Whitelist, ops and bans

This guide covers the whitelist, operator ("op") status and bans.

Where to type the commands

Open your server in the game panel and go to the Console page. You do not need the leading slash there, so type whitelist on, not /whitelist on. In game, ops can use the slash version in chat. This guide shows the slash, as most Minecraft help pages do.

For the whitelist you can skip commands. On the Server Settings page, switch on Only allow players on the whitelist and add names under Whitelisted players. Press Save settings.

The whitelist

When it is on, only players on the list can join.

• /whitelist on turns it on.
• /whitelist add NAME lets that player in.
• /whitelist remove NAME takes them off.
• /whitelist list shows who is on it.

Use the player's exact Minecraft username, including capitals and underscores. Turn the whitelist on first, then add your friends.

Ops

An op can change the weather, give items, teleport, change game modes and run many other commands.

• /op NAME makes someone an op.
• /deop NAME removes it.

Op levels run from 1 to 4:

• Level 1: can build inside spawn protection.
• Level 2: can use most cheat-style commands, such as give, gamemode and command blocks.
• Level 3: can also manage players, for example ban, op and deop.
• Level 4: full control, including stop.

/op NAME gives level 4 by default, which is more than most people need. To give a lower level, stop the server, edit ops.json on the Files page and change that player's level.

Keep ops to a few people

One op who mistypes a command can wipe out a build, and a hacked op account can damage your world. Ops can also make other people ops. Keep it to yourself and one or two people you trust. A helper who only builds does not need op.

Kicks and bans

• /kick NAME removes a player now. They can rejoin straight away, so it works as a warning.
• /ban NAME reason stops them joining. They see the reason.
• /pardon NAME lifts a ban.
• /banlist shows who is banned.

With a whitelist on, /whitelist remove NAME also keeps someone out.

Quick summary

1. Open the Console page, or use Server Settings for the whitelist.
2. Run whitelist on, then whitelist add NAME for each friend.
3. Keep op for yourself and a very few others.
4. Use kick, ban and pardon for trouble.

If a command does nothing, check the username spelling and that you are in the right server's console.