To enable cheats on a Minecraft Bedrock dedicated server, set allow-cheats=true in server.properties, save the file, and restart the server. Then grant your authenticated account operator permission with op YourGamertag from the server console, or add your XUID to permissions.json for an explicit, persistent entry. Use permission list to verify the live operator list.
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Enabling cheats disables achievements for that world, so make a backup before changing the setting if achievements matter. Operator status is also separate from the server allowlist: an operator who is not allowlisted can still be blocked from joining.
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Bedrock separates command access into controls that are often confused:
allow-cheatsis the server-wide switch that permits cheat commands. In a standardserver.propertiesfile its default isfalse. Set it totrueand restart before expecting cheat commands to work. See the Bedrock server.properties reference and cheat-enabling procedure.- Operator permission identifies which authenticated players can use administrative commands. Turning on cheats does not automatically make every player an operator.
- The allowlist controls who may join. It is independent of operator permission; being listed as an operator does not automatically bypass an enabled allowlist. The distinction is described in this Bedrock allowlist and permissions guide.
Both the global switch and an operator entry are therefore needed for a normal owner workflow: first allow cheats, then grant your account permission.
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Before you edit the server
Back up the world
Cheats disable achievements on the affected world. Copy the world folder and, if your host provides one, create a full server backup before changing allow-cheats. Keep the backup separate from the live server so you can restore the pre-cheat state if you change your mind.
Confirm you are editing the Bedrock server instance
Open the files for the Bedrock Dedicated Server instance, not a Java Edition server or a client save. The relevant files are in the server’s main directory: server.properties and, for the persistent permission method, permissions.json.
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A restart is part of the documented process. Plan a short maintenance window, warn connected players, and stop the server cleanly if your control panel offers a Stop button. Editing while the process is writing files can cause your change to be overwritten.
Fastest method: enable cheats and op yourself
This route is best when you can join the server and have console access.
- Stop the server or open its file manager while it is offline. Locate
server.properties. - Find the line
allow-cheats=false. Change only the value totrue, leaving the setting name and equals sign intact:allow-cheats=trueIf the line is missing, add it as its own line rather than placing it after a comment.
- Save the file and start or restart the server. Do not assume a panel’s Save button has restarted the process; check that the server actually went offline and came back online.
- Join the server with the Microsoft account you want to administer. The account must be authenticated; operator entries are tied to that identity.
- In the server console, run the command without a leading slash:
op YourGamertagReplace
YourGamertagwith the player’s exact in-game name. Console syntax differs from in-game chat: the console usesop YourGamertag, while chat uses/op YourGamertagwhen the interface accepts that command. - Run
permission listin the console. It should print the current operator list and the contents represented inpermissions.json. This verification step is documented by Bedrock administration guides such as this operator setup guide.
If the command succeeds but you still cannot join, check the allowlist separately. If you can join but commands are rejected, recheck the spelling of your Gamertag, the restart, and the value in server.properties.
Grant operator permission with the console
When to use op
The console command is the least error-prone way to grant access immediately. It avoids hand-editing JSON and is useful for a one-time administrative change or for confirming that the server recognizes your account. You must be online (or otherwise have the player recognized by the running server) and have an authenticated Microsoft/Xbox account.
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Console versus in-game command format
Do not copy the slash used in in-game chat into a server console. Use:
op YourGamertagIn a player chat window, commands are normally entered with the slash:
/op YourGamertagA common failure is entering /op at a console that expects the command name without punctuation. The reverse mistake—omitting the slash in chat—can make the text appear as ordinary chat instead of a command.
Authentication and timing caveat
Operator records are associated with an Xbox Live/Microsoft identity, not merely a display name. One Bedrock setup documents that op may fail while allow-cheats is still false and that the command writes a permission record only after the player is authenticated. For that reason, set allow-cheats=true, restart, join with the intended account, and then issue op.
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Use this method when you need a permission entry that is explicit and survives server restarts, or when you cannot reliably run op while the player is online. The XUID route is described in Bedrock operator guides including this setup reference and this Bedrock operator walkthrough.
1. Obtain the correct XUID
The XUID is a 16-digit identifier tied to the player’s Microsoft account. Have the account join the server once, then open the server’s logs folder and inspect latest.log. Look for the connection or authentication line containing the player’s name and XUID. Copy the digits exactly; do not substitute a gamertag, UUID from another edition, or a shortened number.
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2. Stop the server and preserve the existing file
Make a copy of permissions.json before editing. If the file already contains operators, retain them. A valid file is a JSON array, so entries are enclosed in square brackets and separated by commas.
3. Add an operator object
Add an object with the operator permission and the 16-digit XUID. For a file containing only one operator, the structure is:
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[{"permission":"operator","xuid":"1234567890123456"}]For multiple operators, separate objects with a comma:
[{"permission":"operator","xuid":"1234567890123456"},{"permission":"operator","xuid":"6543210987654321"}]Replace both example XUIDs with real values. Keep the quotation marks, colons, braces, and brackets. Do not add comments; JSON does not allow them.
4. Save, restart, and verify
Save the file, start the server, join with the matching account, and run permission list in the console. The command should show the operator entry. If the server reports a parsing error, stop it before making another change and repair the JSON using the troubleshooting section below.
Some guides describe a reload command for permission changes, but that behavior is not consistent across server setups. A full restart is the safer, portable way to apply an edited permissions.json.
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Choosing between the two operator routes
| Route | What you need | Persistence | Main risk | Best use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
op YourGamertag in console |
Running server, console access, and the player online/authenticated | Immediate grant; use the file method when you need to guarantee an explicit persistent record | Wrong name, wrong command prefix, or unauthenticated account | Fast setup and testing |
permissions.json XUID entry |
One prior join to discover the XUID, file access, and valid JSON | Designed for a persistent operator entry across restarts | A missing comma, quote, or bracket can make the file fail to parse | Owners who want a durable, identity-based permission |
Both routes still depend on allow-cheats=true and a successful restart. Neither route changes the allowlist.
Using a hosted control panel
Managed Bedrock hosts commonly expose server.properties through a Settings, Configuration, or Server Properties page rather than a raw file editor. The labels differ, but the underlying sequence is the same:
- Open the Bedrock instance in the panel.
- Stop the server if the panel requires it.
- Find the gameplay or server-properties section and set
allow-cheatstotrue. If the panel shows a checkbox such as “Allow Cheats,” it should write the same property. - Save, then use the panel’s Restart or Start control and wait for the server to finish booting.
- Open the live console and run
op YourGamertag, followed bypermission list.
If the panel hides permissions.json, use its file manager or ask the host where Bedrock permission files are stored. Do not create a second file in a logs or world subfolder; the server must read the file from its instance directory.
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Verification checklist
Check each layer independently instead of testing only one command:
- Property: Reopen
server.propertiesand confirm the saved line is exactlyallow-cheats=true. - Restart: Confirm the process stopped and started after the edit. A browser refresh of a control panel is not a restart.
- Identity: Make sure the account joining the server is the same Microsoft account whose XUID is in
permissions.json, or the exact name used withop. - Operator list: Run
permission listin the console and inspect the result. - Allowlist: If joining fails before you reach the world, inspect the allowlist separately; operator permission is not an allowlist entry.
- Command context: Use a leading slash in-game and no slash in the console.
Troubleshooting by symptom
The cheat command says you do not have permission
- Confirm
allow-cheats=trueis in the active instance’sserver.properties, not a backup or another server directory. - Restart the server after saving.
- Run
permission listand verify your operator record. - If you used
op, repeat it from the console with the exact authenticated gamertag. - If you edited JSON, compare the XUID with the value shown for your account in
logs/latest.log.
op is unknown or appears to do nothing
Remove the slash when entering the command in the console. Make sure the player has joined and authenticated. A documented setup also notes that an op attempt can fail while cheats remain disabled, so check the property and restart first.
The server says “Failed to parse permissions.json”
This means the file is not valid JSON. Stop the server, restore the backup if necessary, and check:
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- Every property name and value is inside double quotation marks.
- Each object is enclosed in
{ }. - The complete list is enclosed in
[ ]. - Objects have commas between them, but the final object has no trailing comma.
- There are no comments, smart quotes, or extra characters before the opening bracket or after the closing bracket.
For one operator, reduce the file temporarily to the known-good one-line structure shown earlier, restart, and then add additional entries one at a time.
You can join, but the server still blocks you
Check the allowlist. An operator entry grants command permission after login; it does not automatically add the account to an enabled allowlist. Add the account through your server’s normal allowlist controls, then reconnect.
The setting keeps reverting to false
Verify that you edited the live server instance and that the panel saved the change. Some panels regenerate properties when a server template or configuration profile is applied. Stop the process, save the value, restart, and reopen the file to confirm what the server actually retained.
Permissions changed in the file but are not active
Use a full restart rather than relying on a runtime reload command. Reload behavior is reported differently by different hosting setups, while a restart ensures the server reads the file from disk.
What enabling cheats changes for your world
Achievements
Once cheats are enabled, achievements are disabled for that world. Back up first if you may want an achievement-eligible copy. Keep the backup clearly labeled so you do not accidentally overwrite it with the cheat-enabled world.
Administrative exposure
An operator can run powerful commands, so grant the role only to trusted accounts. Use the XUID of the intended Microsoft account, not a display name copied from an unverified player. Review permission list after adding or changing operators.
Separate access decisions
Think of the controls in this order: the allowlist decides whether an account can enter, allow-cheats decides whether cheat commands are available, and operator permission decides which authenticated players may administer the server. Troubleshooting the wrong layer is the most common reason an apparently correct change fails.
Safe rollback
- Back up the current world and configuration.
- Set
allow-cheats=falseinserver.propertiesif you want to stop permitting cheat commands, then restart the server. - Remove the relevant XUID object from
permissions.jsonif you no longer want that account to be an operator, preserving valid commas and brackets. - Run
permission listafter the restart to confirm the resulting operator list.
Disabling the property does not turn an operator entry into an allowlist entry; continue managing those controls separately.
Quick Recap
Command and file reference
| Purpose | Where to enter it | Exact text |
|---|---|---|
| Enable cheats | server.properties |
allow-cheats=true |
| Grant operator | Server console | op YourGamertag |
| Grant operator | In-game command chat | /op YourGamertag |
| Verify operators | Server console | permission list |
| Persistent permission file | permissions.json |
[{"permission":"operator","xuid":"1234567890123456"}] |
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