/gamemode creativeThe /gamemode command changes the game mode of a player. Without a target, it changes the mode for the player running the command. Requires operator permissions.
The /gamemode command switches a player between Minecraft's four game modes: survival, creative, adventure, and spectator. This generator builds the correct syntax for any target player or selector.
The syntax is /gamemode <mode> [target]. If no target is given, it changes your own game mode. With operator permissions on a server you can change any player's mode, including switching everyone at once with @a.
This is one of the first commands most players learn. Whether you need creative for building, survival for gameplay testing, adventure for custom maps, or spectator for observing builds from impossible angles, gamemode is the switch that controls it all.
| Mode | Key Features | Typical Use |
|---|---|---|
 Survival | Health, hunger, fall damage, mob attacks. Must gather and craft resources. Drops inventory on death unless the keepInventory gamerule is on. | Standard gameplay, SMP servers |
 Creative | Unlimited resources, instant block breaking, flying, invulnerable except to /kill and the void. Full creative inventory of every item. | Building, testing, map development |
 Adventure | Like survival, but cannot break or place blocks without the correct tool (CanDestroy and CanPlaceOn item tags). Still uses buttons, levers, and doors. | Custom maps, puzzle and adventure maps |
 Spectator | Invisible, no collision, fly through blocks, no interaction. Can spectate from an entity's view by clicking it. No inventory access. | Observing, reviewing builds, watching PvP |
Quick switch: on Java Edition, press F3 plus F4 to open a game mode selector wheel. Press F4 repeatedly to cycle through modes, then release F3 to confirm.
Server lobby mode: set players to adventure mode in lobby areas so they cannot break decorations with /gamemode adventure @a.
Building inspection: switch to spectator to fly through walls and check the interior of builds, redstone circuits, or hidden rooms with /gamemode spectator.
Default gamemode: the /defaultgamemode command (separate from /gamemode) sets the mode for newly joining players. Existing players are unaffected.
Event management: during server events, switch all players to survival at once for fair starts with /gamemode survival @a.
Minecraft has 4 game modes: Survival (gather resources, manage health and hunger), Creative (unlimited resources, flying, invulnerable), Adventure (interact with blocks using the correct tools only, designed for custom maps), and Spectator (fly through blocks, invisible, no interaction, used for observation).
Use the command /gamemode <mode> [target]. For example, /gamemode creative switches you to creative mode. You can also type /gamemode survival, /gamemode adventure, or /gamemode spectator. On Java Edition, pressing F3 plus F4 opens a quick game mode switcher.
Yes, if you have operator permissions. Use /gamemode <mode> <player> to change a specific player's mode. You can also use target selectors like @a to switch all players at once: /gamemode adventure @a.
Switching between survival, creative, and adventure modes preserves your inventory. Switching to spectator mode hides your inventory, and it reappears when you switch back. Items in creative mode can be pulled from the creative inventory without consuming them.
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