Minecraft Java ยท 1.21.11 / 26.1+
/time
Set the time of day, add ticks or control world clocks.
Set day or night
Choose Set and select a time of day. For a custom value, use 6000 ticks for noon or 18000 for midnight in the Overworld.
Pause the day/night cycle
On Java 26.1+, choose Pause and the Overworld clock. Choose Resume to start it again. On Java 1.21.11, use /gamerule minecraft:advance_time false to stop the cycle.
Move time forward or backward
Add shifts the current time by the amount entered. One in-game day is 24,000 ticks. Java 26.1+ accepts negative values to move backward.
FAQ Frequently asked questions 30 questions
Essential questions 5
What is /time used for?
It sets, advances and queries Minecraft Java Edition world time.
How do I make it daytime?
Use /time set day. The command sets daytime in a suitable Minecraft world.
How do I make it nighttime?
Run /time set night. This sets the world to nighttime in its normal daily cycle.
How do I set noon?
Run /time set noon. Noon corresponds to approximately 6000 ticks in the game's daily cycle.
How do I query the current daytime?
In Java 1.21.11 use /time query daytime. The result shows the position within the current in-game day.
Syntax and arguments 5
What is the time set syntax?
Use /time set with a tick value or a supported marker such as day, night, noon or midnight.
What does time add do?
It advances the current world time by the specified amount rather than assigning an absolute time value.
What is a game tick?
A game tick is a Minecraft time unit. Under normal conditions the game processes twenty ticks per second.
How many ticks are in one Minecraft day?
A normal day-night cycle contains 24000 game ticks. These are not 24000 real-world seconds.
How is gametime different from daytime?
gametime tracks the world's total elapsed game ticks, while daytime represents the position within its daily cycle.
Practical examples 5
How do I set the time to 1000 ticks?
Use /time set 1000. This corresponds to the standard daytime shortly after the beginning of the Minecraft day.
How do I set the time to sunset?
Run /time set 12000. This value corresponds to the transition from daytime toward evening.
How do I set midnight?
The /time set midnight command selects the middle of the nighttime part of the in-game daily cycle.
How do I advance time by one thousand ticks?
Run /time add 1000. The command advances world time by the specified number of game ticks.
How do I query the number of game days?
In Java 1.21.11 use /time query day. The command reports completed in-game days from the world time counter.
Advanced usage 5
Can I keep the world permanently daytime?
Yes. Set daytime, then disable time progression using /gamerule advance_time false in Java 1.21.11.
How do I restore the normal day-night cycle?
Run /gamerule advance_time true. Normal daylight progression resumes under ordinary conditions.
Does /time control the weather?
The command controls game time, not rain or thunderstorms directly. Weather is managed through /weather.
Is time identical in every dimension?
Time behavior depends on the dimension and Minecraft version. The Nether has no normal visible day-night cycle.
Can /time change the computer's real clock?
No. The command modifies Minecraft game time rather than the computer's operating-system clock.
Troubleshooting 4
Why does time query fail?
Check the exact argument name, Minecraft version and permissions. Some command branches changed in newer releases.
Why does /time set day not freeze daytime?
The command selects a time but does not stop future progression. Change the corresponding gamerule to freeze it.
Why does time change again after running the command?
Another command block or server mechanism may repeatedly set the time. Check automated command systems.
Why does a Minecraft day differ from a real day?
A Minecraft day contains 24000 ticks and normally passes much faster than twenty-four real-world hours.
Minecraft versions 3
How does Java 26.1 differ from 1.21.11?
Java 26.1 moved /time toward a world-clock system. Do not copy newer clock-management branches into older 1.21.11.
When was /time query introduced?
The query branch was added in Java Edition 1.8 and later gained additional ways to inspect game time.
Are Java and Bedrock /time commands identical?
No. Some query arguments and time-setting behavior differ, so check the specific Minecraft edition.
Permissions and safety 3
What permissions does /time require?
Java Edition normally requires permission level 2. Public servers should restrict control over global game time.
Can changing time affect farms?
Yes. Sudden time changes and freezing the cycle can affect mechanisms that depend on game-day progression.
How do I safely manage time during an event?
Record the original time rules, notify players and restore normal day progression when the event ends.
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