How to op yourself and whitelist a Minecraft server

Make yourself operator on a Minecraft server from the console (op Name, no slash), op and deop others, op permission levels 1-4, then turn on the whitelist and add or remove players, and why ops can always join.

  • 1:12 video
  • English captions & transcript
  • 4 November 2026

Transcript

The full narration, chapter by chapter. Click a time to play the video from there.

Intro

Here's how to make yourself admin on your Minecraft server, and how to whitelist it so only your friends can join.

Op from console

On a brand new server, nobody is an operator yet. So you op yourself from the server console. Type op, then your username, without a slash.

Op in-game

After that, any operator can op others in-game, with /op and the name. Use deop to remove it. Ops have full control, so only op people you trust.

Permission levels

The op permission level in server.properties goes from one to four. Four is full access, and it's the default.

Whitelist on

Now the whitelist. Type whitelist on in the console, or /whitelist on in-game as an operator.

Add & remove

Add players with whitelist add and their name, remove them with whitelist remove. If you edit the file by hand, run whitelist reload.

Not working?

Whitelist not working? Check the spelling of the name. And remember: operators can always join, even when they're not on the list.

Recap

Op yourself from the console, then lock the door with a whitelist. Minecraft hosting at esagames.ro.

More video tutorials

  • 1:09
    Minecraft

    Best Minecraft modpacks to host in 2026

    The Minecraft modpacks worth hosting in 2026 and the RAM each needs: All The Mods 10, RLCraft, Create packs, Vault Hunters, Pixelmon, Better MC and Prominence, plus the RAM rule of thumb by mod count.

  • 1:02
    Minecraft

    Fix "Outdated server" / "Outdated client" in Minecraft

    What "Outdated server" and "Outdated client" mean, how to create a launcher installation with the server's exact version, ViaVersion and ViaBackwards for server owners, and why modded servers need the exact same modpack.

  • 1:01
    Minecraft

    Fix Minecraft "You need to agree to the EULA"

    Why a new Minecraft server stops on its first start and the one-line fix: change eula=false to eula=true in eula.txt (or flip the panel EULA toggle), plus what to do when eula.txt is missing or will not save.

Skip the troubleshooting

Managed, protected hosting in Frankfurt — we handle the Linux, the network and the DDoS so you don't have to.