/deop
Revokes operator status from a player.
Overview
Revokes operator status from a player. In vanilla Minecraft Java Edition it is one of the server commands and has been available since version 1.0.
It is invoked as /deop and accepts one required argument (
If you deop yourself, you need console access or another op to restore your permissions.
Removing operator status takes effect on the very next tick — the player's command list refreshes and any op-only commands they had open stop working at once.
The change is written to ops.json, so it survives restarts; to undo it you run /op on the player again or edit that file from the server console.
A demoted player keeps their items, position and game mode; only their permission to run privileged commands is taken away.
Syntax & Arguments
/deop <targets>The full syntax is /deop . Angle brackets < > mark required arguments and square brackets [ ] mark optional ones; a vertical bar | between words means you pick exactly one of those literals. You must always supply
- targets
- Required, of type a game_profile. The player to remove operator status from.
Parameters
| Name | Type | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| targets | game_profile | Required | The player to remove operator status from. |
Examples
The 2 examples below are ready to copy and adapt. For instance, /deop Steve removes Steve's operator status. Each example varies the arguments to show a different real use of /deop; read the note under every snippet to see exactly what changes.
/deop SteveRemoves Steve's operator status.
/deop @a[gamemode=survival]Revokes operator status from all players in survival mode.
Permission Level & Requirements
/deop sits at permission Level 3 - Admin, which means it needs permission level 3 (administrator).
Requires level 3. If you deop yourself you lose command access immediately and need the console or another operator to restore it.
This reference describes the Java Edition 1.21 form of the command; Bedrock Edition may use slightly different argument formats.
Common Mistakes
- Deopping yourself accidentally, you may lock yourself out of admin commands on a server.
- Not realizing deop takes effect immediately, the player instantly loses all operator permissions.
Notes
If you deop yourself, you need console access or another op to restore your permissions.
Related Commands
If /deop is part of your toolkit, the commands below are the ones you will most often reach for alongside it: /op, /kick, and /ban. They cover closely related tasks, so the links above jump straight to each one.
Frequently Asked Questions about /deop
What does the /deop command do in Minecraft?
Revokes operator status from a player. It belongs to the server command group and was added in Java Edition 1.0.
What is the correct syntax for /deop?
/deop
What permission level does /deop need?
It requires permission Level 3 - Admin. On a server the player must be an operator at that level, or have cheats enabled in single-player.
What is a common mistake when using /deop?
Deopping yourself accidentally, you may lock yourself out of admin commands on a server.
Can you give an example of /deop in use?
Yes. /deop @a[gamemode=survival] — revokes operator status from all players in survival mode.
What happens if I deop myself by accident?
You instantly lose access to all operator commands, including /op, so you cannot promote yourself back from in-game. Restore your status from the server console with /op
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