Minecraft Commands: Complete Java and Bedrock Guide

Want to skip the night in two seconds, rescue a friend who got lost 3,000 blocks from spawn, or summon a zombie right behind them? Minecraft commands turn the game into a proper toolbox. They are great for having fun with friends, building an adventure map, and running a server.

This guide is not a wall of text copied from a console. Every command comes with an example and a reason you might actually use it. We also point out the differences between Java Edition and Bedrock Edition, plus the commands that only arrived in newer versions.

A quick note about version numbers: since 2026, Minecraft uses numbers such as 26.1 and 26.3. When this guide says “Java 1.20.3+,” that is the historical version that introduced the command. The command is still available in later releases, including 26.x versions.

Before you start: enable commands and check your permissions

Two different things can stop a command from working. In a single-player world, commands must be enabled in the settings. On a multiplayer server, your account must have the required permissions. Choose the situation that matches yours:

• You are creating a Java world: in the new world options, turn on Allow Commands before starting the game.
• Your Java world already exists: press Esc, choose Open to LAN, set Allow Commands to On, then select Start LAN World. Commands will remain available until you leave the world.
• You are playing on Bedrock: open the world settings, go to Game, then turn on Activate Cheats.
• You are playing on a multiplayer server: you need operator status or the required permission. If you do not manage the server, ask an administrator to grant it.

On Bedrock, enabling cheats permanently disables achievements for that world, even if you turn cheats off later. If achievements matter to you, experiment in a copy of the world instead.

On Bedrock, Activate Cheats is enough to enter commands in chat. Command Blocks Enabled is only needed if you want to use the command blocks covered later in this guide.

Only give operator rights to people you trust. One bad command can empty every inventory, replace thousands of blocks, or stop the server. Before a big /fill, /clone, /clear, /kill, or /tp, a backup can save the evening.

How to read a command without getting a headache

In chat, a command begins with /, followed by its name, target, and options:

/gamemode creative @s

Here, /gamemode changes the game mode, creative chooses Creative mode, and @s means “myself.”

A few useful shortcuts:

• Type /help to see the commands you can use.
• On Java, press Tab while typing. Minecraft completes names and shows what can come next.
• On Bedrock, use /help command_name and the suggestions displayed in chat.
• If part of the command turns red, stop there: that is usually where the syntax no longer matches.
• Prefer full identifiers such as minecraft:diamond and minecraft:zombie.

Here, Minecraft directly suggests the values accepted by /time set. It is faster and much safer than guessing the rest of the command.

Command blocks and some consoles may accept commands without /. We keep the slash in every example so commands are easy to spot.

Selectors: choose who receives the command

You do not always need to type a player’s name. Selectors automatically find the right target—or the whole server if you are not careful.

To remove only loaded zombies:

/kill @e[type=minecraft:zombie]

You can add several filters inside the brackets. Java and Bedrock do not always use the same filter names.

Java Edition—up to five zombies within twenty blocks:

/kill @e[type=minecraft:zombie,distance=..20,limit=5]

Bedrock Edition—the same idea, with r for radius and c for count:

/kill @e[type=minecraft:zombie,r=20,c=5]

The classic trap is using a selector that is too broad. /kill @e does not just remove monsters: players, animals, dropped items, and vehicles may disappear too. For your first tests, replace @a and @e with your username or @s.

Coordinates: X, Y, Z, ~, and ^

Minecraft locates every block with three numbers in X Y Z order:

• X: east or west.
• Y: height.
• Z: north or south.

To teleport to an exact position:

/tp @s 100 64 -20

The ~ symbol means “from my current position.” To move ten blocks upward without calculating anything:

/tp @s ~ ~10 ~

The ^ symbol follows the direction you are facing. To move five blocks forward:

/tp @s ^ ^ ^5

Inside a command block, the starting point is normally the block itself. With /execute, remember the as and at pair: as chooses who runs the action, while at moves the starting point to that entity.

The first commands worth learning

These examples work in recent Java and Bedrock versions and are perfect for getting started:

A gamerule changes the entire world, not just your character. /gamerule keepInventory true therefore lets every player keep their inventory after dying.

The result of /time set is immediate. That makes it handy for preparing a screenshot, starting an event at sunset, or simply avoiding another creeper-filled night.

Effects, XP, and locating things: where Java and Bedrock split

Both editions can do almost the same things, but they do not always put the words in the same order.

Run faster for one minute

Java Edition:

/effect give @s minecraft:speed 60 1 true

Bedrock Edition:

/effect @s speed 60 1 true

60 is the duration in seconds. 1 gives a level II effect because Minecraft starts effect amplifiers at zero. The final true hides the particles.

To clear every effect:

/effect clear @s

on Java, or:

/effect @s clear

on Bedrock.

Add ten experience levels

Java Edition:

/experience add @s 10 levels

Bedrock Edition:

/xp 10L @s

On Bedrock, the L matters. Without it, you add experience points rather than ten complete levels.

Find a stronghold

Java Edition:

/locate structure minecraft:stronghold

Bedrock Edition:

/locate structure stronghold

Categories and identifiers change between updates. Type /locate and let autocomplete show what your version actually knows.

Minecraft builds this list from your edition and version. If a structure is not suggested here, copying its name from an old video will not make it work.

Deal damage, spread a group, and set the mood

/damage deals an exact number of damage points. It is available on Java starting with 1.19.4, and current Bedrock versions have it too. One heart equals two health points:

/damage @s 2

This removes one heart, not two.

To spread players before a UHC match or event, use /spreadplayers:

Java Edition:

/spreadplayers 0 0 10 100 false @a

Bedrock Edition:

/spreadplayers 0 0 10 100 @a

These examples keep players at least ten blocks apart inside a 100-block area around X=0 and Z=0. Test before the real start: mountains, oceans, and unloaded terrain can change the result.

For a more lively map, explore /particle, /playsound, and /stopsound. A burst of particles at spawn or a sound before a boss fight makes a huge difference, but sound names and argument order differ between Java and Bedrock. Your edition’s autocomplete is your best friend here.

Build faster with /setblock, /fill, and /clone

Ever spent twenty minutes placing a floor block by block, only to discover it was one block too far to the left? These commands can spare you the pain.

Place a gold block under your feet:

/setblock ~ ~-1 ~ minecraft:gold_block

Create an 11-by-11 stone platform:

/fill ~-5 ~-1 ~-5 ~5 ~-1 ~5 minecraft:stone

Copy a build to another position:

/clone 0 64 0 10 70 10 20 64 20

There is a catch: /fill and /clone can erase a build just as quickly. Write down both corners, check the X Y Z order, and start with a small area. A backup is better than a castle replaced by a stone cube.

Make real game mechanics with /execute, /tag, and /scoreboard

/execute can run a command as a player, at their position, or only when a condition is true.

Make every player speak from their own position:

/execute as @a at @s run say I'm here!

Detect players standing on grass:

/execute as @a at @s if block ~ ~-1 ~ minecraft:grass_block run say I'm standing on grass!

/tag attaches an invisible label to an entity. It is handy for builders, teams, or a special boss:

/tag @s add builder
/gamemode creative @a[tag=builder]

/scoreboard stores numbers such as points, rounds won, completed quests, or deaths. Here is a tiny point counter:

/scoreboard objectives add points dummy
/scoreboard objectives setdisplay sidebar points
/scoreboard players add @s points 1

A scoreboard can appear in the sidebar or player list. It then becomes a real part of the game interface rather than a number hidden inside a command.

You can then reward players who reach ten points:

/give @a[scores={points=10..}] minecraft:diamond 1

Do not repeat that last command every tick unless you want it to rain diamonds. Add a tag, another score, or a condition so the reward is only given once.

A complete mechanic often combines several blocks: the first detects the action, while the following blocks check conditions and give the reward.

Functions and scheduled commands

When a mechanic needs ten, twenty, or one hundred commands, command blocks quickly turn into redstone spaghetti. Functions store those commands in a file and run them in the right order.

On Java, /function is available starting with 1.12, and functions usually live in a data pack:

/function mypack:start

To run a function ten seconds later, /schedule is available on Java starting with 1.14:

/schedule function mypack:event 10s

After editing a data pack:

/reload

Current Bedrock versions also have /function, /schedule, and /reload, but they use behavior packs and their own syntax. Do not paste a Java line into Bedrock without checking the chat suggestions.

Messages that look better than a server log

Java uses a JSON text component for a colored message:

/tellraw @a {"text":"Welcome!","color":"gold","bold":true}

Bedrock uses a different JSON structure:

/tellraw @a {"rawtext":[{"text":"Welcome!"}]}

A simple large title on Bedrock:

/title @a title Welcome!

On Java:

/title @a title {"text":"Welcome!","color":"gold"}

Bedrock also offers /titleraw for JSON titles. If nothing appears, look for a missing comma, brace, or quote first. JSON is not forgiving about tiny typos.

Run a Java server without causing chaos

These commands are mainly useful from the console or with operator rights:

/defaultgamemode chooses the mode given to new players by default. /gamemode changes one specific player’s mode.

The /tick command (Java 1.20.3+) can inspect, speed up, slow down, or freeze the game’s ticking, depending on the available subcommand. Start with /tick query, and do not change a live server’s speed just to see what happens.

/save-off disables automatic saves. Only use it for a controlled operation, then always finish with /save-on. For everyday backups, prefer the tool supplied by your hosting provider.

Run a Bedrock server

Bedrock uses /allowlist where Java uses /whitelist:

The /save hold, /save query, and /save resume trio lets you copy a dedicated server’s files in a consistent state. Never forget /save resume, or the world remains paused for writing.

Command blocks: your first automatic machine

To get a command block:

/give @s minecraft:command_block

There are three modes:

• Impulse: runs once when the block receives a signal.
• Chain: runs after the previous block, following the arrow.
• Repeat: keeps running while the block is active.

The arrows drawn on the blocks show the execution order. If a chain refuses to run, first check that every block points in the correct direction.

A block can also be conditional, require redstone, or stay always active. Start with a small visible chain. Three tidy blocks are much easier to understand than a wall of forty blocks pointing in every direction.

Be especially careful with a heavy repeating command that uses @e. A block can run up to twenty times per second. If every run scans every entity, the server can quickly struggle. Filter with type, tag, distance, or score.

Recent commands to check against your version

Basic commands such as /tp, /give, and /time have existed for a long time. The commands below are newer, which explains why a video may work for your friend but fail on an older server version:

A few Java examples:

/item replace entity @s weapon.mainhand with minecraft:diamond_sword
/fillbiome ~-8 ~-8 ~-8 ~8 ~8 ~8 minecraft:desert
/random value 1..6

/spectate requires Spectator mode. /return is mainly useful inside a function. On Java, /transfer only works on a dedicated server, not in a single-player world.

Bedrock also keeps several commands closely tied to its ecosystem, including /camera, /camerashake, /daylock, /event, /hud, /mobevent, /music, /playanimation, /structure, /tickingarea, and /titleraw. Some require an add-on, a dedicated server, or specific creator options.

Starting with Java 1.20.5, the way items are written in /give, /item, and /loot also changed with the component system. An old command using NBT data inside braces may therefore turn red on a modern version even though the command itself still exists.

My command does not work: a one-minute check

You probably do not need to reinstall Minecraft. Check these points in order:

1. Are commands allowed? Enable them in a world, or check your server permissions.
2. Is the tutorial for the right edition? A Java command may not paste directly into Bedrock.
3. Is your version recent enough? Look at the version notes in this guide.
4. Where does the text turn red? The first red section often reveals the wrong argument.
5. Does the selector find anyone? A filter may be so precise that it matches nothing.
6. Are the coordinates in X Y Z order? Check the -, ~, and ^ symbols too.
7. Does the identifier exist? A block, item, or entity may have been renamed.
8. Where are you running the command? Chat, console, command blocks, and functions do not always share the same starting point.
9. Is the JSON valid? One missing comma can break /tellraw or /title.
10. Is a plugin or mod replacing the vanilla command? Autocomplete may reveal the real namespace on a modified server.

For a risky command, test in a world copy or target only yourself. Ten seconds of checking can prevent ten hours of rebuilding.

Good habits before pressing Enter

• Make a recent backup.
• Write down the server’s exact edition and version.
• Use autocomplete through the final argument.
• Test with @s or your username first.
• Try /fill and /clone on a small area.
• Read the source and destination coordinates again.
• Filter repeating command blocks.
• Keep console access in case you break your permissions.
• Stop a server with /stop, never by brutally killing its process.

Your turn

Start small: try /time set day, /weather clear, then a short /tp. Once selectors and coordinates feel natural, move on to /execute, /scoreboard, and functions. That is when Minecraft really starts to feel like your own game inside the game.

If you are still learning the basic mechanics, our Getting Started with Minecraft: A Complete Beginner’s Guide will help you begin on the right foot.

And if you want to test all of this with friends without leaving a world open on your PC, you can create a BoxToPlay Minecraft server. Backups and the console stay available from the panel—very useful when an enthusiastic /fill reaches a little farther than planned.