Do I need cheats enabled to use gamerules?

Yes, you must have cheats turned on in your world to run any gamerule commands. You can enable cheats when creating a new world or in the world settings menu.

Can I use gamerules on a server?

Yes, server operators can use gamerules with the same /gamerule command syntax. The rules apply to the entire server.

What happens if I spell a gamerule wrong?

Minecraft will tell you the rule doesn't exist. Make sure you spell the rule name exactly, including capital letters like 'keepInventory' not 'keepinventory'.

Can I reset gamerules to defaults?

You need to set each rule back to its default value individually. Check the table above to see what the default is for each rule.

Do gamerule changes affect already spawned mobs?

Most gamerules only affect new things that spawn or happen after the rule is changed. For example, turning off doMobSpawning won't kill existing mobs, it just stops new ones from spawning.

Gamerule Command in Minecraft Java Edition

The /gamerule command lets you control how your Minecraft world behaves. You can toggle features on and off, tweak game settings, and create custom gameplay rules. Here’s how to use it.

What You Need

To run any gamerule commands, you need to have cheats enabled in your world. You can turn cheats on when you create a new world, or enable them in an existing world through the world settings.

Basic Gamerule Syntax

The /gamerule command works in two ways: you can set a rule to a new value, or check what the current value is.

Set a Gamerule

/gamerule <rule> <value>

Check a Gamerule

/gamerule <rule>

Command Breakdown

rule = The name of the game rule you want to change or check
value = The new value for that rule. This can be true/false, or a number depending on the rule

Common Gamerules

Rule	What It Does	Possible Values	Default
doDaylightCycle	Controls if day/night cycle advances	true or false	true
doMobSpawning	Controls if mobs spawn naturally	true or false	true
doWeatherCycle	Controls if weather changes	true or false	true
keepInventory	Players keep items after dying	true or false	false
mobGriefing	Mobs can pick up items or change blocks	true or false	true
naturalRegeneration	Players heal naturally from hunger bar	true or false	true
showDeathMessages	Chat shows messages when players die	true or false	true
doEntityDrops	Entities drop items when killed	true or false	true
doMobLoot	Mobs drop loot when killed	true or false	true
doTileDrops	Blocks drop items when broken	true or false	true
doFireTick	Fire spreads and burns naturally	true or false	true
doLimitedCrafting	Players can only craft unlocked recipes	true or false	false
randomTickSpeed	How fast crops and trees grow	Number (0 = off)	3
spawnRadius	How far you can spawn from spawn point	Number in blocks	10
commandBlockOutput	Command blocks notify admins when run	true or false	true
announceAdvancements	Chat announces when players get advancements	true or false	true
sendCommandFeedback	Chat shows results of your commands	true or false	true
maxEntityCramming	Max number of entities in one block	Number	24

Examples

Freeze Time

Stop the day/night cycle in your world:

/gamerule doDaylightCycle false

Stop Mob Spawning

Prevent mobs from spawning naturally:

/gamerule doMobSpawning false

Keep Items After Death

Players no longer lose their inventory when they die:

/gamerule keepInventory true

Faster Plant Growth

Make crops and trees grow faster:

/gamerule randomTickSpeed 6

Check Current Setting

See what a gamerule is currently set to:

/gamerule keepInventory

How to Run Commands

Step 1: Open Chat

Press T on your keyboard to open the chat window.

Step 2: Type Your Command

Type the /gamerule command exactly as shown above. Make sure you spell the rule name correctly.

Step 3: Press Enter

Hit Enter to run the command. You’ll see a message confirming the change.