon_password`	Full remote console access
`sv_rcon_mod_password`	Limited access for moderators
`sv_rcon_max_tries`	Wrong attempts before a temporary ban, default 3
`sv_rcon_bantime`	Minutes for that ban, default 5

Log in with F2 in game, then use status to list player IDs, kick, ban, change_map, restart, say, pause, shuffle_teams, swap_teams and force_teambalance. Set strong rcon passwords: anyone with the full one can change anything.

Votes, balance and idle players

Setting	Default	What it does
`sv_vote_kick`	1	Allow kick votes
`sv_vote_kick_min`	0	Players needed before a kick vote can start
`sv_vote_kick_bantime`	5	Minutes banned after a successful kick vote
`sv_vote_spectate`	1	Allow votes to move a player to spectators
`sv_teambalance_time`	1	Minutes before teams auto balance
`sv_inactivekick_time`	3	Minutes before an idle player is handled
`sv_inactivekick`	2	1 move to spectator, 2 spectator or kick, 3 kick
`sv_spamprotection`	1	Chat spam protection

You can add map votes to the vote menu with add_vote "CTF 5" "change_map ctf5" lines at the end of the file. On a small server with friends, a handful of map votes saves you from logging into rcon every match.

A complete example

sv_name "Hook Club CTF"
sv_motd "Captures win. Hook responsibly."
sv_register 1
sv_gametype ctf
sv_map ctf2
sv_maprotation "ctf1 ctf2 ctf5 ctf7"
sv_scorelimit 500
sv_timelimit 15
sv_max_clients 14
sv_player_slots 10
sv_teambalance_time 1
password ""
sv_rcon_password "change-me-to-something-long"
add_vote "Map: ctf5" "change_map ctf5"
add_vote "Restart round" "restart"

Teeworlds players on a custom map

On a hosted server

On a Teeworlds server from GamezServers, the panel sets the name, message of the day, port and bind address and writes them into autoexec.cfg at every start, so set those in the panel rather than the file. Everything else in this guide you edit in the file manager, or over SFTP, then restart from the panel. The live console works like the rcon console, so you can test a value before saving it. New to running one? Start with how to host a Teeworlds server.

FAQ

How do I change the game mode on a Teeworlds server?

Set sv_gametype to dm, tdm, ctf, lms or lts in autoexec.cfg and restart, or change it in rcon and then change map.

Why does my CTF match end after one capture?

The default sv_scorelimit is 20 and a capture is worth 100. Raise it to 500 or more.

How do I become admin on my Teeworlds server?

Set sv_rcon_password, press F2 in game and log in with it.

What is the difference between sv_max_clients and sv_player_slots?

sv_max_clients is everyone connected, spectators included. sv_player_slots is how many of them can play, up to 16.