How to Change the Gamemode on a Minecraft Server

To change the gamemode on a Minecraft Java server for everyone, stop the server, set gamemode=creative (or survival, adventure, spectator) and force-gamemode=true in server.properties, then start it. Without force-gamemode=true, the gamemode line only applies to players joining for the first time, because everyone who has played before keeps the mode saved in their own player file. For one player, an operator types /gamemode creative <name> in game, and that change does persist.

What you can change on an existing world

Which setting does what?

Each player's current mode is saved in world/playerdata/<uuid>.dat. That file is why the gamemode line seems to do nothing for your existing group: the server loads their saved mode instead.

Step 1: Back up first

Switching modes does not touch the world, but it is easy to drop a whole group into creative by mistake. A backup of world/playerdata means you can put every player back the way they were.

Step 2: Change the default for everyone

1. Type stop in the console.
2. Open server.properties in the server's main folder.
3. Set the mode, and decide whether to force it:

gamemode=creative
force-gamemode=true

4. Save and start the server.

With force-gamemode=true, every player is switched to creative each time they join, whatever mode they were in before. With false, only brand new players start in it.

Step 3: Change one player's mode

As an operator, in chat:

/gamemode creative Steve
/gamemode survival Steve
/gamemode spectator @s
/gamemode adventure @a

In the server console, leave out the slash. Without a name, the command changes your own mode. The four modes are survival, creative, adventure and spectator. The old numbers and letters (/gamemode 1, /gamemode c) no longer work in current Java versions, so type the full word.

Operators can also hold F3 and press F4 to open the gamemode switcher.

/gamemode needs operator permission level 2. See how to op someone on a Minecraft server.

Step 4: Change the default without a restart

/defaultgamemode survival

That sets the mode new players get, and with force-gamemode=true it also switches everyone online. Also put the same value in gamemode= in server.properties so the file and the server agree after the next restart.

The gotcha: force-gamemode undoes /gamemode

These two settings fight each other. If force-gamemode=true, a player you put into creative with /gamemode goes straight back to the default mode the next time they log in. That is great for a creative build server and confusing on a survival server where you just gave a builder creative.

• Survival server with a few builders: gamemode=survival, force-gamemode=false, and /gamemode creative <name> for the builders.
• Creative build server: gamemode=creative, force-gamemode=true.
• Adventure map or minigame: gamemode=adventure, force-gamemode=true, so nobody can break the map.

On Paper, a world manager like Multiverse-Core can set a gamemode per world and enforce it when players change worlds. If a mode keeps changing by itself, check its world settings too.

Common problems

• New gamemode= value does nothing: the players have joined before and keep their saved mode. Set force-gamemode=true or use /gamemode.
• Players reset to survival every login: force-gamemode=true with gamemode=survival. Turn force off if you want per player modes.
• "Unknown or incomplete command": you used a number or a letter. Type the full mode name.
• "You do not have permission": you are not an operator, or a permissions plugin blocks minecraft.command.gamemode.
• Mode changes when moving between worlds: a world manager plugin enforces a gamemode per world.
• Edits to server.properties vanished: the server was running. Stop, edit, start.

Changing gamemode on GamezServers

On a GamezServers Minecraft server, press Stop, set gamemode= and force-gamemode= in server.properties from the Files tab, then Start. The panel only manages the port and server list message in that file, so it never changes your gamemode. Make operator in the dashboard gives you /gamemode without typing a command, and Backup saves everyone's player files first. More keys are in Minecraft server.properties explained.

FAQ

How do I change everyone's gamemode on a Minecraft server?

Set gamemode= to the mode you want and force-gamemode=true in server.properties, then restart. For players already online, run /gamemode <mode> @a.

Why doesn't changing gamemode in server.properties work?

It only applies to players joining for the first time. Players who have joined before keep their saved mode unless force-gamemode=true.

How do I give one player creative on a survival server?

Run /gamemode creative <name> as an operator, and keep force-gamemode=false so it is not undone when they log in again.

Does /gamemode stay after a server restart?

Yes. A player's mode is saved in their player file, unless force-gamemode=true resets it when they join.