# How to Protect Builds With WorldGuard

> Protect your spawn, towns and builds from griefing with WorldEdit and WorldGuard.

Source: https://www.beaconhosting.org/knowledgebase/how-to-protect-builds-with-worldguard-on-a-minecraft-server
Category: Minecraft
Last updated: 2026-10-22

**WorldGuard** protects areas (regions) so players can't break or build in them. It needs **WorldEdit** to select the area.

## Install them

Your server needs **Paper**.

1. Open **Package Manager**, click **Browse packages**, and install **WorldEdit**.
2. Install **WorldGuard**.
3. Package changes are queued and applied the next time the server starts, so restart it from **Console** when you're done.

## Protect an area

As an operator in game:

1. Run `//wand` to get the selection axe.
2. **Left-click** one corner of the area and **right-click** the opposite corner.
3. Run `//expand vert` to cover from bedrock to the sky.
4. Run `/rg define spawn` to make a region called `spawn`.

Only operators and the region's members can now build there.

## Let players build in a region

```
/rg addmember spawn PlayerName
/rg addowner spawn PlayerName
```

## Change what's allowed (flags)

```
/rg flag spawn pvp deny
/rg flag spawn mob-spawning deny
/rg flag spawn greeting Welcome to spawn!
```

## Players protecting their own builds

WorldGuard is for staff-made regions. For players to claim their own land, use **GriefPrevention** or **Lands** instead (also in **Package Manager**).