# How to Give Operator (OP) Permissions on Your Minecraft Server (/docs/minecraft/op-permissions)



import { Tab, Tabs } from 'fumadocs-ui/components/tabs';
import { Step, Steps } from 'fumadocs-ui/components/steps';

Operator (OP) status gives players access to admin commands like `/give`, `/tp`, `/gamemode`, `/ban`, and more. Minecraft has **4 permission levels** that control which commands a player can use.

OP a Player [#op-a-player]

<Tabs items={['Via Console (Recommended)', 'Via ops.json']}>
  <Tab value="Via Console (Recommended)">
    <Steps>
      <Step>
        Open the Console [#open-the-console]

        In the [XGamingServer Panel](https://panel.xgamingserver.com), click **Console** in the sidebar.
      </Step>

      <Step>
        Run the op command [#run-the-op-command]

        ```
        op PlayerName
        ```

        Use the player's exact Minecraft username. The command takes effect immediately — they don't need to reconnect.
      </Step>

      <Step>
        Verify [#verify]

        Check the console output for `Made PlayerName a server operator`. The player now has OP level 4 (full access).
      </Step>
    </Steps>

    To remove OP:

    ```
    deop PlayerName
    ```
  </Tab>

  <Tab value="Via ops.json">
    <Steps>
      <Step>
        Stop the server [#stop-the-server]

        Go to **Console** and stop your server.
      </Step>

      <Step>
        Open ops.json [#open-opsjson]

        Click **Files** in the sidebar and open `ops.json` in the server root.
      </Step>

      <Step>
        Add the player [#add-the-player]

        Each entry needs the player's UUID, name, and level:

        ```json
        [
          {
            "uuid": "069a79f4-44e9-4726-a5be-fca90e38aaf5",
            "name": "Notch",
            "level": 4,
            "bypassesPlayerLimit": false
          }
        ]
        ```

        Find UUIDs at [mcuuid.net](https://mcuuid.net) by entering the player's username.
      </Step>

      <Step>
        Save and start [#save-and-start]

        Click **Save Content** and start the server from **Console**.
      </Step>
    </Steps>

    > **Tip:** Editing `ops.json` directly is the only way to set custom permission levels (1, 2, 3) — the `op` command always sets level 4.
  </Tab>
</Tabs>

Permission Levels [#permission-levels]

Set the default OP level in `server.properties`:

```
op-permission-level=4
```

| Level | Access                                                                                                                          |
| ----- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **1** | Bypass spawn protection. No commands                                                                                            |
| **2** | `/clear`, `/difficulty`, `/effect`, `/gamemode`, `/gamerule`, `/give`, `/summon`, `/setblock`, `/teleport`, `/tp`, `/xp`        |
| **3** | Level 2 + `/ban`, `/ban-ip`, `/banlist`, `/deop`, `/kick`, `/op`, `/pardon`, `/save-all`, `/save-off`, `/save-on`, `/whitelist` |
| **4** | Level 3 + `/stop`, `/debug`, `/reload`, plus full server control                                                                |

Bypass Player Limit [#bypass-player-limit]

Set `bypassesPlayerLimit: true` in `ops.json` to let an admin join even when the server is full:

```json
{
  "uuid": "...",
  "name": "AdminName",
  "level": 4,
  "bypassesPlayerLimit": true
}
```

Beyond OP — Use a Permissions Plugin [#beyond-op--use-a-permissions-plugin]

For granular per-command control, ranks, groups, and prefixes, use a permissions plugin instead of the OP system:

* **[LuckPerms](/docs/minecraft/setup-luckperms)** — most popular, supports inheritance and per-world permissions
* **EssentialsX permissions** — simpler, works with EssentialsX

OP gives all-or-nothing access; permissions plugins let you give one player `/teleport` without giving them `/ban`.

Related Guides [#related-guides]

* [Server Properties](/docs/minecraft/server-properties)
* [Whitelist Setup](/docs/minecraft/whitelist-setup)
* [LuckPerms Setup](/docs/minecraft/setup-luckperms)
* [Ban & Unban Players](/docs/minecraft/ban-unban-players)