How to Use the Fill Command to Replace Water with Air in Minecraft

This Minecraft tutorial explains how to use the /fill command to change water to air with screenshots and step-by-step instructions.

In Minecraft, you can use the /fill command to replace a specific type of block with another. In this case, we want to replace all water blocks with air blocks within a fill range. Let's explore how to do this in Minecraft.

Supported Platforms

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

Platform	Supported (Version*)
Java Edition (PC/Mac)	Yes (1.8)
Pocket Edition (PE)	Yes (0.16.0)
Xbox 360	No
Xbox One	Yes (1.2)
PS3	No
PS4	Yes (1.14.0)
Wii U	No
Nintendo Switch	Yes (1.5.0)
Windows 10 Edition	Yes (0.16.0)
Education Edition	Yes

* 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.

Fill Command to Replace Water with Air

Command in Minecraft Java Edition (PC/Mac)

In Minecraft Java Edition (PC/Mac) 1.13, 1.14, 1.15, 1.16, 1.17, 1.18, 1.19 and 1.20, the syntax to change water to air using the /fill command is:

/fill <x1> <y1> <z1> <x2> <y2> <z2> air replace water

In Minecraft Java Edition (PC/Mac) 1.11 and 1.12, the syntax is:

/fill <x1> <y1> <z1> <x2> <y2> <z2> air 0 replace water

Definitions

x1 y1 z1 is the starting coordinate for the fill region (ie: first corner block).
x2 y2 z2 is the ending coordinate for the fill region (ie: opposite corner block).

Command in Minecraft Pocket Edition (PE)

In Minecraft Pocket Edition (PE), the syntax to change water to air using the /fill command is:

/fill <from> <to> air [] replace water []

Definitions

from is the starting x y z coordinate for the fill region (ie: first corner block).
to is the ending x y z coordinate for the fill region (ie: opposite corner block).

Command in Minecraft Xbox One Edition

In Minecraft Xbox One Edition, the syntax to change water to air using the /fill command is:

/fill <from> <to> air [] replace water []

Definitions

from is the starting x y z coordinate for the fill region (ie: first corner block).
to is the ending x y z coordinate for the fill region (ie: opposite corner block).

Command in Minecraft PS4 Edition

In Minecraft PS4 Edition, the syntax to change water to air using the /fill command is:

/fill <from> <to> air [] replace water []

Definitions

from is the starting x y z coordinate for the fill region (ie: first corner block).
to is the ending x y z coordinate for the fill region (ie: opposite corner block).

Command in Minecraft Nintendo Switch Edition

In Minecraft Nintendo Switch Edition, the syntax to change water to air using the /fill command is:

/fill <from> <to> air [] replace water []

Definitions

from is the starting x y z coordinate for the fill region (ie: first corner block).
to is the ending x y z coordinate for the fill region (ie: opposite corner block).

Command in Minecraft Windows 10 Edition

In Minecraft Windows 10 Edition, the syntax to change water to air using the /fill command is:

/fill <from> <to> air [] replace water []

Definitions

from is the starting x y z coordinate for the fill region (ie: first corner block).
to is the ending x y z coordinate for the fill region (ie: opposite corner block).

Command in Minecraft Education Edition

In Minecraft Education Edition, the syntax to change water to air using the /fill command is:

/fill <from> <to> air 0 replace water

Definitions

from is the starting x y z coordinate for the fill region (ie: first corner block).
to is the ending x y z coordinate for the fill region (ie: opposite corner block).

TIP: Read our tutorial called Understanding the Coordinate System to learn about the XYZ coordinates in Minecraft and how to find your current coordinates.

Examples

Example in Java Edition (PC/Mac) 1.13, 1.14, 1.15, 1.16, 1.17, 1.18, 1.19 and 1.20

In Java Edition 1.13, 1.14, 1.15, 1.16, 1.17, 1.18, 1.19 and 1.20, to replace all water with air in the fill region with a starting coordinate of ~10 ~0 ~40 and an ending coordinate of ~-40 ~-3 ~-40:

/fill ~10 ~0 ~40 ~-40 ~-3 ~-40 air replace water

Example in Java Edition (PC/Mac) 1.11 and 1.12

In Java Edition 1.11 and 1.12, to replace all water with air in the fill region with a starting coordinate of ~10 ~0 ~40 and an ending coordinate of ~-40 ~-3 ~-40:

/fill ~10 ~0 ~40 ~-40 ~-3 ~-40 air 0 replace water

Example in Pocket Edition (PE)

To replace all water with air in the fill region with a starting coordinate of ~5 ~0 ~8 and an ending coordinate of ~-10 ~-4 ~-15:

/fill ~5 ~0 ~8 ~-10 ~-4 ~-15 air [] replace water []

Example in Xbox One Edition

To replace all water with air in the fill region with a starting coordinate of ~5 ~0 ~8 and an ending coordinate of ~-10 ~-4 ~-11:

/fill ~5 ~0 ~8 ~-10 ~-4 ~-11 air [] replace water []

Example in PS4 Edition

To replace all water with air in the fill region with a starting coordinate of ~4 ~1 ~6 and an ending coordinate of ~-7 ~-3 ~-12:

/fill ~4 ~1 ~6 ~-7 ~-3 ~-12 air [] replace water []

Example in Nintendo Switch Edition

To replace all water with air in the fill region with a starting coordinate of ~5 ~0 ~8 and an ending coordinate of ~-10 ~-4 ~-15:

/fill ~5 ~0 ~8 ~-10 ~-4 ~-15 air [] replace water []

Example in Windows 10 Edition

To replace all water with air in the fill region with a starting coordinate of ~2 ~0 ~7 and an ending coordinate of ~-15 ~-3 ~-12:

/fill ~2 ~0 ~7 ~-15 ~-3 ~-12 air [] replace water []

Example in Education Edition

To replace all water with air in the fill region with a starting coordinate of ~2 ~0 ~5 and an ending coordinate of ~-11 ~-5 ~-12:

/fill ~2 ~0 ~5 ~-11 ~-5 ~-12 air 0 replace water

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.
For Pocket Edition (PE), tap on the chat button at the top of the screen.
For Xbox One, press the D-Pad (right) on the controller.
For PS4, press the D-Pad (right) on the controller.
For Nintendo Switch, press the right arrow button on the controller.
For Windows 10 Edition, press the T key to open the chat window.
For Education Edition, press the T key to open the chat window.

2. Type the Command

In this example, we are going to replace all water with air in the fill region with a starting coordinate of ~10 ~0 ~40 and an ending coordinate of ~-40 ~-3 ~-40 in Minecraft Java Edition (PC/Mac) with the following command:

/fill ~10 ~0 ~40 ~-40 ~-3 ~-40 air 0 replace water

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.

fill command to replace water with air

Once the cheat has been entered, all water blocks in the fill range will be replaced with air blocks.

completed fill command to replace water with air

You will see the message "1640 blocks filled" appear in the lower left corner of the game window to indicate that the fill command has completed.

TIP: If the /fill command does not replace enough of the water with air, the remaining water will flow back and fill up the area again! So make sure you enter a large enough fill region with your coordinates.

Congratulations, you have learned how to use the /fill command to replace water with air in Minecraft.

Other Fill Cheats

You can use other fill commands in Minecraft such as:

How to Use the Fill Command to Replace Lava with Air

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