How to make yourself an operator (op)

An operator can run every command: gamemode, teleport, give, kick, ban, stop. The first op is always set from the server side, because nobody in the game can grant it.

Give op

In the Console tab:

op Steve

The player gets a message in game at once; no restart. Take it away with:

deop Steve

See who is op

The Players panel has an Op filter. The list is also in ops.json in the server’s Files, where each entry carries a level from 1 to 4; the console command grants level 4, which is everything.

Permission plugins

On a plugin server, most communities give op to two or three people and use LuckPerms for everyone else, so a moderator can kick without being able to /stop the server. LuckPerms installs from Resources, Plugins.

Good to know

• Op works in online and offline mode. In offline mode anyone can join under any name, including an op’s name; keep online mode on or use Login protection.
• Operators bypass spawn protection and the whitelist.