Updated 25 October 2026. Facts on this page come from minecraft.wiki, minecraft.net and the live Artemis PvP server; sources are listed at the bottom.
Minecraft Kick and Ban Commands: /kick, /ban, /pardon
On a Java server, /kick
What does each command do?
| Command | What it does | Level |
|---|---|---|
/kick <player> [reason] | Disconnects a player; default reason Kicked by an operator | 3 (Java), 1 (Bedrock) |
/ban <player> [reason] | Bans the account; default reason Banned by an operator | 3 |
/ban-ip <address or player> | Bans an IP address, or an online player's address | 3 |
/pardon <player> | Removes an account ban | 3 |
/pardon-ip <address> | Removes an IP ban | 3 |
/banlist [ips|players] | Lists bans | 3 |
Permission levels: whitelist and ops.
Where are bans saved?
Account bans go in banned-players.json and IP bans in a separate banned IPs file in the server folder, and you can also remove a ban by editing the file by hand. A ban always beats the whitelist: a banned player on the whitelist still cannot join. Server files: server.properties.
Who can be kicked?
Any connected player except the singleplayer player or the host of a LAN world. On Bedrock you can kick one player at a time, by name or Xbox ID. The reason shows on the kicked player's screen.
How do you ban players on Bedrock?
Bedrock has no /ban. Bedrock servers control who can join with their allowlist, and Realms have their own player settings; see Bedrock server and Realms.
Tips for moderators
Always give a reason so players know what they did. Kick first for small problems and ban for repeat cheating. Most public servers use plugins with timed bans, mutes and appeal systems on top of these vanilla commands.
Frequently asked questions
How do you unban someone in Minecraft?
On a Java server, run /pardon followed by their name.
Sources
Every fact on this page was checked against these pages; the wording is ours.