Switch yourself to Creative
/gamemode creativePuts you in Creative Mode to fly and build freely.
/gamemode command in Minecraft
/gamemode switches a player between Survival, Creative, Adventure and Spectator. Without a target it changes your own mode. It is the quickest way to fly around a build, test a map in Adventure or follow a game as a spectator.
Syntax
/gamemode <gamemode> [<target>]| Argument | Expects | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| gamemode | Game mode | The new mode, written in full: survival, creative, adventure or spectator. |
| targetoptional | Player selectorone or several | Players to change: a name, @a, @p or a filtered selector. Without it, the command changes your own mode. |
All 2 forms
- /gamemode <gamemode>
- /gamemode <gamemode> <target>
Examples
Everyone back to Survival
/gamemode survival @aSets every online player to Survival Mode, for example at the start of a game.
Adventure mode near a map
/gamemode adventure @a[distance=..20]Players within 20 blocks switch to Adventure Mode and can no longer break blocks freely.
Make one player a spectator
/gamemode spectator SteveSteve switches to Spectator Mode and can watch the game without interfering.
Interactive tool
Command generator
Fill in the fields, copy the command, paste it in the chat. Syntax checked against Java Edition 26.3.
Turn on JavaScript to use the interactive version.
/gamemode creative @pCalculated from the Java Edition 26.3 game files
Turning on cheats
/gamemode needs permission level 2. In singleplayer, enable "Allow Commands" when you create the world. For an existing world, choose "Open to LAN" and turn on "Allow Cheats": it lasts until you close the world. On a server, you have to be an operator.
The four modes
survival: health, hunger and mining as usual.creative: unlimited blocks, flying and instant mining.adventure: blocks can only be broken or placed with items carrying thecan_breakorcan_place_oncomponent, ideal for maps.spectator: you fly through blocks, cannot interact, and can view through a mob's eyes with /spectate.
Good to know
Write the full mode name: numbers such as 1 or letters such as c no longer work in Java Edition and return "Unknown game mode: 1". Hardcore is not a game mode for this command: it is chosen when the world is created. The mode given to new players is set with /defaultgamemode. To hand out building blocks in Survival instead, use /give.
✓ Checked in Java Edition 26.3 · updated 2 November 2026
/gamemode: FAQ
Can I switch to Hardcore with /gamemode?
No. Hardcore is a world setting chosen at creation, not one of the four modes the command accepts.
Why does /gamemode 1 not work?
Java Edition only accepts the full names: survival, creative, adventure and spectator. Numbers and single letters return an unknown game mode error.
How do I use /gamemode?
Type it in the chat with cheats on: /gamemode <gamemode> [<target>].
Who can use /gamemode?
Cheats on, or operator level 2.