How to Use the LocateBiome Command in Minecraft

This Minecraft tutorial explains how to use the /locatebiome command with screenshots and step-by-step instructions.

In Minecraft, /locatebiome is a new command that was introduced in the Nether Update. Use the /locatebiome command to easily find a biome in any of the 3 dimensions (Overworld, Nether and End). Let's explore how to use this cheat (game command).

TIP: Starting in Minecraft Java Edition (PC/Mac) 1.19, the /locatebiome command was replaced by the /locate command.

Supported Platforms

The /locatebiome command is available in the following versions of Minecraft:

Platform	Supported (Version*)
Java Edition (PC/Mac)	Yes (1.16), but removed in (1.19)
Pocket Edition (PE)	No
Xbox 360	No
Xbox One	No
PS3	No
PS4	No
Wii U	No
Nintendo Switch	No
Windows 10 Edition	No
Education Edition	No

* The version that it was added or removed, if applicable.
NOTE: Pocket Edition (PE), Xbox One, PS4, Nintendo Switch, and Windows 10 Edition are now called Bedrock Edition. We will continue to show them individually for version history.

Requirements

To run game commands in Minecraft, you have to turn cheats on in your world.

LocateBiome Command

Java

LocateBiome Command in Minecraft Java Edition (PC/Mac)

In Minecraft Java Edition (PC/Mac), the syntax to locate a biome is:

/locatebiome <biome>

Definitions

biome is the Minecraft ID of the biome that you wish to find. You must be in the correct dimension (Overworld, Nether, End) to locate the corresponding biome. For example, you must be in the Nether to locate the warped_forest biome, you must be in the Overworld to locate the bamboo_jungle biome, etc. (See List of Biome IDs.)
NOTE: Starting in Java 1.18.2, the /locatebiome command now supports tags which are prefixed with # to differentiate from normal ids.

Examples

Java

Example in Java Edition (PC/Mac) 1.19 and 1.20

Starting in Java Edition 1.19, you must use the /locate command to find a biome, as the /locatebiome command has been removed from the game.

Example in Java Edition (PC/Mac) 1.16, 1.17 and 1.18

To locate a Mesa biome in Minecraft 1.16, 1.17 and 1.18 (you must already be in the Overworld dimension):

/locatebiome badlands

To locate a Warped Forest biome (you must already be in the Nether dimension):

/locatebiome warped_forest

To locate a Crimson Forest biome (you must already be in the Nether dimension):

/locatebiome crimson_forest

To locate an End Highlands biome (you must already be in the End dimension):

/locatebiome end_highlands

TIP: Be sure you are first in the correct dimension before trying to locate a biome. For example, if you wish to locate the Warped Forest biome, you must first be in the Nether dimension (as the Warped Forest is a biome in the Nether dimension).

How to Enter the Command

1. Open the Chat Window

The easiest way to run a command in Minecraft is within the chat window. The game control to open the chat window depends on the version of Minecraft:

For Java Edition (PC/Mac), press the T key to open the chat window.

2. Type the Command

In this example, we are in the Overworld and are going to locate a Mesa biome with the following command:

/locatebiome badlands

Type the command in the chat window. As you are typing, you will see the command appear in the lower left corner of the game window. Press the Enter key to run the command.

locatebiome command

Once the cheat has been entered, the game will search for the nearest Mesa biome in your Minecraft world.

completed locatebiome command

You will see the message "The nearest Badlands is at [-268, ~, 4504] (4637 blocks away)" appear in the lower left corner of the game window to indicate that the coordinates of the Mesa biome.

Now you can use the /tp command to teleport to these coordinates or you can walk until you get there.

TIP: If you are in the wrong dimension or the biome you are looking for is too far away, you will receive the following error message when you run the /locatebiome command:

Could not find a Badlands within reasonable distance

Congratulations, you have learned how to use the /locatebiome command in Minecraft.

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