How do I disable TNT explosions on my Minecraft server?

On a public server, TNT is the fastest way to wreck someone else's build. You can turn it off completely, block only the block damage, or allow it per region. Which approach is best depends on the kind of server: a creative building server wants no TNT, a survival server often wants it for mining but not at spawn.

The quickest way: the gamerule

Since Minecraft 1.21 there is the gamerule tntExplodes. Set to false, TNT still ignites (the block starts flashing) but no explosion follows: the block disappears without damage.

1. Go to the game panel and click your server.
2. Open the Console tab.
3. Type gamerule tntExplodes false and press Enter.

If your server still runs a version older than 1.21, this gamerule does not exist and you use one of the options below.

On Paper and Purpur: disabling only the damage

Paper has settings to control TNT in config/paper-world-defaults.yml (or per world in paper-world.yml) under entities.behavior. The most useful one is prevent-tnt-from-moving-in-water against TNT cannons that work under water, and on Purpur purpur.yml has tnt.explosion-power per world, which you can set to 0. Edit the files through File Manager in the panel and restart the server afterwards.

Per region with WorldGuard

If you want to allow TNT outside spawn (for mining, for example) but not in protected areas, WorldGuard is the right choice. Set the flag tnt deny in the region, or use other-explosion deny to also block explosions from beds, respawn anchors and end crystals. With /rg flag __global__ tnt deny you block it server-wide and then re-enable it only in certain regions.

What is and is not blocked?

• The gamerule tntExplodes only blocks TNT (the block and the primed entity), not creepers, ghasts or the wither. Those fall under mob griefing.
• TNT in minecarts is also blocked by the gamerule; on older versions with a plugin, not always.
• Beds exploding in the Nether or End are not TNT; for those you need WorldGuard or a separate plugin.

Allowing TNT without griefing

A good compromise on survival servers: allow TNT server-wide, but let every player claim their own land with GriefPrevention or Lands. Inside a claim TNT then does no damage, outside it does. That keeps TNT mining possible and bases protected without a blanket ban. If you still want to undo damage, CoreProtect can roll back every TNT explosion; which plugins you need for that is in our blog article on moderation and protection.

Checking that it works

In creative, place a block of TNT somewhere you do not need, light it with a flint and steel and see whether a crater appears. Then also test inside and outside a WorldGuard region if you use one. Re-enable with gamerule tntExplodes true or by removing the flag.

Not working, for example on a modpack where a mod adds its own explosives? Open a ticket and we will take a look.