# How to Change Gamemode on Your Minecraft Server (/docs/minecraft/set-gamemode)



import { Tab, Tabs } from 'fumadocs-ui/components/tabs';
import { Step, Steps } from 'fumadocs-ui/components/steps';

Minecraft has four gamemodes. The server's default gamemode is what new players spawn in — but players keep their last gamemode unless `force-gamemode` is enabled.

The Four Gamemodes [#the-four-gamemodes]

| Gamemode      | Description                                                                               |
| ------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Survival**  | Standard Minecraft — collect resources, take damage, can die                              |
| **Creative**  | Unlimited resources, flight, no damage, instant block break                               |
| **Adventure** | Like survival but can't break/place blocks without proper tools (used for adventure maps) |
| **Spectator** | Fly through walls, can't interact, see invisible — for moderation/tours                   |

Set the Default Gamemode [#set-the-default-gamemode]

<Tabs items={['Via Startup (Recommended)', 'Via server.properties']}>
  <Tab value="Via Startup (Recommended)">
    <Steps>
      <Step>
        Open Startup [#open-startup]

        In the [XGamingServer Panel](https://panel.xgamingserver.com), click **Startup** in the sidebar.
      </Step>

      <Step>
        Set Gamemode [#set-gamemode]

        Find the **Gamemode** variable and choose `survival`, `creative`, `adventure`, or `spectator`.
      </Step>

      <Step>
        Restart [#restart]

        Restart from **Console** to apply.
      </Step>
    </Steps>
  </Tab>

  <Tab value="Via server.properties">
    <Steps>
      <Step>
        Stop the server [#stop-the-server]
      </Step>

      <Step>
        Open server.properties [#open-serverproperties]

        Click **Files** and open `server.properties`.
      </Step>

      <Step>
        Set the values [#set-the-values]

        ```
        gamemode=survival
        force-gamemode=false
        ```
      </Step>

      <Step>
        Save and start [#save-and-start]
      </Step>
    </Steps>
  </Tab>
</Tabs>

Force Gamemode on Join [#force-gamemode-on-join]

By default, players keep whatever gamemode they were last in (saved per-player). If you want to force everyone to the server's default gamemode every time they log in:

```
force-gamemode=true
```

This is essential for:

* **Creative-only servers** — prevents OPs from accidentally leaving themselves in survival
* **Adventure map servers** — ensures everyone is in the right gamemode for the map
* **Mini-game lobbies** — players spawn in the right mode every time

Change a Player's Gamemode In-Game [#change-a-players-gamemode-in-game]

With OP permissions or a permissions plugin:

```
/gamemode creative
/gamemode survival PlayerName
/gamemode adventure @a
/gamemode spectator @e[type=player,distance=..10]
```

| Selector     | Effect                     |
| ------------ | -------------------------- |
| *(none)*     | Yourself                   |
| `PlayerName` | Specific player            |
| `@a`         | All players                |
| `@p`         | Nearest player             |
| `@e[...]`    | Entities matching criteria |

You can also abbreviate:

```
/gamemode 0   (survival)
/gamemode 1   (creative)
/gamemode 2   (adventure)
/gamemode 3   (spectator)
```

Set Up a Creative-Only Server [#set-up-a-creative-only-server]

```
gamemode=creative
force-gamemode=true
spawn-protection=0
```

This makes every player spawn in creative mode every time they join, with no spawn protection blocking builds.

Per-World Gamemodes [#per-world-gamemodes]

Vanilla Minecraft uses one gamemode for the whole server. To have different gamemodes per world (e.g., creative in `world_creative`, survival in `world`), you need a multi-world plugin like **Multiverse-Core** or **WorldGuard**.

Related Guides [#related-guides]

* [Server Properties](/docs/minecraft/server-properties)
* [OP Permissions](/docs/minecraft/op-permissions)
* [Hardcore Mode](/docs/minecraft/hardcore-mode)
* [Use Game Rules](/docs/minecraft/use-game-rules)