7 Days to Die Scheduled Server Messages Setup

Updated 5 November 2026 · Standard formula, shown below

This guide walks you through setting up scheduled server messages in 7 Days to Die, so your players see automatic announcements for restarts, events, or rules. You’ll edit the server configuration file to add timed messages that appear in the chat. No mods or plugins are requiredâ€”just access to your server’s files.

What You’ll Need

Access to your 7 Days to Die server files (either a dedicated server or a hosted server with file access).
A text editor like Notepad++ or VS Code (avoid basic Notepad for formatting issues).
Basic familiarity with XML syntax.

Step-by-Step

Stop the server. Always stop the server before editing config files to prevent overwrites and corruption.
Locate the serverconfig.xml file. This is usually in the server’s root directory (e.g., C:\7DaysToDieServer\serverconfig.xml or wherever your hosting panel places it).
Open serverconfig.xml with your text editor.
Find the <property name="ServerMessage"> line. It looks like this: <property name="ServerMessage" value="" />. If it’s not there, add it before the closing </config> tag.
Understand the format. The value attribute accepts a semicolon-separated list of messages. Each message is prefixed with a time in seconds (since server start) followed by a colon and the message text. For example: 300:Server restarts in 10 minutes! would show that message 5 minutes after the server starts.
Add your messages. For multiple messages, separate them with a semicolon. Example: 300:Welcome! Check the rules!;600:Server restarts in 5 minutes! This will show the first message at 5 minutes and the second at 10 minutes.
Save the file. Ensure you save as UTF-8 without BOM to avoid encoding issues.
Start the server. The messages will now appear at the specified intervals.

Common Mistakes

Using minutes instead of seconds. The time is in seconds, not minutes. 300 = 5 minutes, not 300 minutes.
Forgetting semicolons between messages. Each message must be separated by a semicolon, or only the first will be read.
Editing while the server is running. The server may overwrite your changes on shutdown.
Using special characters incorrectly. XML requires escaping of &, <, >, ", and '. For example, use & for an ampersand.
Placing the property in the wrong location. It must be inside the <config> root element.

Tips

Use a restart warning schedule. For example, 600 (10 min), 300 (5 min), 60 (1 min) before a scheduled restart.
Keep messages short. Long messages may get truncated in the chat window.
Test with a single message first to confirm it works before adding many.
Consider using a cron job or task scheduler to restart the server at regular intervals, and align your messages with that schedule.
Back up your serverconfig.xml before making changes.

Troubleshooting

Messages not showing at all: Check that the property name is exactly ServerMessage (case-sensitive). Verify the file is saved with UTF-8 encoding. Restart the server completely.
Only the first message appears: Ensure you used semicolons between messages, not commas or newlines. Check for stray spaces.
Messages show but with weird characters: The file encoding may be wrong. Save as UTF-8 without BOM.
Server won’t start after editing: There’s likely an XML syntax error. Revert to your backup and check for unescaped special characters.
Messages appear at wrong times: Remember the time is in seconds from server start, not real-world clock time. If you want a message at a specific wall-clock time, you’ll need to calculate the offset from server start.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use real-time clock times like “14:00”?

No, the times are relative to server start, not wall-clock time. To schedule a message at a specific time of day, you’d need to know when the server starts and calculate the offset.

Do I need a mod or plugin?

No, this is built into the base game’s server config. No additional files are needed.

Can I include player names or variables in the message?

No, the ServerMessage property does not support variables like player names. It’s static text only.

How many messages can I add?

There is no hard limit, but keep the value string reasonable. Very long strings might cause performance issues or be truncated.

Will these messages show to all players?

Yes, they appear in the global chat for all connected players.

Can I use colors or formatting?

No, the chat does not support color codes or rich formatting in these messages.

Method: the standard formula for this calculation, rounded as each result states. See how the calculators work or report an error.