/forceload
Forces specific chunks to remain loaded even when no players are nearby. Useful for always-on redstone or command block contraptions.
Overview
Forces specific chunks to remain loaded even when no players are nearby. Useful for always-on redstone or command block contraptions. In vanilla Minecraft Java Edition it is one of the world commands, first added in 1.13.1.
It is invoked as /forceload <add|remove|query> <from> [<to>] and accepts 2 required arguments (<action> and <from>) and one optional argument ([to]).
Force-loaded chunks persist across server restarts. Use /forceload remove all to clear all force-loaded chunks. Coordinates are block coordinates; the command auto-converts to chunk coordinates.
Coordinates are given in block space but resolve to whole chunk columns. Force-loaded chunks survive restarts; /forceload remove all clears them.
Syntax & Arguments
/forceload <add|remove|query> <from> [<to>]The full syntax is /forceload <add|remove|query> <from> [<to>]. Angle brackets < > mark required arguments and square brackets [ ] mark optional ones; a vertical bar | between words means you pick exactly one of those literals. You must always supply <action> and <from>. The argument [to] may be omitted, in which case the documented default applies.
- action
- Required, of type a literal. add = force-load chunks; remove = stop force-loading; query = list force-loaded chunks.
- from
- Required, of type a column_pos. A block position (x z); the chunk that contains it is used.
- to
- Optional, of type a column_pos. A second block position (x z); every chunk between the two is used. If omitted, only the chunk containing 'from' is affected.
Parameters
| Name | Type | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| action | literal | Required | add = force-load chunks; remove = stop force-loading; query = list force-loaded chunks. |
| from | column_pos | Required | A block position (x z); the chunk that contains it is used. |
| to | column_pos | Optional | A second block position (x z); every chunk between the two is used. If omitted, only the chunk containing 'from' is affected. |
Examples
The 3 examples below are ready to copy and adapt. For instance, /forceload add 0 0 force-loads the chunk containing coordinates 0,0 so it stays active. Each example varies the arguments to show a different real use of /forceload; read the note under every snippet to see exactly what changes.
/forceload add 0 0Force-loads the chunk containing coordinates 0,0 so it stays active.
/forceload add 0 0 160 160Force-loads all chunks in the region from 0,0 to 160,160.
/forceload queryLists all currently force-loaded chunks.
Permission Level & Requirements
/forceload sits at permission Level 2 - Game Master / Cheats, which means it needs permission level 2, the level cheats grant to single-player worlds and that operators hold by default.
In a single-player world you must have "Allow Cheats" turned on (or open the world to LAN with cheats) before it will run; on a multiplayer server the player needs to be an operator at the matching level.
This reference describes the Java Edition 1.21 form of the command; Bedrock Edition may use slightly different argument formats.
Common Mistakes
- Force-loading too many chunks, this increases server memory usage and can cause lag.
- Adding more than 256 chunks in one command, which fails; split a large area into several /forceload add commands.
Notes
Force-loaded chunks persist across server restarts. Use /forceload remove all to clear all force-loaded chunks. Coordinates are block coordinates; the command auto-converts to chunk coordinates.
Related Commands
If /forceload is part of your toolkit, the commands below are the ones you will most often reach for alongside it: /fill, /clone, and /summon. They cover closely related tasks, so the links above jump straight to each one.
/summonFrequently Asked Questions about /forceload
What does the /forceload command do in Minecraft?
Forces specific chunks to remain loaded even when no players are nearby. Useful for always-on redstone or command block contraptions. It belongs to the world command group and was first added in Java Edition 1.13.1.
What is the correct syntax for /forceload?
/forceload <add|remove|query> <from> [<to>]. The required arguments are action and from, and the optional one is to.
What permission level does /forceload need?
It requires permission Level 2 - Game Master / Cheats. On a server the player must be an operator at that level, or have cheats enabled in single-player.
What is a common mistake when using /forceload?
Force-loading too many chunks, this increases server memory usage and can cause lag.
Can you give an example of /forceload in use?
Yes. /forceload add 0 0 160 160: force-loads all chunks in the region from 0,0 to 160,160.
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