Minecraft

How do I ban an IP or stop a banned player from rejoining?

If a banned player keeps coming back under new names, a plain name ban isn't enough. Banning their IP (or using an auth/whitelist layer) is how you actually keep them out.

Name bans vs IP bans

  • ban PlayerName — bans the account/name.
  • ban-ip PlayerName (or ban-ip <address>) — bans their IP address as well.

If someone keeps returning under new usernames, an IP ban — or a login/anti-VPN plugin — is what stops them.

A note on cracked servers

On offline-mode ("cracked") servers, name bans are weak, because anyone can change their name. There, rely on IP bans, a whitelist, or an auth plugin instead.

Tip: Combine an IP ban with a whitelist or auth plugin for the most reliable protection against a persistent troublemaker.

Frequently asked questions

How do I ban both the name and the IP? Run ban PlayerName and ban-ip PlayerName — that covers the account and the address.

They keep coming back with new names — what now? Ban their IP with ban-ip, and consider an anti-VPN or login plugin, since determined players can switch IPs.

Why are name bans weak on cracked servers? Because offline-mode doesn't verify accounts, anyone can pick any username — so a name ban is trivially bypassed. Use IP bans, a whitelist, or an auth plugin.