How to Change Gamemode in Minecraft:

The Definitive Guide

I am super excited to show you how to change gamemode in Minecraft.

In this in-depth guide you will learn:

  • gamemode syntax
  • Ways to change it
  • Different gamemodes
  • Switching from survival to creative to hardcore
  • Lot's more

Let's dive right in.

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In Minecraft, there are several game modes that will change how the game is played. There are creative mode, survival mode, adventure mode and spectator mode. Sometimes you might feel like playing on a different game mode but aren’t sure how to do it- that’s where this article comes in handy!

How to Change gamemode in Minecraft

When you start a “Minecraft” game, you must select one of several game modes to play in, such as Survival, Creative, Adventure, or Spectator. You usually can’t alter the mode without deleting your file.

One of the easiest ways to change your game mode in Minecraft is by using the console command “/gamemode”.

This command allows you to change your game mode to creative or survival without having to delete your world.

Typing “/gamemode creative” will change your game mode to creative, and “/gamemode survival” will change your game mode to survival.

This console command is one of the most popular methods of changing your game mode. It’s easy to use and doesn’t require any extra software or downloads. All you need is the Minecraft client and a working internet connection.

gamemode Syntax

In the Java Edition:

gamemode (adventure|creative|spectator|survival) [<target>]

For the Bedrock Edition:

gamemode <gameMode: GameMode> [player: target]

The new game mode in Bedrock Edition (BE) must be one of the following:

  • survival : can be written as ‘s’ or ‘0’
  • creative: can be written as ‘c’ or ‘1’
  • adventure: can be written as ‘a’ or ‘2’
  • spectator: can has no abbreviation. This is specific to only Java Edition(JE)

“hardcore” is not a valid gamemode.

It will default to the player who executes the command if no target is specified.

Note: The Minecraft Java edition is different from the Bedrock edition

gamemode Examples

Here are some of the ways in which you can use gamemode command.

/gamemode creative (This will change your game mode to Creative)
/gamemode s (This will change your game mode to Survival)
/gamemode a (This will change your game mode to Adventure)

You can also use the ‘Target’ parameter with the command if you would like to change your game mode for a specific player(s).

For example, /gamemode @a will put all players in adventure mode.

Minecraft Game Modes

Survival Mode

The player may construct and demolish most blocks in Survival mode, as well as utilize all available tools. The player has a limited amount of health (heart icons), hunger (hunger icons), and oxygen(bubble icons) to survive. If the hunger meter is depleted, the player’s health will gradually deplete. If the player runs out of heart icons, their health will deplete quickly as well.

Creative Mode

In Creative mode, players are given an infinite number of blocks to play with and can fly by double-tapping their jump key (default Space). They also have no hunger or oxygen needs while in this state; breaking a block will instantly destroy it.

When you’re playing in creative mode, there are times when you might want to get rid of all the blocks in your world. Maybe you’re trying to start a new project and don’t want any old blocks getting in the way, or maybe you just made a mistake and need to start over.

It can be really frustrating when you accidentally delete all your hard work, or when you can’t seem to find the right block that you need.

The command /kill is here to help only in Java Edition.

This handy command will delete all the blocks in your world in one fell swoop. All you need to do is type “/kill” into the chat bar and hit enter.

Presto! Your world is as good as new. Be careful, though, as this command is permanent and cannot be undone!

Here are few examples to use the /kill command:

Kills the player executing the command : /kill @s

Kills player Steve : /kill Steve

Kills all entities within 10 blocks : kill @e[distance=..10] (For Java Edition)

In Bedrock Edition, players in creative mode are immune to death.

Adventure Mode

In Adventure mode, there are no major changes from Survival mode, except that you won’t be able to break or put blocks unless they have a tool with the CanDestroy NBT data tag for that block, or a block with the CanPlaceOn tag.

Cheats are an absolute must to get this mode enabled. And this can be done by typing the following gamemode command:

/gamemode adventure
/gamemode a (For Bedrock Edition)

Spectator Mode

The Spectator mode is present only in the Java Edition. A spectator can observe almost all mobs, ride them as though they were in a minecart, fly through blocks, and open inventories. However, they can’t break blocks or alter inventories.

This mode can be accessed in any of the following ways:

  • /gamemode spectator
  • Pressing F3 + F4 until Spectator mode is selected
  • While cheats are enabled, press F3+N
  • By dying in Hardcore mode

Hardcore Mode

The Hardcore mode is available in Java Edition only. The player can respawn in spectator mode in this mode, and the difficulty level is set to Hard mode.

hardcore mode

How to Switch a Minecraft World from Survival to Creative to Hardcore?

Although there are several possibilities for Minecraft to be used for, you may figure out that the map you meant to make a creative map turns out to be a great survival map or vice versa. Alternatively, you might want to start in creative mode and create your home base before moving on to survive mode from the safety of your castle.

#1. Switching from Survival to Creative

Here are the steps that will help you to switch a Minecraft World from Survival to Creative:

Step 1: Open the game in the Survival world. You can check the hearts and hunger meters above the experience bar and item bar to verify this.

Step 2: Tap the ESC key to bring up the game menu. Now select “Open to LAN”

Step 3: LAN World Menu pulls up with the setting options: “Game Mode Survival” and “Allow Cheats”

Step 4: Toggle to “Allow Cheats” to “ON”

If you change the game mode, it only affects incoming players to your LAN world. If you switched on the cheats, however, they are applied to all gamers in the game (including you).

Step 5: Now click “Start LAN World” to get back into the game

Step 6: To bring up the in-game console box, press “t” on your keyboard.

Step 7:  To change your game mode to creative, type the command “/gamemode c”.

You should get a message stating that your gamemode has been updated.

#2. Switching a Minecraft World from Creative to Hardcore

Objective: Create New World and then be able to Toggle Game Mode Survival to Game Mode Hardcore by clicking it.

game mode hardcore

Why do I want to do this?

If you are not knowing what Hardcore is, then it is that mode that permanently locks you in Hard mode and if you die you cannot respawn. You will be left with no other option but to delete the world.

no respawn in hardcore mode

So, imagine that you made a lot of progress and you do not want to lose that to a Spoiler. All you need to do is as below:

Step 1: Click on Save and Quit to Title

save and quit to title

Step 2: Download NBTExplorer by using Windows / Linux (Version 2.8.0) or Mac (Version 2.0.3)

Step 3: Once installed, Open the explorer

Step 4: Search for your World

Step 5: Click on the plus sign to expand. Look for level.dat

Step 6: Again expand level.dat to see the Data entries

data entries

Step 7: Look for hardcore entry. It should have a value of either 0 or 1

Step 8: Double click “hardcore” to bring up the edit value window

Step 9: To turn off hardcore, set the value to 0. If it is 1 it means hardcore is on

Step 10: Press Ok and Save

Step 11: Go back to your world and check the heart’s texture. It should have changed.

If you now drown yourself, you should be able to respawn.

Awesome!

Now It’s Your Turn

I hope you enjoyed this article about how to change gamemode in Minecraft.

Now I’d like to hear from you: Which strategy from this guide would you try first? Do you know of any other way to switch game modes?

Either way, I would like to hear from you in the comments below.

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