How to change difficulty and game mode on a Minecraft server

Change difficulty with /difficulty and game mode with /gamemode, or set the defaults permanently in server.properties with difficulty and gamemode. Commands take effect immediately; file changes need a restart.

Change difficulty#

From the Schokr console (no slash needed there) or in-game as an op:

difficulty hard

The options are peaceful, easy, normal and hard. To make it permanent, set it in server.properties:

difficulty=normal

The server applies the value from server.properties on startup, so if you only use the command, the difficulty can go back to the file's value after a restart. Set both to be safe.

Change a player's game mode#

gamemode creative Steve
gamemode survival @a

Game modes are survival, creative, adventure and spectator. In-game, /gamemode creative with no name changes your own mode. You need to be an op (level 2 or higher) to use it. See ops and op levels.

Change the default game mode#

The default game mode is what new players get when they join for the first time. Change it with:

defaultgamemode creative

Or in server.properties:

gamemode=creative

Existing players keep their current game mode, because it is saved in their player data.

Force a game mode for everyone#

To put every player into the default game mode each time they join, turn on force-gamemode:

gamemode=survival
force-gamemode=true

This is useful for a survival server where you want to be sure nobody stays in creative after testing something.

Difficulty is locked or does not change#

• In hardcore mode, difficulty is fixed to hard. See hardcore mode.
• If someone used /difficulty and the server reverts after restart, update server.properties too.
• On Paper, per-world difficulty can be different if a plugin such as Multiverse manages your worlds. Check that plugin's settings.

For PvP and peaceful setups, see PvP and peaceful settings.