Running your own AzerothCore server means you need full control over your world, your players, and your content. The fastest way to get that control is by creating GM accounts AzerothCore recognizes, then learning the GM commands that come with them.
In this guide, I’ll walk you through the exact process I use when setting up a fresh AzerothCore server. You’ll learn how to create accounts, assign the right security level, enter commands from both the console and in-game, and fix the most common issue that drives new admins crazy: typing commands in-game and getting nothing back.
Table of Contents
What Is a GM Account in AzerothCore?
A GM account in AzerothCore is a regular player account that has been assigned an elevated security level. This security level unlocks Game Master (GM) commands that let you teleport, summon players, spawn creatures, modify gold, kick or ban users, and run maintenance tasks on your server.
AzerothCore uses five security levels, ranging from 0 (regular player) to 4 (full administrator). You don’t need a special “GM flag” or permission group. The security level stored in the database is what determines whether a command works for your account.
I treat security level 3 as the default for myself. It gives me access to nearly every GM command without exposing the highest-level functions reserved for emergencies.
How to Create a GM Account on AzerothCore Using the Worldserver Console
All GM account creation happens through the worldserver console. If your server is running in a terminal window or a Docker container, that’s your console. Here’s the exact sequence I run on a fresh server.
Step 1: Open the worldserver console. This is the window where your server prints “Worldserver started” and other boot messages. Do not confuse this with the authserver console.
Step 2: Create the account first. Type the account create command followed by your chosen username and password:
account create admin MySecurePass123
The server replies with “Account created successfully”. The account now exists in your auth database.
Step 3: Assign the security level. Use the account set gmlevel command to grant Game Master privileges:
account set gmlevel admin 3 -1
The -1 at the end applies the level to all realms. Replace it with a specific realm ID if you only want the change on one realm.
Step 4: Relog your character. Log out of the game client, then log back in with the new GM account. This step is critical. The security level is loaded when you authenticate, so the existing session won’t pick it up.
AzerothCore Security Level Reference (SEC_PLAYER Through SEC_CONSOLE)
Every command in AzerothCore has a minimum required security level. Here’s the complete reference table that covers all five levels used by the server.
Security Level 0 – SEC_PLAYER: Default level for all new accounts. No GM commands available. Use this for regular players.
Security Level 1 – SEC_MODERATOR: Limited moderation commands like mute, kick, and basic info queries. Good for trusted helpers who only need to police chat.
Security Level 2 – SEC_GAMEMASTER: Standard GM access. Includes teleport, summon, spawn, and most player interaction commands. This is what I recommend for game masters running events or helping players.
Security Level 3 – SEC_ADMINISTRATOR: Full GM access including ban, account modification, and world modification commands. This is the level I use for my own admin account.
Security Level 4 – SEC_CONSOLE: Highest level. Reserved for the server owner and requires database editing because the console command won’t set it directly. Use this only for true root-level administration.
Setting GM Security Levels With the account set gmlevel Command
The account set gmlevel command is the heart of GM account management in AzerothCore. Understanding its syntax saves you hours of confusion.
The full syntax is:
account set gmlevel <username> <level> <realmID>
Here’s what each parameter means:
<username> – The account name you created with account create. Case-sensitive on most setups.
<level> – A number from 0 to 3 when using the console command. Use 4 only through database editing.
<realmID> – The numeric ID of the realm where this level should apply. Use -1 to apply to all realms.
A real example: account set gmlevel johndoe 2 1 sets John Doe’s account to SEC_GAMEMASTER on realm 1 only.
Three behaviors you should know about: changes don’t apply until you relog, the command confirms the change in the console output, and you can run it repeatedly to change levels up or down.
Console vs In-Game Command Entry
AzerothCore accepts GM commands in two places, and mixing them up is the source of most “my commands don’t work” complaints.
Console commands go directly into the worldserver window. You type them without any prefix. Examples include account create, account set gmlevel, server shutdown, and ban account.
In-game commands require a dot (.) prefix. You type them in the chat box while playing. Examples include .tele, .summon, .kick, and .modify gold.
Here’s the rule I follow: account administration and server control stay in the console. Player interaction and testing happen in-game with the dot prefix. Trying to type tele without the dot in-game will just send a chat message to other players.
Essential GM Commands Reference for AzerothCore
Once your GM account is working, these are the commands I use most often. I’ll group them by purpose so you can build your muscle memory fast.
Movement and location:
.tele <locationName> – Teleports you to a named location from the database..gps – Shows your current map, zone, coordinates, and orientation. Essential for checking where you actually are..go xyz <x> <y> <z> – Teleports to exact coordinates.
Player interaction:
.summon <playerName> – Teleports the target player to your location. Requires you to target the player first..appear <playerName> – Teleports you to the target player..kick <playerName> – Disconnects the named player from the server..ban account <name> – Bans an account by name (console command).
World modification:
.modify gold <amount> – Adds or removes gold from your character. Negative values work..npc add <entry> – Spawns an NPC at your location using its creature entry ID..go quest <questID> – Jumps to a quest starter NPC.
Server information (console):
server info – Shows uptime, player count, and version.account list – Lists all accounts in the database.
I keep a sticky note with these commands next to my monitor. You’ll find yourself using them daily in the first month of server administration.
Database Editing for Manual GM Level Changes
Sometimes the console command isn’t enough. If you need to set security level 4, or if your console is unresponsive, you can edit the database directly.
Open your auth database using a tool like HeidiSQL, DBeaver, or the mysql client. The table you need is called account_access.
Each row in account_access represents a granted security level for a specific account. The important columns are:
AccountID – The numeric ID from the account table. Find it by looking up your username in account first.
RealmID – The realm ID where the access applies. Use -1 for all realms.
gmlevel – The security level (0-4).
To find your numeric AccountID, run a query like SELECT id FROM account WHERE username = 'admin'. Then insert a row into account_access with that ID, the realm ID, and your desired level.
After any database edit, your client session needs to relog to pick up the new permissions.
Troubleshooting: Why AzerothCore GM Commands Are Not Working
This is the most common problem new admins hit. You set the security level correctly, you relog, but in-game commands like .tele do nothing. Here’s the checklist I run through every time.
1. Confirm the security level was actually applied. Open the worldserver console and type account onlinelist. This shows the security level next to each logged-in account. If it shows 0, the gmlevel command didn’t stick.
2. Verify you’re using the dot prefix. In-game commands need a period at the start. Type .help in chat. If you see a list of available commands, your security level is working. If nothing happens, the dot is missing or the level is wrong.
3. Check that the command requires the right targeting. Some commands only work when you’ve selected a target. Right-click the player or creature first, then run the command. Commands like .summon and .recall need a target.
4. Make sure the command exists in your AzerothCore version. Some commands are gated behind specific modules or configurations. If a command isn’t recognized, check the AzerothCore wiki for the version you’re running.
5. Confirm the realm ID matched. If you used account set gmlevel admin 3 1 but your realm ID is 2, the level was applied to the wrong realm. Run it again with -1 to cover all realms.
6. Restart the worldserver. Some configuration changes only load on a full restart. If nothing else works, restart the worldserver and try again.
I once spent 45 minutes debugging a “broken” GM command only to realize I’d been typing the dot prefix on my console window instead of the chat box. Don’t be like me. Always check the prefix first.
Best Practices for AzerothCore GM Account Security
GM accounts are powerful. Treat them like the root password of your server, because effectively they are.
Use a unique password for the GM account that you don’t use anywhere else. I generate a 24-character random password and store it in a password manager.
Avoid playing on a level 3 account for normal gameplay. Create a separate level 0 account for casual play. This prevents accidental .modify gold calls or accidental bans while testing.
Never share your GM account credentials. If you need to give someone moderation access, create a new account for them at security level 1 or 2, not 3. You can always revoke it without affecting your own admin account.
Review the account_access table monthly. Remove any grants that are no longer needed. Old admin accounts are a common attack surface on private servers.
FAQs
How to set GM AzerothCore?
Use the account set gmlevel command in the worldserver console. Syntax: account set gmlevel . For example, account set gmlevel admin 3 -1 grants level 3 (SEC_ADMINISTRATOR) to the admin account on all realms. Log out and back in to apply the change.
How do you teleport in WoW GM commands?
In-game, use .tele with a dot prefix while in the chat box. For example, .tele stormwind teleports you to Stormwind City. You can also use .go xyz for exact coordinates. Make sure your account has at least security level 2.
Why are my GM commands not working on AzerothCore?
The most common reasons are: you forgot to relog after setting gmlevel, you typed the command without the dot prefix in the chat box, the security level was applied to the wrong realm ID, or the command requires a target. Run account onlinelist in the console to confirm your account’s current security level.
What is the account set gmlevel command in AzerothCore?
It is the console command that assigns a security level to a player account. The syntax is account set gmlevel , where level ranges from 0 (player) to 3 (administrator). Level 4 requires editing the account_access table directly in the auth database.
Conclusion: Setting Up GM Accounts AzerothCore the Right Way
Setting up GM accounts AzerothCore is straightforward once you understand the three foundations: the account create command builds the account, the account set gmlevel command grants the permissions, and the dot prefix is required for any command you type in-game.
Start with security level 3 for your own admin account, level 2 for trusted moderators, and level 0 for regular players. Get comfortable with the worldserver console commands before relying on in-game commands. Always relog after changing a security level.
If you run into issues, the troubleshooting checklist above covers 90 percent of the problems new admins encounter. Apply it step by step, and you’ll have a working GM setup within minutes of creating your account.