Players Cannot Break Blocks Near Spawn

Direct answer

When only the area near world spawn is protected, check spawn-protection in server.properties. If the problem follows a claimed area elsewhere, investigate protection plugins or adventure mode.

What it means

Java server spawn protection is different from a WorldGuard/Towny region. It applies around spawn under its documented operator conditions; custom claims and game modes can also block building.

If you are a player

Try a block well outside spawn, and ask whether other players can build there.
Check whether your game mode is Adventure or whether a region protection message appears.

If you run the server

Compare build permissions at spawn and at a distant wilderness coordinate using a non-OP test account.
Review spawn-protection in server.properties and restart to apply an intentional change; 0 disables built-in spawn protection.
If only certain claims are affected, use that plugin’s region/claim inspection command and permission rules.
Do not give everyone OP just to test building; use explicit permissions or region membership.

Confirm the fix: After changing one setting, test placing and breaking blocks both inside and outside spawn while logged in as a normal player.

References

Use the documentation for the exact software and release you run. These sources support the settings or diagnostic behavior used in this fix.

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