Minecraft wiki entry for Spawn_protection, associated text: Spawn protection prevents players from building in spawn, undoing any attempts at placing or breaking Blocks. Players who have any operator level are able to bypass it and build anyway. There are several indirect ways to bypass spawn protection, namely activating pistons, dispensers, explosives and using mob griefing.[citation needed] If there are no ops on the server, then spawn protection does not apply. Spawn protection only applies in the overworld. Spawn protection does not apply in singleplayer.