How to paste a schematic with WorldEdit

Step by step

1. Install WorldEdit or FAWE

   Put the WorldEdit or FAWE jar in your server's plugins folder and restart. Use one of them, not both. FAWE is the better pick for big builds because it pastes in the background without freezing the server.

2. Put the file in the schematics folder

   Upload the .schem file to the schematics folder. Make the folder if it is not there yet.

   WorldEdit:  plugins/WorldEdit/schematics/
   FAWE:       plugins/FastAsyncWorldEdit/schematics/
   Single player (WorldEdit mod):  .minecraft/config/worldedit/schematics/

   No restart is needed. Run //schem list in game to check that the file shows up.

3. Load it into your clipboard

   Run //schem load <name>. You can leave off the .schem ending. The build is now in your clipboard. Nothing has changed in the world yet.

   //schem load Castle_Town_Spawn

4. Stand where it should go

   Walk to the spot. WorldEdit places the build relative to where you stand, using the offset that was saved with the file. Our own schematics are saved so they paste centred on you, with the bottom layer at your feet. Files from other places may sit off to one side.

   To turn the build first, run //rotate 90 (or 180, 270). To mirror it, run //flip while you look in the direction to flip.

5. Paste it

   Run //paste. Add flags when you need them:

   • -a skips the air blocks, so the paste does not clear what is already there.
   • -s selects the pasted area, so you can see its outline with a wand.
   • -o pastes at the exact place it was copied from, not where you stand.
   • -e also pastes entities saved in the file, such as armor stands and item frames.

   //paste -a -s

6. Undo if it landed wrong

   Run //undo to remove the paste. Move, then paste again. Your clipboard keeps the build until you load something else or log out.

Before a big paste

Builds over a few hundred thousand blocks can lag a server running plain WorldEdit. A few habits help:

• Paste in an empty or flat area, or in a void world, so the build does not clip into terrain.
• Keep the server empty or quiet while you paste.
• Stop leaves, vines and crops changing while you work: /gamerule random_tick_speed 0 on 1.21.11 and newer, or /gamerule randomTickSpeed 0 on older versions. Set it back to 3 when you are done if your server needs crops to grow.
• WorldEdit has a block change limit per player. If the paste stops with a limit message, raise it with //limit or ask an admin to raise it in the WorldEdit config.

If it does not work

• "Schematic does not exist": the file is not in the folder above, or the name has a typo. Names are case sensitive on Linux hosts. Run //schem list.
• Unknown or missing blocks: the schematic was saved on a newer Minecraft version than your server. Update the server or ask the maker for a file for your version.
• A .litematic file: that is a Litematica file, not a WorldEdit one. WorldEdit reads .schem and the old .schematic format.
• Nothing happens: you need operator rights or the WorldEdit permissions (worldedit.schematic.load and worldedit.clipboard.paste).

Questions