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How to Turn Off Friendly Fire in Minecraft Java

Use Java 1.21.9’s PvP game rule to stop all player damage, or modify a team’s friendly-fire setting to protect teammates only.
WorldMinecraft Java Length2 min Posted Quest giverVGSources Team
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In Minecraft: Java Edition 1.21.9, use /gamerule pvp false to stop all players from damaging other players. To stop damage only between teammates while leaving PvP between teams on, use /team modify <team> friendlyfire false for the relevant team.

Choose global PvP or team-only friendly fire

Goal Command Effect
Stop player damage throughout the world /gamerule pvp false Disables player-versus-player damage globally in Java Edition 1.21.9; the rule defaults to true, according to the Java Edition 1.21.9 release notes.
Stop teammates damaging each other /team modify <team> friendlyfire false Changes friendly fire for the named team. This command syntax is documented in a comment on the Minecraft Feedback team PvP page.

The first command is the straightforward choice if no player should be able to hurt another. It is not limited to teammates. Use the team command when you want to preserve PvP between players on different teams; players need to belong to the team whose setting you are changing.

Run the command

  1. Pick the scope. Choose the global game rule for all player damage, or the team setting for friendly fire within a team.
  2. Open chat and enter the command. Include the leading slash. For a team, replace <team> with the actual team name, such as /team modify red friendlyfire false.
  3. Make sure commands are available to you. In Java single-player, commands can be enabled when creating a world or later through World Options. On multiplayer servers or Realms, you need sufficient permission; owners generally have it, while players on someone else’s server should ask an administrator. See Minecraft’s command guide.

Java server version matters

In Java Edition 1.21.9, the server’s pvp setting moved into the pvp game rule, and the pvp entry was removed from server.properties. The release notes say the rule can be changed while the server is running. Older setup guidance may still describe a pvp server setting, so check which game version your server uses before following legacy instructions or editing configuration files. Minecraft’s Java server setup guide is relevant background, but its older configuration advice should not be assumed to apply to 1.21.9.

Check syntax for your exact release

For Java Edition 1.21.9, the release notes use pvp as the game-rule name. Later snapshot 25w44a notes say game rules were moved into a registry and renamed to snake-case resource locations; that is snapshot-specific information, not confirmation that the same syntax applies to every release. If you are playing a different version, use command autocomplete in that version or check its release notes rather than assuming the 1.21.9 command is unchanged. See the 25w44a snapshot notes.

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