Minecraft keep inventory command

Updated: 30 October 2026

Turn it on

Java 1.21.11 renamed every game rule, so keepInventory from older videos gives "unknown game rule" on current versions. The minecraft: prefix is optional. Use false to turn it off again.

Check whether it is on

/gamerule minecraft:keep_inventory

Without a value, the command prints the current setting.

What is kept

• All items in the inventory, armor slots and off hand.
• Experience levels.
• Ender chest contents are always kept, with or without this rule.

Turn it on without typing (Bedrock)

Bedrock has a switch for it: open the world settings, go to the Cheats section and turn on Keep Inventory. On a Realm the owner does this from the Realm's world settings. Turning cheats on disables achievements for that world.

Who it affects

The rule applies to every player in the world at once, including hardcore worlds. There is no built-in way to keep items for only some players; servers that want that use a plugin or data pack.

Items with Curse of Vanishing

Curse of Vanishing only removes items when they would drop on death. With keep inventory on, nothing drops, so cursed items stay in the inventory too.

Getting your items back when it is off

With keep inventory off, everything drops where you died. Dropped items disappear after five minutes while that area is loaded, so go back quickly.

/data get entity @s LastDeathLocation

In Java 1.19 and later this shows where you last died. A recovery compass points to the same spot. On Bedrock, turn on Show Coordinates so you can note your position before risky trips.

Common problems

• "Unknown game rule": the name does not match your version. See the table above.
• Commands are not allowed: enable cheats (Open to LAN on Java, or the world settings on Bedrock) or ask a server operator.
• It worked yesterday but not today: game rules are per world. A new world needs the rule set again.
• Items still dropped: some plugins and mods change death drops on servers.

For other renamed rules, see the gamerule list.

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