How to Keep Inventory when you Die in Minecraft

This Minecraft tutorial explains how to use a game command to save your inventory after dying with screenshots and step-by-step instructions.

You might find it frustrating that you have worked so hard to gather the items in your inventory and then you die and lose it all. Did you know that you can use a cheat in the game to allow you to retain your inventory after dying? Let's explore how to use this cheat (game command).

Supported Platforms

The keep inventory command is available in the following versions of Minecraft:

PlatformSupported (Version*)
Java Edition (PC/Mac) Java Edition (PC/Mac)Yes (1.4.2)
Pocket Edition (PE) Pocket Edition (PE)Yes (1.0.5)
Xbox 360 Xbox 360No
Xbox One Xbox OneYes (1.2)
PS3 PS3No
PS4 PS4Yes (1.14.0)
Wii U Wii UNo
Nintendo Switch Nintendo SwitchYes (1.5.0)
Windows 10 Edition Windows 10 EditionYes (1.0.5)
Education Edition Education EditionYes

* The version that it was added or removed, if applicable.
NOTE: Pocket Edition (PE), Xbox One, PS4, Nintendo Switch, and Windows 10 Edition are now called Bedrock Edition. We will continue to show them individually for version history.

Requirements

To run game commands in Minecraft, you have to turn cheats on in your world.

keepInventory Command

Examples

How to Enter the Command

1. Open the Chat Window

The easiest way to run a command in Minecraft is within the chat window. The game control to open the chat window depends on the version of Minecraft:

  • For Java Edition (PC/Mac), press the T key to open the chat window.
  • For Pocket Edition (PE), tap on the chat button help command at the top of the screen.
  • For Xbox One, press the D-Pad (right) xbox one on the controller.
  • For PS4, press the D-Pad (right) ps4 on the controller.
  • For Nintendo Switch, press the right arrow button nintendo switch on the controller.
  • For Windows 10 Edition, press the T key to open the chat window.
  • For Education Edition, press the T key to open the chat window.

2. Type the Command

In this example, we will set the gamerule to keep inventory after dying with the following command:

/gamerule keepInventory true

Type the command in the chat window. As you are typing, you will see the command appear in the lower left corner of the game window. Press the Enter key to run the command.

kill command

The game rule will be changed for your world. Now, let's see what happens to your inventory when you die in the game.

keep inventory die

As you can see in the Respawn window above, your items are still in your hotbar. You did not throw them in front of you when you died this time. Now, click the Respawn button to rejoin the game.

keep inventory after spawning

Here you are back in the game. Your items are still in your hotbar and also in your other inventory rows. You won't have to find where you last died in the game to reacquire your items.

Congratulations, you just learned how to use the keepInventory cheat to save your inventory items when you die and respawn in Minecraft!