Enable Hardcore Mode on Your Minecraft Server

Hardcore mode locks the difficulty to Hard and enables permanent death — dead players become spectators.

Enabling Hardcore

In server.properties:

hardcore=true

Restart your server.

What Changes

• Difficulty is locked to Hard (the difficulty setting is ignored)
• Players who die switch to Spectator mode permanently
• Hearts display differently (hardcore texture)
• Players cannot respawn unless an admin intervenes

Allowing Dead Players to Rejoin

Dead players are stuck in spectator mode. To let them play again:

1. Run in console: gamemode survival PlayerName
2. Or remove and re-add their player data

⚠️ Warning: Enabling hardcore on an existing world changes the rules immediately. All future deaths are permanent.

Related Guides

• Set Difficulty
• Server Configuration