Enable Hardcore mode (Minecraft: Java Edition)

Hardcore mode locks your game to the highest difficulty and prevents players from respawning after they die. In this article, we'll show you how to easily enable or disable Hardcore mode for your Minecraft: Java Edition server.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k6wAPmTnRB4java

Generate a new hardcore world

You can enable hardcore mode by generating a new world on Aternos. Just visit our worlds page and click the "Generate button". Then, find the hardcore setting and toggle it on. After the next server start, the new hardcore world will be generated.

Click on "Generate", enable "Hardcore", and click on "Generate" again

Enable hardcore mode for existing worlds

To enable the Minecraft: Java Edition hardcore mod for existing worlds, you need to edit the server properties as well as the level.dat file of your world. It's recommended to adjust both settings only if the server is offline.

  • Server properties
    Open your server properties on the files page and look for the option "Hardcore" and toggle it on. If you follow this link, you will be directly forwarded to the right option. 
    Hardcore toggle being enabled
  • level.dat file
    Open your level.dat inside the world folder on the files page and look for the option "Hardcore" and toggle it on. If you follow this link, you will be directly forwarded to the correct option. Hardcore toggle being enabled

Disable hardcore mode for existing worlds

To disable hardcore mode in Minecraft: Java Edition, you can simply generate a new world without enabling the hardcore option, or disable it in your server properties and the level.dat file.

  • Server properties
    Open your server properties on the files page and look for the option "Hardcore" and toggle it off. If you follow this link, you will be directly forwarded to the right option. 
    Hardcore toggle being disabled
  • level.dat file
    Open your level.dat inside the world folder on the files page and look for the option "Hardcore" and toggle it off. If you follow this link, you will be directly forwarded to the right option. Hardcore toggle being disabled
Please note

If you've died in hardcore mode, and you are still in spectator mode, you have to change your gamemode.