/op
Grants operator status to a player, giving them permission to use server commands.
Overview
Grants operator status to a player, giving them permission to use server commands. In vanilla Minecraft Java Edition it is one of the server commands and has been available since version 1.0.
It is invoked as /op and accepts one required argument (
Operator permission levels (1-4) can be set in ops.json. By default, new ops are given level 4 (full access). The /op command itself requires level 3.
Syntax & Arguments
/op <targets>The full syntax is /op . 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 grant operator status to.
Parameters
| Name | Type | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| targets | game_profile | Required | The player to grant operator status to. |
Examples
The 2 examples below are ready to copy and adapt. For instance, /op Steve grants Steve operator status on the server. Each example varies the arguments to show a different real use of /op; read the note under every snippet to see exactly what changes.
/op SteveGrants Steve operator status on the server.
/op @pGives operator status to the nearest player.
Permission Level & Requirements
/op sits at permission Level 3 - Admin, which means it needs permission level 3 (administrator).
/op itself needs permission level 3. The level granted to new operators is controlled by op-permission-level in server.properties and defaults to 4.
Java vs Bedrock — On Bedrock dedicated servers operator status is managed through permissions.json rather than /op.
Common Mistakes
- Giving op to the wrong player, operator status grants significant power; always verify the target.
- Not configuring the op permission level in server.properties, the default op level may be higher than intended.
Notes
Operator permission levels (1-4) can be set in ops.json. By default, new ops are given level 4 (full access). The /op command itself requires level 3.
Related Commands
If /op is part of your toolkit, the commands below are the ones you will most often reach for alongside it: /deop, /whitelist, and /ban. They cover closely related tasks, so the links above jump straight to each one.
Frequently Asked Questions about /op
What does the /op command do in Minecraft?
Grants operator status to a player, giving them permission to use server commands. It belongs to the server command group and was added in Java Edition 1.0.
What is the correct syntax for /op?
/op
What permission level does /op 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 /op?
Giving op to the wrong player, operator status grants significant power; always verify the target.
Can you give an example of /op in use?
Yes. /op @p — gives operator status to the nearest player.
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