How to Ban and Kick Players on Your Minecraft Server

Maintaining a positive community on your Minecraft server sometimes requires removing disruptive players. Whether you need to temporarily kick someone or permanently ban them from your server, Loafhosts' LoafPanel makes player moderation simple and effective through our integrated Player Manager.

Understanding Kicks vs Bans

Kick

A kick immediately disconnects a player from your server but doesn't prevent them from rejoining. Kicks are useful for:

• Warning players about rule violations
• Removing AFK players to free up slots
• Quick temporary removals
• Testing connectivity issues

Ban

A ban permanently prevents a player from joining your server. Banned players see a "You are banned from this server" message when attempting to connect. Bans are appropriate for:

• Repeated rule violations
• Griefing or destructive behavior
• Harassment or toxic behavior
• Cheating or hacking

IP Ban

An IP ban blocks all players connecting from a specific IP address, preventing ban evasion through alternate accounts. Use IP bans when:

• A player is using alternate accounts to bypass bans
• You need to block an entire household or network
• Dealing with persistent troublemakers

Warning: IP bans can affect multiple legitimate players sharing the same IP address (like siblings or internet cafés).

Prerequisites

Before you begin, make sure you have:

• Access to your Loafhosts panel at https://panel.loafhosts.com
• Operator (OP) permissions or server owner access
• The exact Minecraft username of the player

Method 1: Using the LoafPanel Player Manager (Recommended)

The LoafPanel Player Manager provides a powerful visual interface for player moderation with one-click actions.

Step 1: Access the Player Manager

1. Log in to your Loafhosts panel at https://panel.loafhosts.com
2. Select your Minecraft server from the server list
3. Navigate to Management → Players in the left sidebar
4. The Player Manager displays all players who have joined your server

Step 2: Find the Player

Locate the player you want to moderate:

• Browse the list - Scroll through all players with their Minecraft skins visible
• Search - Use the search bar to quickly find a specific username
• Filter - View online players, offline players, or all players

Step 3: Open Player Details

Click on the player's name or avatar to open their detailed profile. Here you'll see:

• Player statistics and activity
• Current gamemode and world
• Playtime and achievements
• Available moderation actions

Step 4: Choose Your Action

In the Player Actions section, you'll see several moderation options:

To Ban a Player:

1. Click the red Ban button
2. A confirmation dialog may appear
3. The player is immediately banned from your server
4. If they're currently online, they'll be kicked automatically

To IP Ban a Player:

1. Click the red Ban IP button
2. This bans both the player and their IP address
3. Prevents the player from using alternate accounts from the same IP

All bans take effect immediately with no server restart required!

Method 2: Using Console Commands

You can also moderate players through direct console commands.

Kicking a Player

To kick a player from the server:

kick PlayerName [reason]

Example:

kick IXuka_Vuraml Please read the server rules

The player will be disconnected and shown your custom message.

Banning a Player

To permanently ban a player:

ban PlayerName [reason]

Example:

ban IXuka_Vuraml Griefing spawn area

The reason is optional but recommended for record-keeping.

IP Banning a Player

To ban a player's IP address:

ban-ip PlayerName [reason]

Or ban an IP directly:

ban-ip 123.456.789.0 [reason]

Viewing Banned Players

To see all banned players:

banlist

To see all banned IPs:

banlist ips

Method 3: Editing Ban Files Directly

For advanced users, you can edit ban lists manually.

Step 1: Access Ban Files

1. Navigate to Management → Files in the LoafPanel
2. Locate these files in your server root directory:

• • banned-players.json - Contains player bans
  • banned-ips.json - Contains IP bans

Step 2: Understanding the Ban File Format

The banned-players.json structure:

[
  {
    "uuid": "8f8c84ff-7ac4-46d4-8e39-42feb60d4ded",
    "name": "IXuka_Vuraml",
    "created": "2025-01-15 14:30:00 +0000",
    "source": "Server",
    "expires": "forever",
    "reason": "Griefing spawn area"
  }
]

The banned-ips.json structure:

[
  {
    "ip": "192.168.1.100",
    "created": "2025-01-15 14:30:00 +0000",
    "source": "Server",
    "expires": "forever",
    "reason": "Ban evasion"
  }
]

Step 3: Manual Editing

You can add entries manually, but it's easier and safer to use the Player Manager or console commands. Manual editing is primarily useful for:

• Bulk importing bans from another server
• Editing ban reasons
• Setting custom expiration dates

After manual edits, reload the ban list with:

reload

Unbanning Players

Via Console

To unban a player:

pardon PlayerName

To unban an IP:

pardon-ip 123.456.789.0

Via Player Manager

1. Go to Management → Players
2. Find and click on the banned player
3. Click the Ban button again to toggle it off
4. The player is immediately unbanned

Via File Editing

1. Open banned-players.json or banned-ips.json
2. Remove the entire entry for that player/IP
3. Save the file
4. Run reload in console

Advanced Player Actions

The LoafPanel Player Manager offers additional moderation tools beyond banning:

Wipe Player Data

The Wipe Data button completely removes a player's data from your server:

• Deletes player inventory
• Removes player statistics
• Clears achievements and advancements
• Removes player from all worlds

Warning: This action is irreversible. Use with extreme caution.

Clear Inventory

The Clear Inventory button removes all items from a player's inventory and ender chest without affecting their statistics or location. Useful for:

• Removing duped items
• Clearing items after rule violations
• Starting players fresh without full data wipe

Common Ban/Kick Commands Reference

Troubleshooting

Ban Doesn't Take Effect

Solution:

• Verify the username is spelled correctly (case-sensitive)
• Check that the player is actually on the ban list with banlist
• Try restarting the server
• Ensure you have operator permissions

Player Rejoins After Ban

Solution:

• The player may be using a different account - use IP ban
• Check that the ban was actually applied with banlist
• Verify banned-players.json contains the correct UUID
• Consider using BanManager plugin for more advanced ban management

IP Ban Affects Multiple Players

Solution:

• IP bans block everyone on that network (siblings, roommates, etc.)
• Use player bans instead of IP bans when possible
• Consider using a plugin like AdvancedBan for temporary bans
• Whitelist legitimate players from the same IP if needed

Can't Find Player in Player Manager

Solution:

• The player must have joined your server at least once to appear
• Use console commands to ban players who haven't joined yet
• Check spelling of the username
• Try searching by partial username

Banned Player Still Shows as Online

Solution:

• The ban takes effect immediately, they'll be kicked within seconds
• If they remain online, they might have special permissions
• Check that they don't have ban bypass permissions
• Verify the ban was applied correctly

Best Practices

Documentation

• Always include a reason when banning players
• Keep records of bans for staff reference
• Document ban appeals process clearly
• Maintain consistency in ban enforcement

Progressive Discipline

Consider implementing a warning system:

1. First offense: Verbal warning via whisper
2. Second offense: Kick with warning message
3. Third offense: Temporary ban (using plugins)
4. Fourth offense: Permanent ban

Staff Training

If you have moderators:

• Train them on when to use kicks vs bans
• Establish clear guidelines for ban reasons
• Require consultation for IP bans
• Review ban decisions regularly

Ban Appeals

Create a fair ban appeal process:

• Set up a Discord channel or form for appeals
• Review appeals within a reasonable timeframe
• Consider unbanning reformed players
• Keep ban records even after unbanning

LoafPanel Advantages

Managing player moderation through Loafhosts' LoafPanel offers several benefits:

• Visual Interface: See player information and statistics before taking action
• One-Click Actions: Ban or kick players instantly without memorizing commands
• Instant Application: All actions take effect immediately
• Player History: Review player behavior and statistics before moderating
• Multiple Actions: Access ban, IP ban, kick, and data management in one place
• Mobile Accessible: Moderate your server from anywhere

Recommended Plugins for Advanced Moderation

For more sophisticated ban management, consider these plugins:

• LiteBans: Advanced ban system with web interface and ban history
• AdvancedBan: Temporary bans, warnings, mutes, and more
• BanManager: MySQL-based ban system for multi-server networks
• CoreProtect: Rollback griefing and inspect player actions

You can install these easily through the LoafPanel Plugin Manager at Management → Plugins.

Need Help?

If you have questions about player moderation or need assistance with ban management:

• Discord Support: Join our community at https://discord.gg/loafhosts
• Support Center: Browse more guides at https://loafhosts.com/support
• Panel Support: Click the support button in your LoafPanel

The LoafPanel Player Manager makes moderating your Minecraft server straightforward and efficient. Keep your community safe and enjoyable by quickly dealing with disruptive players while maintaining fair and consistent moderation practices!

Updated on: 10/11/2025