MINECRAFT · SETTING
How to Change Minecraft Spawn Protection
This doc covers changing or disabling the spawn protection radius, and switching to WorldGuard for finer control.
QUICK ANSWER
Files → server.properties → spawn-protection=16. Set 0 to disable. Restart.
Fact
spawn-protection=16 protects a 32x32 square area, not a circle, since the radius is measured out from spawn in each direction.
Fact
Setting spawn-protection=0 disables it fully, which is the usual first step before setting up a WorldGuard region instead.
Before you start
- Needs Files access in the panel.
- Restart required after the change.
Steps
- 1Locate Files section and open
server.properties. - 2Find or add:
spawn-protection=16 - 3Change the number to your radius, or
0to disable. - 4After changing the value, save the file.
- 5Open console and restart.
What the number means
Radius is a square, not a circle. spawn-protection=16 protects a 32x32 area. Ops bypass it, only blocks non-ops.
Finer control
For custom shapes or multiple zones, use a WorldGuard region instead and set spawn-protection=0.
Verify
Log in as a non-op account and try to place or break a block inside the radius. It should fail. Move outside the radius and try again, it should work.
If it doesn't work
- Non-ops can still build. Value still
0, or no restart. - Ops get blocked too. Check for a separate protection plugin.
- Wrong shape or size. It's a square, recalculate radius.
- Need protection elsewhere. Use a WorldGuard region.
Does spawn protection block ops too?
No, ops bypass it completely. It only stops non-op players from building near spawn.
Can I protect an area other than spawn?
Not with this setting. spawn-protection only covers the world spawn point, use a WorldGuard region for anywhere else.
