What Is the FreezeMe Plugin?
FreezeMe is a lightweight Bukkit plugin that gives server administrators a non-destructive way to handle troublesome players. Instead of reaching for the ban hammer, you can simply freeze a player in place. Once frozen, the player cannot move, break or place blocks, interact with the world, or run any commands. The only thing they can do is chat, which keeps the line of communication open while you decide on further action. Originally forked from aurels' Freeze plugin, FreezeMe added a few extra touches and remained popular for older Minecraft server versions.
How Freezing Works
When you freeze a player with FreezeMe, the plugin instantly locks their position. They are unable to walk, jump, or even turn their head. Block interactions are completely disabled, so they can’t grief or cause damage. Command execution is also blocked, preventing them from using any server commands that might bypass the freeze. Chat remains functional, so the player can still talk to staff or other players. This makes FreezeMe ideal for situations where you want to pause a troublemaker without fully removing them from the server.
Commands and Usage
FreezeMe keeps things simple with a handful of straightforward commands. All of them can be run from the console or by an operator with the correct permissions.
- /freeze <name1> <name2> ... – Freeze one or more players at once. Running the command again on the same player will unfreeze them.
- /unfreeze <name> – Manually unfreeze a specific player.
- /freezeall – Freeze every player currently on the server.
- /unfreezeall – Unfreeze all players who were frozen.
Note that in the early version, freezing multiple players was done by listing their names separated by spaces, and toggling freeze on/off relied on repeating the same command. Later updates added the dedicated unfreeze commands.
Permissions
FreezeMe uses two simple permission nodes to control who can freeze others:
- freezeme.freeze – Grants the ability to freeze and unfreeze individual players.
- freezeme.freezeall – Allows the user to freeze and unfreeze all players on the server.
Assign these permissions to your moderator or admin groups, and they’ll have instant access to the freeze tools without needing to be fully opped.
Version History and Development
FreezeMe went through a few iterations before being abandoned. Here’s a quick look at its changelog:
- 1.0 – Players can no longer run commands while frozen. This was a critical security fix.
- 0.3 – Added /freezeall, /unfreezeall, the freezeme.freezeall permission, and the /unfreeze command. Several bugs were squashed.
- 0.2 – Corrected spelling errors and updated compatibility for Minecraft 1.2.5.
- 0.1 – Initial release.
The developer had plans for future features like freezing groups and a “torture” command for extra fun, but those never materialized. The plugin’s source code remains available on GitHub for anyone curious about its inner workings.
Why FreezeMe Is Now Abandoned
FreezeMe has been marked as abandoned by its creator. The original Freeze plugin that it was forked from, however, is still actively maintained and works with the latest Bukkit and Spigot updates. If you are setting up a modern server, you should look for that original Freeze plugin instead. It provides the same core functionality with ongoing support and bug fixes. The FreezeMe project serves as a piece of Minecraft server history, showing how even small utility plugins once played a big role in community management.
If you enjoy experimenting with older server tools or want to quickly test plugins on a private server, you might appreciate the convenience of the foxygame.net launcher. It lets you browse and install various mods and plugins directly from its menu, making it a flexible choice for anyone who likes to tinker without digging through manual downloads.
Practical Scenarios for Freezing Players
FreezeMe shines in several common server moderation situations. Imagine a player who keeps breaking rules but hasn’t quite earned a ban. Freezing them on the spot stops the bad behavior while you talk to them. It’s also useful for preventing escape during a staff investigation, or for pausing a chaotic situation in a minigame lobby. Because the frozen player can still chat, they can explain themselves or receive a warning without feeling completely shut out. This often de-escalates conflicts better than an immediate mute or kick.
Installing and Configuring FreezeMe
While FreezeMe is no longer recommended for live servers, setting it up for historical or educational purposes is straightforward. Simply drop the JAR file into your server’s plugins folder and restart or reload the server. No additional configuration files are needed. Permissions can be managed through any permissions plugin like LuckPerms or PermissionsEx. Just remember that because it’s abandoned, you may encounter compatibility issues with newer Minecraft versions.
Alternatives to FreezeMe
If you need a reliable freeze solution today, the original Freeze plugin (not the fork) is the way to go. It continues to receive updates and works seamlessly with current server software. Many all-in-one moderation suites like EssentialsX or LiteBans also include freeze commands as part of their feature sets, often with more advanced options like temporary freezes, freeze messages, and GUI integration. These alternatives are better suited for active servers that require long-term stability.
Final Thoughts
FreezeMe was a handy little plugin that filled a niche in early Minecraft server administration. Its ability to immobilize a player while keeping chat open made it a favorite for many admins who preferred a lighter touch. Though it is now abandoned and replaced by more up-to-date tools, it remains a nice example of how the community built creative solutions for everyday problems. For anyone still running legacy servers or simply curious about Minecraft’s plugin history, FreezeMe is worth a look. For everyone else, stick with the actively maintained original Freeze plugin to keep your server running smoothly.