Kicked from a DayZ Server: Signature, BattlEye, Version and Ping Errors
What the common DayZ kick messages mean and how to fix them, for server owners and players: modified data and signature errors, BattlEye client not responding, wrong version, high ping and whitelist refusals.
Quick Reference
| Message (roughly) | Whose side | Usual fix |
|---|---|---|
| Modified data, or a signature check failed or timed out | Usually the player's game files or mods | Verify DayZ's files; launch without extra mods |
| BattlEye: Client not responding, or not initialized | Player | Repair BattlEye on the player's PC |
| Wrong version, or the game version does not match | Either | Update whichever side is behind |
| Kicked for high ping | Player connection | Check the player's connection, or raise MaxPing |
| Not whitelisted, or refused on join | Your lists | Add the right ID to the whitelist |
| Banned | Your ban list or a global ban | Check bans in the Console tab |
Modified Data and Signature Kicks
The server checks each file a player loads against the keys in its keys folder. A kick means the player's files and the server's keys disagree.
GameGrid copies the key of every mod installed from the Mods tab into keys, so these kicks usually come from the player's side:
1. The player is loading a mod your server does not run, or a different version of one it does. They should load exactly your server's mods: joining through DZSA Launcher subscribes them to your server's mods.
2. The player's DayZ files are damaged. In Steam, have them verify the integrity of DayZ's game files.
3. The player is on a different build (Experimental, or not yet updated). See Wrong Game Version below.
If many players are kicked at once straight after a DayZ patch or a mod update, the server and the players are on different versions. Check the Game Updates card on the Admin tab, and look for Update available on the Mods tab.
Never delete dayz.bikey from the server's keys folder: without it every player fails the signature check.
BattlEye: Client Not Responding or Not Initialized
This is almost always on the player's PC, not the server. Steps for the player:
1. Close DayZ and the launcher completely.
2. In Steam, verify the integrity of DayZ's game files.
3. Run the BattlEye installer from DayZ's BattlEye folder to repair the BattlEye service.
4. Allow DayZ and BattlEye through any antivirus or firewall, and restart the PC.
5. Start DayZ from Steam or the DayZ Launcher, not from a shortcut to the game executable.
If every player gets it at once, restart the server and check the newest .RPT log in profiles/ for BattlEye errors, then open a support ticket.
Wrong Game Version
DayZ servers only accept players on the same game build (forceSameBuild). On patch day:
- Players updated, server not yet: DayZ updates are applied from the Game Updates card on the Admin tab. Check the card, and apply the update if it is waiting.
- Server updated, player not: the player needs to let Steam update DayZ, or restart Steam to trigger it.
- Experimental or preview builds: a player on DayZ Experimental cannot join a stable server. They should switch back to the stable branch in Steam.
High Ping Kicks
DayZ kicks players whose ping stays above MaxPing in serverDZ.cfg, when that key is set (Bohemia's example value is 300 milliseconds).
- If players from another continent regularly play on your server, raise
MaxPing, and keeppingWarningandpingCriticalbelow it so they are warned first. If the Settings tab does not show these keys, add them toserverDZ.cfgin the Files tab while the server is stopped. - A player on Wi-Fi or with packet loss can be kicked even with a normal average ping. The WinMTR guide shows how to test their route to the server.
Whitelist and Ban Refusals
- Whitelisted server: the player's ID must be in
whitelist.txt, in the format DayZ expects. See Whitelist and Priority Queue. - Banned: run
bansin the Console tab to see BattlEye bans on your server. If the player is not listed, they may have a BattlEye or Bohemia global ban, which only BattlEye or Bohemia can lift. See Banning Players and BattlEye Bans.
Still Kicked?
Collect the exact kick message (a screenshot is best), the player's name, and the time it happened, and open a support ticket. Kicks at a known time can be matched with the server logs.