---
title: "How to Mine and Move Spawners: Silk Touch Plugins | ZCS"
description: "Let players mine and move mob spawners with silk touch on your server: plugins, permissions, risks and when to use virtual spawners instead."
url: "https://www.zcraftstudios.com/blog/mine-and-move-spawners-silk-touch-plugins"
updated: "2026-11-01T19:05:53.672876+00:00"
source: "ZCraft Studios"
---

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# How to Mine and Move Spawners: Silk Touch Plugins

ZCraft StudiosNov 1, 2026

Let players mine and move mob spawners with silk touch on your server: plugins, permissions, risks and when to use virtual spawners instead.

## In this guide

- [Vanilla spawner behavior](#vanilla-spawner-behavior)
- [Plugins that let players mine spawners](#plugins-that-let-players-mine-spawners)
- [Typical permissions](#typical-permissions)
- [Set up a spawner mining plugin](#set-up-a-spawner-mining-plugin)
- [Risks of mineable spawners](#risks-of-mineable-spawners)
- [Virtual spawners instead](#virtual-spawners-instead)
- [Frequently asked questions](#frequently-asked-questions)
- [Related reading](#related-reading)

## How to Mine and Move Spawners: Silk Touch Plugins

**Quick answer:** in vanilla Minecraft a spawner block cannot be picked up, even with Silk Touch. To let players **mine and move spawners**, install a spawner plugin such as **SilkSpawners** or **MineableSpawners**, then control who can mine, place and change spawner types with permissions. If you mainly want to reduce lag, a virtual spawner plugin such as EliteSpawner is a better fit.

_Disclosure: the EliteSpawner link in this post is a referral link, so ZCraft Studios may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Plugin details come from their public pages, last checked October 2026\. Some of these plugins are older, so confirm version support before installing._

## Vanilla spawner behavior

Breaking a spawner in vanilla drops experience but not the spawner block, and Silk Touch does not change that. Admins can give spawners with commands or spawn eggs, and creative players can pick them. For survival servers you need a plugin if players should keep what they mine.

## Plugins that let players mine spawners

| Plugin           | What it does                                                                                                                      | Check                                                                                    |
| ---------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| SilkSpawners     | Mining a spawner with a Silk Touch pickaxe gives a spawner that keeps its creature type. Optional commands to view or change type | License terms and version support. One fork is under a non-commercial license            |
| MineableSpawners | Lets players mine and drop spawners. Commands to give, set and list types, and reload config                                      | Its page says it was tested up to older Minecraft versions, so confirm it works on yours |

Both are community plugins. Older plugins may not keep up with new Minecraft versions, including 26.1 and newer. See [Update a Minecraft Server to 26.1+](https://www.zcraftstudios.com/blog/minecraft-26-1-server-update-guide).

## Typical permissions

Permission names vary, so check each plugin's page. Examples reported on their pages:

| Plugin           | Example permissions                                                                                            |
| ---------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| SilkSpawners     | silkspawners.viewtype, silkspawners.changetype, silkspawners.freeitem, place and mine permissions per creature |
| MineableSpawners | mineablespawners.mine, mineablespawners.nosilk, mineablespawners.eggchange, mineablespawners.bypass            |

Give staff-only powers such as free items or changing types to admins. See [LuckPerms Setup Guide](https://www.zcraftstudios.com/blog/luckperms-ranks-setup-guide).

## Set up a spawner mining plugin

1. Back up the server. See [Backup Strategy](https://www.zcraftstudios.com/blog/minecraft-server-backup-strategy).
2. Install the plugin. See [How to Add Plugins to a Minecraft Server](https://www.zcraftstudios.com/blog/how-to-add-plugins-to-minecraft-server).
3. Decide who can mine spawners and what tool is required.
4. Decide whether spawn eggs can change types.
5. Decide whether spawners can be crafted.
6. Set permissions per rank.
7. Test mining, placing and moving with a normal account.

## Risks of mineable spawners

| Risk             | Why it matters                                                                                                       |
| ---------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Lag              | Players build large mob farms with many real mobs. See [Fix Minecraft Server Lag](https://www.zcraftstudios.com/blog/reduce-minecraft-server-lag) |
| Economy          | Free spawner mining floods the market                                                                                |
| Theft            | Players steal spawners from bases. See [Protect Spawners](https://www.zcraftstudios.com/blog/protect-spawners-theft-duplication-abuse)            |
| Duplication bugs | Older plugins may be vulnerable                                                                                      |
| Cheating         | Staff abuse of free-item permissions                                                                                 |

## Virtual spawners instead

If your goal is a spawner economy without mob lag, consider a virtual spawner plugin. Players place spawners, nothing spawns, and loot goes into a menu. See [DonutSMP-Style Spawners](https://www.zcraftstudios.com/blog/donutsmp-style-spawners-plugin-setup), [Best Spawner Plugins Compared](https://www.zcraftstudios.com/blog/best-spawner-plugins-minecraft-compared) and the [EliteSpawner Setup Guide](https://www.zcraftstudios.com/blog/elitespawner-plugin-setup-guide).

| Silk-touch spawner plugins | Virtual spawner plugins |                                                    |
| -------------------------- | ----------------------- | -------------------------------------------------- |
| Mobs spawn                 | Yes                     | No                                                 |
| Lag risk                   | Higher                  | Low                                                |
| Movement of spawners       | Mine and place          | Pick up or break by the owner, depending on plugin |
| Economy control            | Harder                  | Easier through loot and storage                    |

[Get EliteSpawner on BuiltByBit](https://builtbybit.com/resources/elitespawner-ui-based-virtual-spawners.125131/?ref=662024)

## Frequently asked questions

**Can you mine spawners with Silk Touch?** Not in vanilla. A plugin is needed.

**What is the best plugin to mine spawners?** SilkSpawners and MineableSpawners are known options. Check version support.

**How do I let players change spawner types?** Use the plugin's permission for spawn egg changes, and restrict it.

**Do mineable spawners cause lag?** The mobs they spawn can. Virtual spawners avoid that.

**Can I give spawners to players?** Yes, with each plugin's give command, restricted to staff.

## Related reading

- [Spawner Lag Fix](https://www.zcraftstudios.com/blog/virtual-spawners-minecraft-lag-free-spawner-farms)
- [How to Stack Spawners](https://www.zcraftstudios.com/blog/how-to-stack-spawners-minecraft-server)
- [Best Minecraft Server Plugins by Category](https://www.zcraftstudios.com/blog/best-minecraft-plugins-by-category)

## Continue reading

- [How to Move Your Minecraft Server to RealisticNode (SFTP)](https://www.zcraftstudios.com/blog/move-minecraft-server-to-realisticnode-sftp)
- [DonutSMP Spawners Explained: How They Work and How to Copy](https://www.zcraftstudios.com/blog/donutsmp-spawners-explained-how-they-work)
- [How to Sell Spawners: Shop, Crates and Gift Setup](https://www.zcraftstudios.com/blog/sell-spawners-shop-crates-setup)
- [Protect Spawners From Theft, Dupes and Abuse](https://www.zcraftstudios.com/blog/protect-spawners-theft-duplication-abuse)

[ Previous guide Best Spawner Types: Skeleton, Iron Golem and Blaze Loot](https://www.zcraftstudios.com/blog/best-spawner-types-skeleton-iron-golem-blaze)[ Next guide How to Sell Spawners: Shop, Crates and Gift Setup](https://www.zcraftstudios.com/blog/sell-spawners-shop-crates-setup)

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