How to change game modes in 'Minecraft' at any time in both the 'Java' and 'Bedrock' versions

Child playing Minecraft
By enabling cheat codes in "Minecraft," you can switch between game modes on the fly. Reuters/Matthew Tostevin
  • You can change game modes in "Minecraft" by using the "/gamemode" command, but you'll need to enable cheats first.

  • You can use the /gamemode command in both "Minecraft: Java Edition'' and "Minecraft: Bedrock Edition."

  • "Minecraft" has four distinct game modes: Creative, Survival, Adventure, and Spectator.

  • Visit Insider's Tech Reference library for more stories.

If there's one thing that everyone knows about "Minecraft," it's that it's one of the most customizable games out there. From building new worlds to installing mods, you can do pretty much anything.

When you start a "Minecraft" game, you have to pick one of several game modes to play in - Survival, Creative, Adventure, or Spectator - and usually can't change that game mode without erasing your file.

However, "Minecraft's" customizability extends to its cheats, too. Using a console command called "/gamemode," you can switch what kind of game you're playing at any time.

Here's how to use the /gamemode command in "Minecraft: Java Edition" and "Minecraft: Bedrock Edition."

Quick tip: Note that you can't use this trick to switch to Hardcore mode. The only way to switch an existing world to Hardcore mode is to use a third-party app to edit the game's files.

How to change game modes in 'Minecraft: Java Edition'

1. Launch "Minecraft," and select the "Singleplayer" game type. Then click "Create New World."

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After selecting the "Singleplayer" option, create a new world. Emma Witman/Insider

2. On the Create New World page, make sure that "Allows Cheats" is toggled "On," then click "Create New World."

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Turn on cheats when customizing your new world. Emma Witman/Insider

Quick tip: If you want to switch game modes in an existing world that doesn't have cheats turned on, load that world and press the Esc key to open the menu, then click "Open to LAN."

In the menu that opens, set "Allow Cheats" to "On," and then click "Start LAN World."

3. Once the world is loaded, press T on your keyboard to summon the chat box, where you can enter commands.

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Make sure you hit the Enter key to confirm the command after you select your preferred game mode. Emma Witman/Insider

4. Type in "/gamemode" (without the quotes) followed by a space, and the mode you want to switch to (Creative, Survival, Adventure, or Spectator), then hit the Enter key. So, for example, if you want to switch from Survival to Creative, you'll type:

/gamemode creative

You can switch game modes at any time.

How to change game modes in 'Minecraft: Bedrock Edition'

In "Bedrock Edition," you'll need to enable cheats when you create the world - there's no way to enable them in an existing world.

1. Hit "Play" on the loading screen.

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Select "Play" to begin. Emma Witman/Insider

2. Click "Create New" at the top, then on the next page, click "Create New World" at the top again.

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You can't change the gamemode in a previously created world- tap "Create New" above them. Emma Witman/Insider

3. In the Game Settings panel, scroll down to "Cheats." Toggle "Activate Cheats" to the on position, then tap "Create."

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Turn on cheats, then click "Create." Emma Witman/Insider

4. A dialog box will pop up warning you that you can't earn achievements in a world that has cheat mode activated. If you're okay with this, click "Continue."

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Click "Continue" in the pop-up. Emma Witman/Insider

5. Once the world has loaded, tap T on your keyboard to bring up the chat box, where you can enter commands.

6. Type in "/gamemode" (without the quotes) followed by a space, and then the mode you want to switch to (Creative, Survival, Adventure, or Spectator), then hit the Enter key. For example, if you want to switch from Creative to Survival mode, you'll type:

/gamemode survival
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Tap the T key on your keyboard and enter your game mode command in the box. Emma Witman/Insider

You can switch game modes at any time.

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