Protect spawn on Minecraft with WorldGuard

Install WorldEdit and WorldGuard, select the spawn area with the WorldEdit wand, then type /rg define spawn. A new region already stops everyone but its owners and members from building. Add flags for the rest: /rg flag spawn pvp deny and /rg flag spawn mob-spawning deny.

WorldGuard needs the Bukkit build of WorldEdit and a server on Paper, Purpur or Spigot. On a Purpur 26.3 server, checked 11 October 2026, the panel offered WorldGuard 7.0.19. Modrinth lists WorldEdit as a required dependency, and the WorldEdit builds the panel offered for 26.3 were betas.

In the ArthOS panel

Install WorldEdit first, as in the WorldEdit guide.
Open Add-ons, then Plugins. Choose the Modrinth source, search for WorldGuard and choose Install on the card. Pick the 7.0.19 build.
Choose Restart now when the page offers it. WorldGuard creates plugins/WorldGuard on the first start.

If the Install dialog says “No build of this is made for this server’s version and loader.”, the plugin has no build for your Minecraft version. A build made for an older version may still work but can cause bugs or lag; see when a plugin has no build for your version.

Protect spawn

Type these in game chat. Operators bypass region protection, so test with a second account that is not an operator.

Hold the wand (//wand) and left click one corner of spawn, then right click the opposite corner. Select from bedrock to the sky with //expand vert so players cannot dig under it.
Type /rg define spawn. The region is named spawn. Names are case-insensitive and unique.
Turn off fighting: /rg flag spawn pvp deny.
Stop mobs spawning: /rg flag spawn mob-spawning deny. This also stops spawn eggs and spawn commands inside the region.
Let your builders in: /rg addmember spawn Alex. Use g:builders instead of a name for a whole permission group.
Check it: /rg info spawn shows the owners, members and flags. /rg list lists every region.

Changes save by themselves after a short delay. /rg save forces it.

The server’s own spawn protection (Config Editor, Spawn protection radius, default 16) also protects a square around spawn. If WorldGuard protects spawn, set that radius to 0. See spawn protection.

What the build flag does

You do not need to set build. Membership sets it for you. Building is blocked for people who are not members. The WorldGuard docs recommend leaving the build flag alone unless you know why. For a free-for-all area that overlaps spawn, for example a mine, make a second region and set /rg flag mine build allow.

Flags take allow or deny. To remove a flag, give no value: /rg flag spawn pvp. To change the shape later, select a new area and type /rg redefine spawn. To delete a region, /rg remove spawn.

A few more flags worth knowing, all taking allow or deny: creeper-explosion, tnt, chest-access, use (doors and levers). greeting takes a message shown when someone enters.

By hand

Download both Bukkit jars: WorldEdit and WorldGuard. Pick files made for your Minecraft version. If one has none, its newest build made for an older version may still work, but it can cause bugs or lag; take a backup first.
Upload both to the plugins folder in Files. In Add-ons, Plugins, choose Scan for tampering, then restart the server.
Run the commands above in game. From the server console you can use most /rg commands too, but you may need -w <world>.

If it does not work

WorldGuard is red in plugins. WorldEdit is missing or is the wrong build. Install the Bukkit build and restart.
Players can still build in the region. You are testing as an operator. Try with a normal account. Also check /rg info spawn: a player added as a member or owner can build.
Players cannot build anywhere. Another region covers the area, or the global region has been changed. Players need permission in every overlapping region.
/rg define says you have not selected an area. Select two corners with the wand first. The WorldEdit selection is what WorldGuard uses.
A flag seems ignored. Overlapping regions combine: for allow and deny flags, a deny anywhere wins at the same priority. Run /rg flags spawn and check the other regions that cover the spot.