How to set the spawn on a Minecraft server

Step by step

1. Get the build into the world

   Either load the spawn as its own world (see adding a map) or paste it into your current world with WorldEdit (see pasting a schematic). A spawn in its own world or far from player builds is easier to protect and to replace later.

2. Stand on the spawn block

   Walk to the exact block where new players should appear. Face the way you want them to look first, usually toward the portals or the rules board.

3. Set the world spawn

   Run /setworldspawn with no numbers to use the block you stand on. You can also type the position: /setworldspawn 0 101 0.

4. Make everyone land on that block

   By default Minecraft spreads first joins and respawns over an area around the spawn. Set the radius to zero:

   /gamerule respawn_radius 0     (1.21.11 and newer)
   /gamerule spawnRadius 0        (older versions)

5. Protect the area

   In server.properties, spawn-protection stops players who are not operators from breaking or placing blocks near the world spawn. The number is a radius: 16 protects a 33 by 33 square. Set it to 0 if you protect the spawn with WorldGuard instead, which gives you more control.

   spawn-protection=16

Send players to spawn with EssentialsX

Plain Minecraft sends players to the world spawn only on their first join and when they have no bed. EssentialsX adds a /spawn command and can send everyone to spawn on every join:

• Install EssentialsX and its EssentialsX Spawn module.
• Stand on the spawn block and run /setspawn.
• In plugins/Essentials/config.yml set spawn-on-join: true, then run /essentials reload.

What a server spawn needs

Players decide in the first minute whether to stay, and they spend that minute at spawn. Give them a clear path from the spawn pad to the main portals, a rules or info board they pass on the way, and enough light that mobs cannot spawn on the paths. For more on layouts and themes, read our server spawn ideas.

If it does not work

• Players still appear a few blocks away: the radius gamerule is not 0, or a plugin is sending them somewhere else. Multiverse keeps its own spawn per world (set it with /mv setspawn) and EssentialsX has /setspawn.
• Players can still break blocks: spawn protection does not apply to operators, and it turns off when the server has no operators at all.
• "Unknown game rule": you are using the old name on 1.21.11 or newer, or the new name on an older version. Use the line that matches your version above.

Questions