MinecraftServer AdminMinecraft (Java Edition) RCON Commands: Server Admin Reference
Minecraft Java server admin over RCON: enable it in server.properties, the no-leading-slash rule, list/kick/ban/whitelist/op, gamemode and gamerules, time and weather, save and stop - plus the no-position-context selector traps that break @s and @p over RCON.
Minecraft: Java Edition implements the Source RCON protocol, so you can run any server command remotely. This reference covers enabling RCON, moderation, world management, and the quirks of running commands with no player context. (Bedrock Edition does not support vanilla RCON - this is Java only.)
How Minecraft RCON works
Enable RCON in server.properties (restart to apply):
enable-rcon=true
rcon.port=25575
rcon.password=your_strong_password
The RCON port (default 25575) is separate from the game port (25565). RCON runs commands as the server console at op level 4 (full admin).
Commands over RCON omit the leading slash. Send kick Steve, not /kick Steve - the slash produces an "Unknown command" error. RCON is unencrypted, so never expose the port to the internet; bind it to localhost or a trusted network.
Listing players
| Command | What it returns |
|---|---|
list | Online players and the player count. |
list uuids | The same, with each player's UUID. |
Moderation
| Command | Description |
|---|---|
kick <player> [reason] | Disconnect an online player. |
ban <player> [reason] | Ban by UUID (works offline; survives name changes). |
ban-ip <ip|player> | Ban an IP (by raw IP, or an online player's current IP). |
pardon <player> / pardon-ip <ip> | Unban a player / IP. |
banlist [ips|players] | Show the ban list. |
op <player> / deop <player> | Grant / revoke operator. |
whitelist <add|remove|list|on|off|reload> | Manage the whitelist (live, no restart). |
World and player management
| Command | Description |
|---|---|
gamemode <mode> <player> | Set game mode. A target is required over RCON (there's no executor player). |
give <player> <item> [count] | Give items (namespaced id, e.g. minecraft:diamond). |
tp <player> <x> <y> <z> | Teleport. |
kill <target> | Kill an entity/player (specify a target over RCON). |
difficulty <peaceful|easy|normal|hard> | Set difficulty - not persistent (reloaded from server.properties on restart). |
gamerule <rule> [value] | Set or query a gamerule - live and persistent. |
setidletimeout <minutes> | Idle-kick timer (0 = off). |
Time and weather
| Command | Description |
|---|---|
time set <day|noon|night|midnight|ticks> | Set the time. |
time add <ticks> | Advance time (one full day = 24000 ticks). |
weather <clear|rain|thunder> [duration] | Set the weather. |
Server control and chat
| Command | Description |
|---|---|
say <message> | Broadcast to all players (shows as [Server]). |
tellraw <target> <json> | Send a formatted (colored/clickable) message. |
save-all [flush] | Force a world save. |
save-off / save-on | Pause / resume saving (for backups). |
stop | Save and shut down the server. |
seed | Print the world seed. |
Common gamerules
Set with gamerule <name> <value>:
| Gamerule | Effect |
|---|---|
keep_inventory | Keep items and XP on death. |
pvp | Allow player-vs-player damage. |
mob_griefing | Whether mobs can change blocks (creepers, endermen, ...). |
random_tick_speed | Crop/fire/leaf tick rate (0 freezes it). |
show_death_messages | Death messages in chat. |
players_sleeping_percentage | Percent of players who must sleep to skip night (1 = any one). |
immediate_respawn | Skip the death screen. |
advance_time / advance_weather | Day-night cycle / weather progress naturally. |
Gamerule names switched from camelCase to snake_case in 1.21.11 (Dec 2025). Old names like keepInventory may still work as deprecated aliases, but use the snake_case forms in new scripts.
Gotchas
- Omit the leading slash over RCON.
- No position/entity context: RCON runs at the world with no executor, so
@aand@rwork, but@sfails ("No entity executing the command") and@ptargets the player nearest world origin (0,0,0). Use explicit player names or@a. difficultyis not persistent - set it inserver.propertiestoo.gamerulechanges are persistent (saved in the world).- RCON is unencrypted - firewall the port.
Quick reference
list uuids # players + UUIDs
kick Steve Griefing # no leading slash!
ban Steve Repeated griefing
gamemode survival @a # target required over RCON
gamerule keep_inventory true
time set day && weather clear
save-all flush
stop
Running these in MantaScope
MantaScope's web RCON connects to your Minecraft Java server over RCON from the browser - run these commands without the slash, manage bans and the whitelist, set gamerules, and schedule restarts and saves, all without keeping a console open.