A whitelist is the simplest way to make your Minecraft server private. Only players on the whitelist can join. Everyone else gets rejected. Here is how to set it up.
New 26.3 servers start with the whitelist on
Since Minecraft 26.3, white-list=true is the default in server.properties (26.3 changelog). A brand new server, or one where you deleted server.properties, starts with the whitelist on. Operators can always join, so if you made yourself op, you get in while your friends are turned away. A server you update from an older version keeps the value it already had.
If your friends cannot join a fresh 26.3 server, add them with /whitelist add or open the server with /whitelist off. Our 26.3 server update guide covers the other server changes in that release.
Enabling the whitelist
- Open
server.properties. - Set
white-list=true. If you also want players who are online but not on the list to be kicked, setenforce-whitelist=trueas well. Both are vanilla settings, not Paper additions. - Save and restart the server.
Or use the command in console: /whitelist on
Adding players
Use the command: /whitelist add PlayerName
This works in the server console or in game if you have operator status. The player does not need to be online.
Removing players
/whitelist remove PlayerName
With the default enforce-whitelist=false, the player is not kicked. They can keep playing until they disconnect, and cannot rejoin after that. With enforce-whitelist=true, the server kicks them as soon as you remove them.
Listing whitelisted players
/whitelist list
Shows all players currently on the whitelist.
The whitelist.json file
The whitelist is stored in whitelist.json in your server root. Each entry contains the player's UUID and username. You can edit this file directly, but you need to run /whitelist reload afterward for changes to take effect. With enforce-whitelist=true, the reload also kicks online players who are no longer on the list.
Whitelist vs permissions
A whitelist controls who can join the server. Permissions (via LuckPerms) control what players can do after joining. Use both together for a well-managed server.
When to use a whitelist
- Private SMP with friends.
- Whitelisted community with an application process.
- Development or testing servers.
- Servers where you want to control who has access before opening publicly.
The short answer
Set white-list=true in server.properties (a new 26.3 server already has it), add players with /whitelist add, and restart. Everyone not on the list gets rejected.
Space-Node gives you full file access to manage your whitelist from the control panel. See our Minecraft hosting plans.