Updated 25 October 2026. Facts on this page come from minecraft.wiki, minecraft.net and the live Artemis PvP server; sources are listed at the bottom.
Minecraft /difficulty and /seed Commands
/difficulty
How does /difficulty work?
| Command | Sets |
|---|---|
/difficulty peaceful | No hostile mobs; health and hunger refill |
/difficulty easy | Weaker mobs, hunger stops at 5 hearts |
/difficulty normal | Default for new worlds; servers default to easy |
/difficulty hard | Strongest mobs; hunger can kill you |
Bedrock also accepts the numbers 0 to 3 and the letters p, e, n and h. Level 2 on Java, 1 on Bedrock. What each level changes: difficulty levels.
Why does difficulty reset on my server?
The command only lasts until the server restarts; then the difficulty line in server.properties is read again. Change it there to make it permanent. Hardcore worlds stay locked to Hard; see Hardcore mode.
How do you find your seed?
On Java type /seed: anyone can in singleplayer, while servers need level 2. Click the number in chat to copy it. On Bedrock, the seed is shown in the world settings screen. What to do with it: world seeds.
Why look up the seed?
- Load the same world in a seed map tool to find structures and biomes.
- Share a world you liked with friends.
- Recreate a world after deleting it.
- Many servers block /seed so players cannot map the world; /locate is another way to find things in your own world.
Do these need cheats?
/difficulty needs cheats or operator rights; you can also change difficulty in the options menu unless it is locked. /seed works without cheats in singleplayer on Java.
Frequently asked questions
How do you find a Minecraft seed?
Java: type /seed and click it to copy. Bedrock: check the world settings.
Sources
Every fact on this page was checked against these pages; the wording is ours.