MINECRAFT · SETTING
How to Set Up RCON on a Minecraft Server
This doc covers turning on RCON so you can send console commands to your server remotely from a separate client.
QUICK ANSWER
Files → server.properties → set enable-rcon=true, rcon.port, and rcon.password. Restart.
Fact
RCON gives full console access to anyone who connects with the right port and password, it's not a limited or read only connection.
Fact
The default RCON port is 25575, but you can change it in server.properties like any other port.
Steps
- Go to files and open server.properties
- Set:
enable-rcon=true
rcon.port=25575
rcon.password=your-strong-password
- Save the file.
- Restart the server from Console.
Security warning
Never expose the RCON port publicly without a firewall rule limiting who can reach it. Anyone with the port and password gets full server control.
Clients
- mcrcon, simple command line tool.
- WebRCON style panels built into some hosting dashboards.
- Rcon-cli or similar GUI tools if you prefer not to use terminal.
Verify
Connect with your RCON client using the port and password. Run list. If it returns player data, it's working.
Is it safe to leave the RCON port open to everyone?
No. Anyone with the port and password gets full control of your server. Restrict it with a firewall rule so only trusted IPs can reach it.
What client do I use to actually connect?
mcrcon is a simple command line option. Some hosting panels also have a built in WebRCON style console, or you can use a GUI tool like rcon-cli if you don't want to use a terminal.
