Difficulty Lock
by Serilum
With Difficulty Lock, the difficulty of every newly created world can be set in advance and optionally locked so it cannot be changed later.
What it does
Difficulty Lock changes the Create World screen for new worlds only. A configured difficulty, game mode or cheat setting is applied before the world is generated, and the lock can keep the difficulty fixed afterward. The default configuration sets all worlds to hard and locks the difficulty. Worlds that already exist are left alone unless the config says otherwise.
The mod fits modpacks that need a fixed difficulty, and singleplayer players who always start with the same setting. It also works on dedicated servers. Difficulty Lock requires Collective. The server must run it, while players may leave it out. Files are published for Fabric, Forge, NeoForge and Quilt, covering 1.16.5 – 26.3, and the code is under All rights reserved, so it is not open source.
Key features
Preset difficulty
One config option sets the difficulty of every new world to peaceful, normal, hard or another chosen level.
Difficulty lock
When enabled, the chosen difficulty cannot be changed in a world after it is created.
Forced hardcore mode
The world game mode can be set to hardcore, overriding the other difficulty settings.
Restricted creation options
Creative mode can be removed from the world creation screen, and cheats can be forced off on creation.
Compatibility
Latest build for each game version and loader.
26.x5 of 5 versions with builds
1.21.x12 of 12 versions with builds
1.20.x7 of 7 versions with builds
1.19.x3 of 3 versions with builds
1.18.x1 of 1 version with builds
1.16.x1 of 1 version with builds
Only full game releases are shown. This mod publishes no snapshot builds.
Requirements
Dependencies declared by the latest file for each loader.
Required 1
Use cases
Modpacks
Pack authors can fix the difficulty so every new world starts with the intended settings.
Dedicated servers
Server owners can keep new worlds in a set mode, with the same options applied to the Create World screen.
Who it’s for: Modpack authors, server owners and singleplayer players who start every world with the same difficulty and want that choice preset.
How it compares
Difficulty Lock is a mod the server must run while players may leave it out, for Fabric, Forge, NeoForge and Quilt, with an All rights reserved license. No Creative In Survival is needed on the server, with the client optional, across the same loaders, but covers 1.21 – 26.2 and is also not open source. Locked In Slots is client-side only, under the Mozilla Public License 2.0, so it changes a different part of play.
| Mod | Loaders | Game versions | Environment | Updated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Difficulty Lock | Fabric, Forge, NeoForge and Quilt | 1.16.5 – 26.3 | Server required, client optional | 2026-10-10 |
| No Creative In Survival | Fabric, Forge, NeoForge and Quilt | 1.21 – 26.2 | Server required, client optional | 2026-03-10 |
| Locked In Slots | Fabric, Forge and NeoForge | 1.20.4 – 26.3 | Client-side only | 2026-09-23 |
Questions
Does Difficulty Lock need Collective?
Does Difficulty Lock change existing worlds?
Which loaders does Difficulty Lock support?
In the catalog
Difficulty Lock is one of 8,016 Management mods on ModsFinder, and one of 5,930 Management mods for Fabric. 8,071 mods support Minecraft 26.3.
More from Serilum
Similar mods
What the author says
Difficulty Lock adds an easy way to configure the difficulty in all (new) worlds. Can be useful for modpacks, or just in your singleplayer experience if you have a default difficulty you always play with. There are config options to force the Hardcore gamemode, disable cheats, or prevent Creative mode from being…
Official listing
- Modrinth page
- modrinth.com/mod/difficulty-lock
- Owner
- Serilum
- Published
- 2022-09-01
- Updated on Modrinth
- 2026-10-10
- Facts verified
- 2026-10-15