How to Use Commands in Minecraft (Beginner’s Guide)

Minecraft commands can be considered as sort of ‘cheat codes’ (more accurately, a dev console) that can be used to gain complete control of the game world (in a nutshell, God Mode).

Commands can be used to unlock a variety of things that would otherwise need hours of grinding, and can be really helpful in creative mode. Here’s what you need to know about these Minecraft commands.

What Are Commands in Minecraft?

Also known as Slash Commands, these are essentially a bunch of console commands that can be used to manipulate the game world, enable cheats, and even allow for some outlandish experimentation.

While the default gameplay in Minecraft is bound to a set of rules, commands enable God Mode and let you shape the world as you wish.

How to Enable Commands in Minecraft

To enable commands in Minecraft, follow the steps in sequence:

• Head to the Game Settings menu, and toggle ‘Allow Cheats’ to On.
• If you’re in an existing game world, press the Esc key and head to LAN, and toggle the Allow Cheats button to on, and start the LAN world.
• Once activated, fire up the chat window by pressing either the T or / key.
• Type in a command. All commands must be followed by a / (forward slash) and are entirely text-based.

Select or type in the command and hit the Return key to activate it.

Enabling Commands in Single Player

Enabling cheats depends on whether you’re in a new world or an already existing one.

For new worlds, it is relatively easy, and you need to toggle the Allow Cheats option to On status, under the More World Options and Cheats sections for Java and Bedrock editions, respectively.

For Java editions with pre-existing worlds, you’ll have to enter the pause menu using Esc and head on to the Open to LAN tab. Enable Cheats and Start a LAN World to have it working. Reloading the game will reset the cheats, and you will have to go through the process once again.

For Bedrock editions with pre-existing worlds, it is a lot simpler, and has you head on over to the Settings pause menu and onto the Game tab. From here, select Cheats and toggle Activate Cheats, and you should be good to go. This move will permanently disable achievements, so use it with caution.

Enabling Commands in Multiplayer / Servers

Enabling commands on a server is a bit more complex. Even if cheats are enabled, not everyone can access them. To gain access, you must have OP (Operator) status enabled.  

If you’re on a private server, you can make yourself an admin by typing in op followed by your user name and pressing the Enter key.

For the Bedrock Edition, make sure to have allow-cheats set to true within your server.properties file. Restart your server after applying the changes.

How to Open the Command Console

Accessing the command console is different for every platform on which the game is available. Without this console, you will not be able to use Minecraft cheat commands to enhance your gameplay. Here’s what you need to do for the different platforms, including the Nintendo Switch and mobile phones.

Platform	Key(s)
PC/Mac	T or /
Xbox	Right D-Pad button
PlayStation	Right D-Pad button
Nintendo Switch	Right D-Pad button
Mobile Editions (Android/iOS)	Click on the Speech Bubble icon to bring the onscreen keyboard into focus, and type in the command.

Basic Minecraft Commands Every Player Should Know

There are a lot of Minecraft commands, and keeping track of each one of them is a hassle. That said, there are some commands that you should learn by heart, because they can often make your life easier.

Command	Effect
/help	Lists all available commands
/gamemode	Switches your gameplay style between creative, survival and spectator
/give <player> <item> [amount]	Gifts a player a set item of a certain amount
/time	Can be used to set and change the time of the day
/weather	Loads in the weather of choice
/tp	Immediately teleports you to specific coordinates (x, y, z)
/kill	Instantly kills your character
/locate <category> <thing>	Instantly prints out the coordinates of a particular item
time set <time>	Sets the time manually
summon <entity> [x] [y] [z]	Can be used to summon entities at specific coordinates

Useful Tips for Beginners Using Commands

Minecraft cheat commands can be a bit overwhelming for beginners, so make sure to follow the simple rules below to ensure a smoother experience:

• Always enable cheats before testing commands
• Use Creative mode for practice
• Copy-paste commands to avoid errors
• Commands differ slightly in Java vs Bedrock (The Java edition supports NBT data, which allows it to add specific details per command, something which the Bedrock edition cannot do).

Final Thoughts – From Commands to Full Control

Ultimately, the sky is the limit in terms of possibilities, and console commands are a fun way to experiment and try out new things. As always, it is encouraged to experiment and try different combinations for greater effect.

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