Minecraft server operators, commonly called OPs, are players who have elevated administrative permissions on a Minecraft Java server.
Operators can use powerful server commands, so OP access should only be given to players you trust.
This guide explains how to add, remove, and manage Minecraft operators on a Down Side Hosting Minecraft Java server.
An operator is a Minecraft player who has permission to use administrative commands that normal players cannot normally access.
Depending on the server configuration, operators may be able to:
Important: OP access can give a player significant control over your Minecraft server. Only give operator access to people you trust.
Log in to your Down Side Hosting server panel.
Select your Minecraft server and open:
Console
The server console can be used to manage operators without already having administrator permissions in-game.
From the server console, enter:
op PLAYERNAME
Replace PLAYERNAME with the player's Minecraft username.
For example:
op Steve
Minecraft should confirm that the player has been made a server operator.
An existing operator can normally use:
/op PLAYERNAME
For example:
/op Steve
You must already have permission to run the command.
From the Down Side Hosting server console, do not include the leading slash:
op Steve
To remove a player's operator permissions from the server console:
deop PLAYERNAME
For example:
deop Steve
In-game, an authorized administrator can use:
/deop Steve
After being de-opped, the player will no longer have the permissions provided by Minecraft operator status.
Minecraft stores operator information in:
ops.json
You can view this file from the Files section of your Down Side Hosting server panel.
A typical entry may contain information such as:
[
{
"uuid": "PLAYER-UUID",
"name": "PlayerName",
"level": 4,
"bypassesPlayerLimit": false
}
]
The actual UUID and player name will be different for your server.
For normal operator management, using:
op PLAYERNAME
and:
deop PLAYERNAME
is safer and easier than manually editing ops.json.
If you do need to edit ops.json manually:
An incorrectly formatted JSON file may prevent the operator list from loading correctly.
Minecraft supports operator permission levels.
These levels control which categories of commands an operator can normally use.
The levels range from:
1 2 3 4
with higher levels providing access to more powerful commands.
For most normal Minecraft servers, operators are commonly assigned the level configured by the server's:
op-permission-level=
setting.
Open:
server.properties
and you may see:
op-permission-level=4
This controls the default permission level granted to server operators.
The normal range is:
1 2 3 4
Level 4 provides the highest normal operator command access.
For more information about server.properties, see:
In general:
| Level | Typical Access |
|---|---|
| 1 | Basic administrative command access |
| 2 | Additional gameplay and player-management commands |
| 3 | More advanced server-management commands |
| 4 | Highest normal Minecraft operator command access |
The exact commands available can vary by Minecraft version and server software.
Plugins may also change how permissions are handled.
On Paper, Purpur, and Spigot servers, OP status still works, but many larger servers use a permissions plugin for more detailed control.
A permissions system can allow you to give someone access to specific commands without giving them full operator access.
For example, a moderator might need permission to:
without needing every command available to a full operator.
Minecraft OP permissions are relatively broad.
A permissions plugin can provide much more detailed control.
For example:
Operator:
Full or broad Minecraft administrative access
Permissions plugin:
Specific permissions assigned to specific players or groups
For a larger public server, a permissions plugin is often preferable to giving many staff members full OP access.
Usually, no.
Only give operator access to staff who genuinely need it.
For example:
Moderators may not need full operator access if you use a permissions plugin.
Limiting OP access reduces the chance of accidental or unauthorized administrative changes.
Operator status and whitelist access are separate.
Whitelist:
Controls whether a player is allowed to join.
Operator:
Controls whether a player has elevated Minecraft administrative permissions.
A player can be:
For whitelist management, see:
How to Whitelist Players on a Down Side Hosting Minecraft Server
First confirm that the player is actually an operator.
From the server console, you can run:
op PLAYERNAME
again if necessary.
Also check:
op-permission-levelOn a Paper, Purpur, or Spigot server, plugins can add or modify commands and permissions.
Being OP does not guarantee that every third-party plugin will behave exactly the same way.
Check the plugin's documentation if a specific plugin command is not working.
See:
If you remove your own OP status, you can restore it from the Down Side Hosting server console.
Enter:
op YOUR_USERNAME
For example:
op Steve
Because the server console is not an in-game player, you do not need to already be OP to run the command there.
A normal player cannot give themselves operator access.
If you do not already have permission to use /op, open your Down Side Hosting server console and use:
op PLAYERNAME
No.
A player does not need access to your Down Side Hosting account or server panel simply to receive Minecraft operator permissions.
You can give them OP access from the console.
Only provide server-panel access to people who actually need hosting-level administrative access.
If someone should no longer have administrative access, remove their operator status:
deop PLAYERNAME
If they also had other access, consider checking:
Removing Minecraft OP status only removes the Minecraft operator privileges associated with that player.
Operator accounts can perform powerful actions.
Good practices include:
From the Down Side Hosting server console:
op PLAYERNAME
For example:
op Steve
Use:
deop PLAYERNAME
Normally, no.
The op and deop commands take effect while the server is running.
Yes.
Use:
op YOUR_USERNAME
This is useful if you are setting up a new Minecraft server or accidentally removed your own operator status.
Do not rely on OP status as a replacement for whitelist configuration.
If the server uses a whitelist, manage the whitelist separately.
See:
Only if they actually require operator-level commands.
For larger servers, a permissions plugin can provide more limited access without giving every staff member full administrative permissions.
If you are having trouble with operator permissions, provide your Minecraft version, server software, and the command that is not working when contacting support.
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