Quick answer: LuckPerms is the standard permissions plugin for Minecraft servers. Drop the jar in your /plugins folder, restart, then create ranks with /lp creategroup, give them permissions with /lp group <group> permission set <node> true, and assign players with /lp user <player> parent add <group>.
Permissions decide who can do what on your server, and LuckPerms is the most powerful and beginner-friendly way to manage them. It runs on Paper, Spigot and Bukkit servers as well as BungeeCord and Velocity proxies. This guide gets you from install to working ranks.
Installing LuckPerms
- Download the correct LuckPerms build for your platform (Bukkit/Spigot/Paper, or BungeeCord/Velocity).
- Upload the jar into your server’s
/pluginsfolder. - Restart the server (a reload is not enough for a new plugin).
- Confirm it loaded with
/lp info.
Core LuckPerms Commands
| Command | What it does |
|---|---|
/lp creategroup <name> | Create a new rank (e.g. vip, mod, admin) |
/lp group <group> permission set <node> true | Grant a permission to a group |
/lp group <group> permission set <node> false | Explicitly deny a permission |
/lp user <player> parent add <group> | Add a player to a group (keeps other groups) |
/lp user <player> parent set <group> | Set a player’s group, clearing others |
/lp group <child> parent add <parent> | Make one group inherit another’s permissions |
/lp editor | Open the web editor to manage everything visually |
Setting Up Ranks (Example)
Every server starts with a default group that new players get automatically. A simple ladder looks like this:
/lp creategroup vip
/lp creategroup mod
/lp creategroup admin
# let vip inherit everything default has, then add extras
/lp group vip parent add default
/lp group vip permission set essentials.fly true
# promote a player to vip
/lp user Steve parent add vipUse inheritance (parent add) so higher ranks automatically get lower-rank permissions — you only ever add the extra nodes each rank needs.
Prefixes and Chat
To add a chat prefix to a rank, use the meta command:
/lp group vip meta setprefix "&a[VIP] "Prefixes display through a chat plugin that supports LuckPerms meta — EssentialsX Chat is the usual pairing. LuckPerms handles the permissions; the chat plugin renders the prefix.
The Web Editor
Typing nodes by hand gets tedious. Run /lp editor and LuckPerms gives you a one-time web link where you can create groups, tick permissions, set prefixes, and drag users between ranks — then apply it all back to the server with one click. It’s the fastest way to manage a real permission setup.
LuckPerms is a must-have on any community server. See the rest of our picks in the best Minecraft plugins guide, and run it all on a Minecraft server hosting plan built for Paper.
FAQ
Does LuckPerms work on Paper and Spigot?
Yes — LuckPerms runs on Bukkit, Spigot and Paper, plus BungeeCord and Velocity proxies. Use the build that matches your platform.
What’s the difference between parent add and parent set?
parent add adds a group while keeping the player’s existing groups; parent set replaces all their groups with the one you specify.
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