How to Whitelist a Minecraft Server (Add & Remove Players)
A whitelist lets only approved players join your Minecraft server — the simplest way to keep a private SMP free of random joiners and griefers. Here is how to enable it and manage who is allowed in.
With the whitelist on, only players you have added can connect; everyone else is rejected. Operators (ops) can always join even if they are not whitelisted.
Enable the whitelist
The quickest way is from the server console, or in-game as an operator:
/whitelist onYou can also set white-list=true in server.properties and restart. On a control panel there is usually a whitelist toggle.
Add and remove players
/whitelist add PlayerName
/whitelist remove PlayerName
/whitelist listIf you edit the list outside the game, run /whitelist reload to apply the changes without a full restart.
The whitelist.json file
Whitelisted players are stored in whitelist.json in the server folder, each with a name and UUID. Adding players in-game or by console is safer than editing the file by hand, because the UUID has to match the account.
Online-mode vs offline-mode whitelists
In normal online-mode the whitelist uses each player's real UUID, so names are verified. On a cracked/offline server, UUIDs are generated from the name, so anyone using that exact name can get in — the whitelist is far weaker. Keep online-mode on where you can.
Whitelist not working?
- You added the player before enabling it — run
/whitelist reload. - A typo in the player's name.
- An offline-mode UUID mismatch on a cracked server.
- Ops bypass the whitelist by design, which can look like it "isn't working".
A whitelist is the one-command way to make a server invite-only. Turn it on, add your friends, and random joiners simply cannot get in.
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Frequently asked questions
How do I whitelist a player in Minecraft?
Run /whitelist add PlayerName from the console or as an op in-game, then enable the whitelist with /whitelist on. The player can then join and everyone not on the list is rejected.
Where is the Minecraft whitelist stored?
In whitelist.json in your server folder. It holds each allowed player's name and UUID. Editing it in-game or via console is safer than by hand, since the UUID has to match.
Do operators need to be whitelisted?
No — server operators can always join regardless of the whitelist. That is why an admin can still connect even when the whitelist blocks everyone else.
Why is my whitelist not working?
Common causes: you added the player before enabling the whitelist (run /whitelist reload), a typo in the name, or an offline-mode UUID mismatch on a cracked server. Ops also bypass the whitelist by design.
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