To set a password on your Arma Reforger server, fill the game.password field in config.json and restart. Reforger uses two separate password fields, game.password for joining and game.passwordAdmin for admin commands, and mixing them up is the most common mistake. This guide covers both, when to use a join password, and how to share it without leaking it to the public.
Reforger Has Two Different Passwords
Arma Reforger config.json defines two password fields that do completely different jobs. game.password is the join password: any player who wants to connect must enter it. game.passwordAdmin is the admin password: an already-connected player types #login YOUR_PASSWORD in chat to gain admin rights. They are independent of each other; either, both, or neither can be set.
| Command | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|
game.password | Join password; if set, players must enter it to connect | "password": "Everon2026" |
game.passwordAdmin | Admin password used with the #login chat command | "passwordAdmin": "Str0ngSecret42" |
Warning: Never reuse the same password for game.password and game.passwordAdmin; if one leaks, both leak
Warning: game.passwordAdmin must be alphanumeric only (letters and digits) — spaces and special characters are not supported and can prevent the server from starting
Set the Join Password from the LPV5 Panel
The LPV5 Config Editor in LoafHub at hub.loafhosts.com is the cleanest way to set a join password. The editor preserves JSON structure so a typo in your password cannot break the file.
- Sign in to LoafHub at hub.loafhosts.com
- Open your Arma Reforger server and select the Config Editor
- Go to the Game tab
- In the field labelled “Server Password”, type your join password
- Save the file
- Restart the server from the Console tab
Tip: Choose a password that is easy to type on a controller if any of your players are on Xbox
Tip: Keep it short enough to share quickly but long enough that it cannot be guessed
Set It Manually in config.json
If you would rather edit the raw file, open it through the LPV5 file manager. The field is a plain JSON string, so you only need to put text between the existing double quotes.
- Stop the server from the Console tab
- Open the file manager and edit config.json
- Find “password”: "" under game
- Type your join password between the quotes
- Save and start the server
Warning: If you delete the double quotes, the JSON breaks and the server will not start
Warning: Leaving the field as "" makes the server public; that is the default
Set the Admin Password Too
A join password protects who can connect; an admin password protects who can run admin commands once connected. Every Reforger server should have a strong game.passwordAdmin set before going public, even if the server is otherwise open.
| Command | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|
#login YOUR_ADMIN_PASSWORD | Chat command used in-game to authenticate as admin | #login Str0ngSecret42 |
- On the Game tab, find the field labelled “Admin Password”
- Type a strong password that no player should ever know
- Save and restart the server
- In-game, open chat and type #login followed by the password to confirm it works
Tip: Treat game.passwordAdmin like a root password; share it only with trusted staff
Tip: Rotate it whenever someone leaves your admin team
When to Use a Join Password
A join password is right for private group servers, paid community tiers, scrim and event nights, and any time you want to keep the public out for a session. Public servers leave game.password empty so anyone can find and join from the browser.
Tip: Use a join password for clan-only or paying-member-only servers
Tip: Use it temporarily during events when you do not want randoms wandering in
Tip: Leave it empty for a public Conflict or Game Master server you want to grow
Note: Even with a password, the server still appears in the browser unless you also set game.visible to false
Sharing the Password Without Leaking It
A password is only as private as the channel you share it on. A Discord post in a public general channel is effectively public. The safest approach is to put the password behind a role or in a DM, and to rotate it on a schedule.
Tip: Post the password in a members-only Discord channel gated by a role
Tip: Never put the password in your server name or in the in-game MOTD
Tip: Rotate the password if a former member could still have it
Tip: If you suspect it leaked, change it in config.json and restart immediately
Warning: Browser screenshots and stream overlays have leaked admin passwords before; keep them off chat overlays
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between game.password and game.passwordAdmin?
game.password is the join password every player must enter to connect. game.passwordAdmin is used in-game with the #login chat command to authenticate as admin. They are separate fields and should always be different values.
Does setting a password require a server restart?
Yes. Arma Reforger loads config.json on startup, so the new password only takes effect after a restart from the LPV5 Console or file manager.
Can a player join my Reforger server without the password?
No. If game.password is set, the Reforger client prompts for the password before connecting and rejects the connection without a match.
Will my server still show in the server browser if it has a password?
Yes by default. The server is listed but flagged as password protected. To hide it from the public browser entirely, also set game.visible to false in config.json.
Can the admin password contain spaces?
No. The Reforger config spec states that passwordAdmin does not support spaces. Use letters and digits only — no spaces and no special characters/symbols.
How do I become admin once the password is set?
Join the server, open chat, and type #login YOUR_ADMIN_PASSWORD. The server confirms admin status and the admin tools become available.
How do I remove the password later?
Open config.json, set game.password back to an empty string (""), save, and restart. The server becomes joinable without a prompt.