> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://help.freakhosting.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# How to Manage Players, Operators and Commands on Your Minecraft Server

> Give and remove operator, set op levels, ban players, use the whitelist, run useful console commands, change gamerules and set up LuckPerms permissions.

This guide shows you how to run your Minecraft server day to day: who has admin rights, who can join, and the commands and gamerules you'll use most.

> **Difficulty**
>
> Beginner

> **Time**
>
> 10 minutes

***

## The Players page

Open your server and click **Players** in the sidebar. It has four tabs:

| Tab | What it holds | File |
| - | - | - |
| **Opped** | Operators (admins) and their level | `ops.json` |
| **Whitelisted** | Players allowed to join when the whitelist is on | `whitelist.json` |
| **Banned** | Banned players | `banned-players.json` |
| **Banned IPs** | Banned IP addresses | `banned-ips.json` |

If a file doesn't exist yet, the first entry you add creates it. When the server is stopped, changes are saved straight to these files and apply when it starts.

***

## Make someone an operator

**1. Open the Opped tab**

Click **Players**, then **Opped**, then the **+** tile.

**2. Enter the player**

Type the **Minecraft username** (3 to 16 letters, digits or underscores; Java Edition).

**3. Pick a level**

Choose an **Operator level** (see the table below). Switch on **Bypass the player limit** if this operator should be able to join a full server.

![Add an operator dialog with a Minecraft username field, an Operator level list from 0 to 4 with descriptions, a Bypass the player limit toggle and Cancel and Look up player buttons](https://mintcdn.com/freakhostingltd/oRNjFa_9Ix118Tkc/images/games/minecraft/mc-players-add-operator.png?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=oRNjFa_9Ix118Tkc\&q=85\&s=201729fa6dddeac8aba9fd133803d0b8)

Adding an operator

**4. Look up and add**

Click **Look up player**. The panel checks the name with Mojang and shows the player's skin and UUID. Click **Add operator**. You see **Saved to ops.json.**

| Level | What the player can do |
| - | - |
| 0 | Listed as an operator, but no command access. |
| 1 | Build inside spawn protection. |
| 2 | Use command blocks and game-master commands such as `/gamemode`, `/tp` and `/give`. |
| 3 | Moderation commands: `/kick`, `/ban` and `/op`. |
| 4 | Every command, including `/stop`. Give this only to people you trust fully. |

Each operator card has **Level** (change the level), **Ban** and **Deop** (remove operator).

![Opped tab with an info card and an operator card showing the player's skin, name, Level badge, UUID and Level, Ban and Deop buttons](https://mintcdn.com/freakhostingltd/oRNjFa_9Ix118Tkc/images/games/minecraft/mc-players-operators.png?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=oRNjFa_9Ix118Tkc\&q=85\&s=f90b38016925975e732d03d60cdb8355)

Operators on the Opped tab

> [!TIP]
>
> You can also type `op <name>` or `deop <name>` in the [console](https://help.freakhosting.com/portals/game-panel/how-to-use-the-server-console.md). The console doesn't use a `/`.

***

## Ban a player

**1. Open the Banned tab**

Click **Players**, then **Banned**, then the **+** tile. (Or click **Ban** on an operator's card.)

**2. Fill in the details**

* **Minecraft username**.
* **Reason** (optional): shown to the player. Up to 200 characters, one line, no `@`.
* **Duration**: **Permanent**, **1 hour**, **1 day**, **7 days**, **30 days** or **Pick a date...**

**3. Look up and ban**

Click **Look up player**, check it's the right account and confirm.

A banned player can't join, whatever else is set. To ban an address instead, run `ban-ip <name or IP>` in the console. Bans show on the **Banned IPs** tab. Use `pardon <name>` or `pardon-ip <IP>` to lift a ban.

***

## Use the whitelist

A whitelist lets only the players you choose join.

**1. Add yourself first**

Click **Players**, then **Whitelisted**, then the **+** tile. Add your own name, then your friends'.

**2. Turn the whitelist on**

Click **Server Properties**, switch on **Whitelist** and click **Save and restart**.

**3. Kick everyone else now (optional)**

Switch on **Enforce whitelist immediately** so players who aren't on the list are kicked straight away, not only at their next join.

In the console you can use `whitelist add <name>`, `whitelist remove <name>`, `whitelist list`, `whitelist on` and `whitelist off`.

***

## Useful console commands

Type these in the **Console** without a `/`. In game, add `/` in front (you need the right op level).

| Command | What it does |
| - | - |
| `op <player>` / `deop <player>` | Give or remove operator. |
| `whitelist add <player>` | Add a player to the whitelist. |
| `ban <player> [reason]` | Ban a player. |
| `pardon <player>` | Unban a player. |
| `kick <player> [reason]` | Disconnect a player. |
| `gamemode <survival\|creative\|adventure\|spectator> <player>` | Change a player's game mode. |
| `difficulty <peaceful\|easy\|normal\|hard>` | Change difficulty until the next restart. Set it for good in **Server Properties**. |
| `time set <day\|night\|noon\|midnight>` | Change the time. |
| `weather <clear\|rain\|thunder>` | Change the weather. |
| `tp <player> <x> <y> <z>` | Teleport a player. `tp <player> <otherplayer>` takes them to another player. |
| `give <player> <item> [amount]` | Give items, for example `give Steve minecraft:diamond 5`. |
| `list` | Show who is online. |
| `save-all` | Save the world to disk now. |
| `stop` | Save and stop the server. |

***

## Gamerules

Gamerules change how the world behaves. Minecraft renamed them in 1.21.11, so use the names for your version.

**1.21.11 and 26.x**

| Gamerule | Example | Effect |
| - | - | - |
| `keep_inventory` | `gamerule keep_inventory true` | Players keep items when they die. |
| `advance_time` | `gamerule advance_time false` | Stops the day/night cycle. |
| `advance_weather` | `gamerule advance_weather false` | Stops weather changing. |
| `mob_griefing` | `gamerule mob_griefing false` | Creepers and endermen can't change blocks. |
| `spawn_phantoms` | `gamerule spawn_phantoms false` | No phantoms. |
| `players_sleeping_percentage` | `gamerule players_sleeping_percentage 1` | One sleeping player skips the night. |
| `show_death_messages` | `gamerule show_death_messages false` | Hides death messages. |
| `command_block_output` | `gamerule command_block_output false` | Stops command blocks filling chat and console. |
| `immediate_respawn` | `gamerule immediate_respawn true` | Skips the death screen. |

**1.21.10 and older**

| Gamerule | Example | Effect |
| - | - | - |
| `keepInventory` | `gamerule keepInventory true` | Players keep items when they die. |
| `doDaylightCycle` | `gamerule doDaylightCycle false` | Stops the day/night cycle. |
| `doWeatherCycle` | `gamerule doWeatherCycle false` | Stops weather changing. |
| `mobGriefing` | `gamerule mobGriefing false` | Creepers and endermen can't change blocks. |
| `doInsomnia` | `gamerule doInsomnia false` | No phantoms. |
| `playersSleepingPercentage` | `gamerule playersSleepingPercentage 1` | One sleeping player skips the night. |
| `showDeathMessages` | `gamerule showDeathMessages false` | Hides death messages. |
| `commandBlockOutput` | `gamerule commandBlockOutput false` | Stops command blocks filling chat and console. |
| `doImmediateRespawn` | `gamerule doImmediateRespawn true` | Skips the death screen. |

Gamerules are saved with each world. Type `gamerule <name>` on its own to see the current value.

***

## Permissions with LuckPerms

Operator is all-or-nothing. For ranks such as Member, Helper and Admin, use LuckPerms (install it from the **Plugins** page, see [plugins](https://help.freakhosting.com/games/minecraft/plugins-mods-modpacks.md)).

| Command | What it does |
| - | - |
| `lp editor` | Opens a web editor link. The easiest way to manage everything. |
| `lp creategroup helper` | Creates a group. |
| `lp group helper permission set essentials.kick true` | Gives the group a permission. |
| `lp group helper parent add default` | The group also gets everything `default` has. |
| `lp user Steve parent set helper` | Puts a player in a group. |
| `lp user Steve permission check essentials.kick` | Checks if a player has a permission. |

Every plugin lists its permission nodes on its download page. Give the `default` group what normal players need, such as `essentials.home` and `essentials.tpa`.

***

## Related articles

> **[Server configuration](https://help.freakhosting.com/games/minecraft/server-configuration.md)**
>
> Whitelist, PvP and other settings.

> **[Popular setups](https://help.freakhosting.com/games/minecraft/popular-setups.md)**
>
> SMP with claims, economy and voting.

> **[Server console](https://help.freakhosting.com/portals/game-panel/how-to-use-the-server-console.md)**
>
> Send commands from the panel.

> **[Sub-users](https://help.freakhosting.com/portals/game-panel/how-to-manage-sub-users.md)**
>
> Let staff use the panel safely.

***

> [!NOTE]
>
> ### Need Extra Help?
>
> If you encounter any issues, our support team is ready to assist:
>
> * **Live Chat:** Quick assistance via our website.
> * **Support Ticket:** [Open a Ticket](https://freakhosting.com/clientarea/submitticket.php)
> * **Discord:** [Join our Community](https://discord.gg/freakhosting)
> * **Email:** [support@freakhosting.com](mailto:support@freakhosting.com)

> [!TIP]
>
> ### Save on Your Hosting
>
> Ready to upgrade your hosting? Use code **KB20** at checkout for **20% off** your first order!

***

**Last Updated:** October 2026


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