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May 13, 2026

How to Use Pterodactyl Panel: A Complete Guide

Learn how to use the Pterodactyl game server control panel. Manage files, console, backups, and settings on your CraftNodes server.


What Is Pterodactyl?

Pterodactyl is the open-source control panel used by CraftNodes to manage your game servers. It gives you a browser-based interface for everything from starting and stopping your server to managing files and viewing console output.

Console Tab

The Console tab shows live server output and lets you run commands. Type commands directly into the input box at the bottom. This is where you can run /stop, /tps, or any server command.

File Manager Tab

Browse, upload, download, edit, and delete server files directly in your browser. You can also edit config files without downloading them — just click any text file to open the editor.

Databases Tab

Create MySQL databases for plugins that need database storage. You get the host, port, database name, and credentials to paste into your plugin config.

Schedules Tab

Set up automated tasks. Schedule server restarts every night, run backup commands, or execute any console command on a cron schedule.

Backups Tab

Create manual or scheduled backups of your server. CraftNodes stores backups securely and lets you restore with one click. Always take a backup before major changes.


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