--- title: "Minecraft Commands: Cheat Sheet for Server Owners" description: "Minecraft commands for running a server, with copy-paste examples for teleport, gamemode, give and keep inventory. Plus time, weather and bans." url: https://fps.ms/blog/minecraft-commands --- # Minecraft Commands: Cheat Sheet for Server Owners Published 2026-11-09. To use a Minecraft command, press **T** to open chat, type the command with a slash in front, like `/time set day`, and press **Enter**. On a server you have to be an operator (OP) first, and in the server console you type the same command without the slash. This cheat sheet is for Minecraft: Java Edition and was checked against version 26.3. Where older versions use a different name, both are listed. ## Most used commands | Command | What it does | |-|-| | `/tp Luca 100 64 -200` | Teleports Luca to those coordinates | | `/gamemode creative Luca` | Puts Luca in Creative mode | | `/give Luca diamond 64` | Gives Luca 64 diamonds | | `/gamerule keep_inventory true` | Players keep their items when they die | | `/time set day` | Makes it morning | | `/weather clear` | Stops rain and thunder | | `/difficulty hard` | Changes the difficulty | | `/xp add Luca 30 levels` | Gives Luca 30 levels | | `/kill @e[type=zombie]` | Removes every loaded zombie | | `/locate structure #village` | Shows the nearest village | | `/kick Luca` | Kicks Luca off the server | | `/op Luca` | Makes Luca an operator | ## How to use commands on a server Pressing **/** instead of **T** opens chat with the slash already typed. While you type, press **Tab** to fill in command names, players and items. Most commands only work for operators. Make yourself one with `op YourName` in the server console, or follow [how to give yourself OP](https://fps.ms/docs/minecraft/how-to-give-yourself-op). In the server console, leave the slash out: `time set day`, not `/time set day`. The console is not a player, so name the player in commands that would act on you: `gamemode creative Luca` works there, `gamemode creative` does not. On an FPS.ms server, open your server at [panel.fps.ms](https://panel.fps.ms) and type the command in its console. Playing single player? Commands work if you turned on **Allow Commands** when you created the world. On 26.1 and newer you can also turn it on later under **World Options** in the pause menu. In the commands below, a word in `` is something you fill in, and a part in `[square brackets]` is optional. ### Permission levels Every command needs a permission level. An operator gets level 4 by default, which covers everything. You can change that with `op-permission-level` in [server.properties](https://fps.ms/docs/minecraft/minecraft-server-properties-explained). | Level | Commands | |-|-| | 0 | Every player: `list` and `msg` | | 2 | Game commands like `gamemode`, `tp`, `give`, `time`, `gamerule` and `fill` | | 3 | Player management: `kick`, `ban`, `op` and `whitelist` | | 4 | Server management: `stop` and `save-all` | ### Target selectors Instead of a player name, you can use a selector: | Selector | Picks | |-|-| | `@p` | The nearest player | | `@a` | All players | | `@r` | A random player | | `@s` | You, the one running the command | | `@e` | All entities: players, mobs, items and more | | `@n` | The nearest entity (1.21 and newer) | Add filters in square brackets: `@e[type=zombie]` picks only zombies, and `@a[distance=..10]` picks players within 10 blocks of you. `@s` picks nothing in the console, because the console is not a player. For coordinates, `~` means "from where I stand". `~ ~10 ~` is 10 blocks above you. ## Player commands These need level 2, except kick, ban, OP and whitelist, which need level 3. ### Teleport command (/tp) ```text /tp [] /tp [] ``` - `/tp 100 64 -200` teleports you to x 100, y 64, z -200. - `/tp Emma` teleports you to Emma. - `/tp Luca Emma` teleports Luca to Emma. - `/tp @a @s` brings every player to you. - `/tp ~ ~10 ~` lifts you 10 blocks up. `/teleport` is the same command with a longer name. ### Gamemode command ```text /gamemode [] ``` The modes are `survival`, `creative`, `adventure` and `spectator`. - `/gamemode creative` puts you in Creative. - `/gamemode survival Luca` puts Luca back in Survival. - `/gamemode spectator @a` makes everyone a spectator. ### Give command ```text /give [] ``` - `/give Luca diamond 64` gives Luca 64 diamonds. - `/give @a cooked_beef 16` gives every player 16 steak. - `/give @s netherite_pickaxe` gives you a netherite pickaxe. Items use their ID, like `oak_planks` or `golden_apple`. Press **Tab** after the player name to browse them. ### Keep inventory command Keep inventory lets players keep their items and XP when they die. It is a game rule, so it is on or off for everyone on the server. ```text /gamerule keep_inventory true ``` That is the name on 1.21.11 and newer, including 26.x. On 1.21.10 and older, type `/gamerule keepInventory true`. Use `false` to turn it off again, or leave the value out to see the current setting. Not sure which version your server runs? `/version` tells you on 1.21.6 and newer. On a hosted server, you can also type it in the console: `gamerule keep_inventory true`. ### Kill command ```text /kill [] ``` - `/kill` kills you. - `/kill Luca` kills Luca. - `/kill @e[type=zombie]` removes every zombie in loaded chunks. - `/kill @e[type=item]` clears items lying on the ground. !!! warning "Never run /kill @e without a filter" "`@e` includes every player, pet, villager and armor stand in loaded chunks." ### XP command ```text /xp add [levels|points] /xp set [levels|points] ``` - `/xp add Luca 30 levels` gives Luca 30 levels. - `/xp set Luca 0 levels` sets Luca back to level 0. - `/xp query Luca levels` shows Luca's level. End with `levels` for levels or `points` for experience points. `/experience` is the same command. ### Effect command ```text /effect give [] /effect clear [] [] ``` - `/effect give Luca night_vision infinite` gives Luca night vision until it is cleared. Write `infinite` instead of the seconds for an effect that never runs out. - `/effect give @a speed 60 1` gives everyone Speed II for 60 seconds. The number after the seconds is the amplifier, which starts at 0, so 1 means level II. - `/effect clear Luca` removes all of Luca's effects. ### Clear and enchant - `/clear Luca` empties Luca's inventory. `/clear Luca dirt` removes only dirt. - `/enchant Luca sharpness 5` enchants the item in Luca's hand. The level can't go above the enchantment's normal maximum. ### Kick, ban and pardon ```text /kick [] /ban [] /pardon ``` - `/kick Luca Spamming chat` kicks Luca with that message. Luca can join again. - `/ban Luca Griefing` bans Luca. - `/pardon Luca` lifts the ban. - `/ban-ip Luca` bans the IP address Luca plays from, and `/pardon-ip` lifts it. - `/banlist` shows every ban. ### OP and whitelist - `/op Luca` and `/deop Luca` give and take operator status. The [OP guide](https://fps.ms/docs/minecraft/how-to-give-yourself-op) covers it step by step. - `/whitelist on`, `/whitelist add Luca`, `/whitelist remove Luca`, `/whitelist list` and `/whitelist off` manage who can join. See [how to whitelist players](https://fps.ms/docs/minecraft/how-to-whitelist-players). Since 26.3, a new server starts with the whitelist on, so add your friends before they try to join. ## World and time commands All of these need level 2. ### Time command (time set day) ```text /time set /time set /time add ``` - `/time set day` makes it morning. - `/time set night` makes it night. - `/time set 6000` is the same as noon. A full day is 24000 ticks. To keep it day forever, set the time and then stop the clock with `/gamerule advance_time false`. On 1.21.10 and older, that rule is called `doDaylightCycle`. On 26.1 and newer, `/time` gives an error in the Nether, because the Nether has no clock. Run it from the Overworld. ### Weather command (weather clear) ```text /weather [] ``` - `/weather clear` stops rain and thunder. - `/weather rain` starts rain. - `/weather thunder` starts a thunderstorm. To stop the weather from changing on its own, use `/gamerule advance_weather false` (`doWeatherCycle` on 1.21.10 and older). ### Difficulty command ```text /difficulty [peaceful|easy|normal|hard] ``` `/difficulty hard` sets it to hard. `/difficulty` without a value shows the current one. ### Game rules Game rules change how the world works. Type `/gamerule `. These are the names on 1.21.11 and newer, with the old name for older versions: - `/gamerule keep_inventory true`: players keep items and XP when they die. Old name: `keepInventory`. - `/gamerule advance_time false`: stops the day and night cycle. Old name: `doDaylightCycle`. - `/gamerule advance_weather false`: stops the weather from changing. Old name: `doWeatherCycle`. - `/gamerule players_sleeping_percentage 0`: one sleeping player skips the night. Old name: `playersSleepingPercentage`. - `/gamerule mob_griefing false`: creepers and endermen can't break or move blocks. Old name: `mobGriefing`. - `/gamerule spawn_mobs false`: no mobs spawn on their own. Old name: `doMobSpawning`. - `/gamerule immediate_respawn true`: players respawn without the death screen. Old name: `doImmediateRespawn`. - `/gamerule pvp false`: players can't hurt each other. This rule exists since 1.21.9. `players_sleeping_percentage` is 100 by default, so everyone in the Overworld has to sleep. Set it to 50 to need only half of them. ### Seed `/seed` shows the world seed, which you can click to copy. To start a new world from a seed, see [how to find and change your world seed](https://fps.ms/docs/minecraft/finding-and-changing-your-world-seed). ### Spawn point and world spawn ```text /setworldspawn [ ] /spawnpoint [] [ ] ``` - `/setworldspawn` moves the world spawn to where you stand. New players start there. - `/setworldspawn 0 64 0` moves it to those coordinates. - `/spawnpoint Luca 100 64 -200` makes Luca respawn at those coordinates, like a bed would. ### Locate command ```text /locate structure /locate biome ``` - `/locate structure #village` finds the nearest village of any type. - `/locate structure ancient_city` finds the nearest ancient city. - `/locate biome cherry_grove` finds the nearest cherry grove. Click the coordinates in chat to get a ready-made `/tp` command. ### World border ```text /worldborder set /worldborder center ``` - `/worldborder center 0 0` centers the border on x 0, z 0. - `/worldborder set 2000` makes the playable area 2000 by 2000 blocks. - `/worldborder get` shows the current size. You can add a time to let the border move slowly. On 1.21.11 and newer that time is in ticks, so add an `s` for seconds: `/worldborder set 5000 60s`. On older versions the number is already in seconds, so write `60`. ## Server admin commands | Command | What it does | |-|-| | `/say Restart in 5 minutes` | Sends a message to everyone (level 2) | | `/msg Luca Hi` | Sends Luca a private message (level 0) | | `/list` | Shows who is online (level 0) | | `/save-all` | Saves the world right away (level 4) | | `/save-off` | Pauses autosave, for example while you copy the world (level 4) | | `/save-on` | Turns autosave back on (level 4) | | `/stop` | Saves the world and stops the server (level 4) | | `/reload` | Reloads data packs (level 2) | `/reload` does not reload `server.properties`. Restart the server after changing that file. ### Tellraw `/tellraw` sends a message in color, without a name in front. It needs level 2. ```text /tellraw @a {"text":"Welcome!","color":"gold"} ``` ## Building commands All of these need level 2. ### Fill command ```text /fill [] ``` `` and `` are two opposite corners, each written as x y z. The mode can be `hollow`, `outline`, `destroy`, `keep` or `replace`. - `/fill ~-5 ~-1 ~-5 ~5 ~-1 ~5 stone` turns the floor around you into an 11 by 11 stone square. - `/fill ~-3 ~ ~-4 ~3 ~4 ~4 stone hollow` builds a hollow stone box around you. - `/fill 0 60 0 20 70 20 air` clears everything between those two corners. - `/fill 0 60 0 20 70 20 gold_block replace dirt` replaces only the dirt. One fill can change up to 32,768 blocks. For bigger areas, split it into several fills. ### Clone command ```text /clone [masked] ``` - `/clone 0 64 0 10 70 10 100 64 100` copies the box between the first two corners and puts the copy's lowest corner at 100 64 100. - Add `masked` at the end to copy only the blocks and skip the air. ### Setblock command ```text /setblock ``` - `/setblock ~ ~ ~1 chest` places a chest next to you. - `/setblock 0 64 0 diamond_block` places a diamond block at those coordinates. ### Summon command ```text /summon [ ] ``` - `/summon zombie` spawns a zombie where you stand. - `/summon creeper ~ ~ ~5` spawns a creeper 5 blocks away. - `/summon lightning_bolt ~ ~ ~5` strikes lightning 5 blocks away. Want a server to try these on? [Make a free Minecraft server on FPS.ms](https://fps.ms/free-minecraft-server-hosting). --- [FPS.ms](https://fps.ms/index.html.md) · [All pages](https://fps.ms/llms.txt) · [Documentation](https://fps.ms/docs/llms.txt)