How to Use the Locate Command in Minecraft

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

Now you can quickly and easily find biomes, points of interest, and structures in Minecraft with the /locate command. You can then use the /tp command to teleport there instantly!

Let's explore how to use this cheat (game command).

Supported Platforms

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

Platform	Supported (Version*)
Java Edition (PC/Mac)	Yes (1.11)
Pocket Edition (PE)	Yes (1.0)
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 (1.0)
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.

Locate Command

Locate Command in Minecraft Java Edition (PC/Mac)

In Minecraft Java Edition (PC/Mac) 1.19 and 1.20, the /locate command has different syntaxes depending on what you would like to find.

To find the closest coordinates of a biome: (which replaces the /locatebiome command starting in 1.19)

/locate biome <biome_name>

To find the closest coordinates of a point of interest:

/locate poi <poi_name>

To find the closest coordinates of a structure:

/locate structure <structure_name>

In Minecraft Java Edition (PC/Mac) 1.11, 1.12, 1.13, 1.14, 1.15, 1.16, 1.17 and 1.18, the syntax to find the closest coordinates of a structure is:

/locate <structure_name>

Definitions

biome_name 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.)
poi_name is the Minecraft ID of the point of interest that you wish to find. You must be in the correct dimension (Overworld, Nether, End) to locate the corresponding poi.
structure_name is a specific structure that you wish to find. You must be in the correct dimension (Overworld, Nether, End) to locate the corresponding structure. (See List of Structure IDs.)

Locate Command in Minecraft Pocket Edition (PE)

In Minecraft Pocket Edition (PE), the /locate command has different syntaxes depending on what you would like to find.

To find the closest coordinates of a biome:

/locate biome <biome_name>

To find the closest coordinates of a structure:

/locate structure <structure_name> <useNewChunksOnly>

Definitions

biome_name 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. (See List of Biome IDs.)
structure_name is a specific structure that you wish to find. You must be in the correct dimension (Overworld, Nether, End) to locate the corresponding structure. (See List of Structure IDs.)
useNewChunksOnly is a true or false value to indicate whether you wish to search for a structure in new chunks only.

Locate Command in Minecraft Xbox One Edition

In Minecraft Xbox One Edition, the /locate command has different syntaxes depending on what you would like to find.

To find the closest coordinates of a biome:

/locate biome <biome_name>

To find the closest coordinates of a structure:

/locate structure <structure_name> <useNewChunksOnly>

Definitions

biome_name 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. (See List of Biome IDs.)
structure_name is a specific structure that you wish to find. You must be in the correct dimension (Overworld, Nether, End) to locate the corresponding structure. (See List of Structure IDs.)
useNewChunksOnly is a true or false value to indicate whether you wish to search for a structure in new chunks only.

Locate Command in Minecraft PS4 Edition

In Minecraft PS4 Edition, the /locate command has different syntaxes depending on what you would like to find.

To find the closest coordinates of a biome:

/locate biome <biome_name>

To find the closest coordinates of a structure:

/locate structure <structure_name> <useNewChunksOnly>

Definitions

biome_name 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. (See List of Biome IDs.)
structure_name is a specific structure that you wish to find. You must be in the correct dimension (Overworld, Nether, End) to locate the corresponding structure. (See List of Structure IDs.)
useNewChunksOnly is a true or false value to indicate whether you wish to search for a structure in new chunks only.

Locate Command in Minecraft Nintendo Switch Edition

In Minecraft Nintendo Switch Edition, the /locate command has different syntaxes depending on what you would like to find.

To find the closest coordinates of a biome:

/locate biome <biome_name>

To find the closest coordinates of a structure:

/locate structure <structure_name> <useNewChunksOnly>

Definitions

biome_name 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. (See List of Biome IDs.)
structure_name is a specific structure that you wish to find. You must be in the correct dimension (Overworld, Nether, End) to locate the corresponding structure. (See List of Structure IDs.)
useNewChunksOnly is a true or false value to indicate whether you wish to search for a structure in new chunks only.

Locate Command in Minecraft Windows 10 Edition

In Minecraft Windows 10 Edition, the /locate command has different syntaxes depending on what you would like to find.

To find the closest coordinates of a biome:

/locate biome <biome_name>

To find the closest coordinates of a structure:

/locate structure <structure_name> <useNewChunksOnly>

Definitions

biome_name 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. (See List of Biome IDs.)
structure_name is a specific structure that you wish to find. You must be in the correct dimension (Overworld, Nether, End) to locate the corresponding structure. (See List of Structure IDs.)
useNewChunksOnly is a true or false value to indicate whether you wish to search for a structure in new chunks only.

Locate Command in Minecraft Education Edition

In Minecraft Education Edition, the syntax to find the closest coordinates of a structure is:

/locate <structure_name>

Definitions

structure_name is a specific structure that you wish to find. You must be in the correct dimension (Overworld, Nether, End) to locate the corresponding structure. (See List of Structure IDs.)

Examples

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

To find the coordinates of the biome called the Flower Forest in Minecraft 1.19 and 1.20 (must be in the Overworld dimension):

/locate biome flower_forest

To find the coordinates of a point of interest such as a cartographer (must be in the Overworld dimension):

/locate poi cartographer

To find the coordinates of a the structure called ruined portal in the Nether (must already be in the Nether dimension):

/locate structure ruined_portal_nether

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

To find the coordinates of the nearest Bastion Remnant (must already be in the Nether dimension) in Minecraft 1.16, 1.17, and 1.18:

/locate bastion_remnant

To find the coordinates of the nearest Witch Hut (must be in the Overworld dimension):

Example in Java Edition (PC/Mac) 1.14 and 1.15

To find the coordinates of the nearest Pillager Outpost in Minecraft 1.14 and 1.15:

/locate Pillager_Outpost

Example in Java Edition (PC/Mac) 1.13

To find the coordinates of the nearest Buried Treasure in Minecraft 1.13:

/locate Buried_Treasure

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

To find the coordinates of the nearest Woodland Mansion in Minecraft 1.11 and 1.12:

/locate Mansion

Example in Pocket Edition

To find the coordinates of the nearest Warped Forest in Minecraft PE (must be in the Nether dimension):

/locate biome warped_forest

To find the coordinates of the nearest Pillager Outpost:

/locate structure pillager_outpost

To find the coordinates of the nearest Woodland Mansion:

/locate structure mansion

Example in Xbox One Edition

To find the coordinates of the nearest Snowy Slopes in Minecraft Xbox One Edition:

/locate biome snowy_slopes

To find the coordinates of the nearest Ancient City:

/locate structure ancient_city

To find the coordinates of the nearest Buried Treasure:

/locate structure buried_treasure

Example in PS4 Edition

To find the coordinates of the nearest Deep Dark in Minecraft PS4 Edition:

/locate biome deep_dark

To find the coordinates of the nearest Abandoned Mineshaft:

/locate structure mineshaft

To find the coordinates of the nearest Bastion Remnant:

/locate structure bastion_remnant

Example in Nintendo Switch Edition

To find the coordinates of the nearest Jagged Peaks in Minecraft Nintendo Switch Edition:

/locate biome jagged_peaks

To find the coordinates of the nearest Shipwreck:

/locate structure shipwreck

To find the coordinates of the nearest Abandoned Mineshaft:

/locate structure mineshaft

Example in Windows 10 Edition

To find the coordinates of the nearest Bamboo Jungle in Minecraft Windows 10 Edition:

/locate biome bamboo_jungle

To find the coordinates of the nearest Temple (closet Jungle Temple, Pyramid, Witch Hut or Igloo):

/locate structure temple

To find the coordinates of the nearest Stronghold:

/locate structure stronghold

Example in Education Edition

To find the coordinates of the nearest Ocean Monument in Minecraft Education Edition:

/locate monument

To find the coordinates of the nearest Village:

/locate village

To find the coordinates of the nearest Stronghold:

/locate stronghold

TIP: Be sure you are first in the correct dimension before trying to locate a biome, point of interest or structure. 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.
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

We will cover examples of how to use the /locate command to find structures as well as biomes. You can also use the /locate command to find POIs.

Locate a Structure

In this example, we will locate an Ancient City in Minecraft Java Edition (PC/Mac) 1.20 with the following command:

/locate structure ancient_city

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.

locate command

Once the cheat has been entered, you should see the coordinates of the nearest Ancient City.

completed_locate command

In this example, the /locate command output the following message to indicate the coordinates of the Ancient City: "The nearest minecraft:ancient_city is at [-1776, ~, 1152] (1973 blocks away)".

We can then use the /tp command to teleport to these coordinates (we will use y = -21 since we weren't given a y-coordinate and the Ancient City is deep underground):

/tp -1776 -21 1152

Find a Biome

In this next example, we will locate a Mushroom Island biome (also called Mushroom Fields) in Minecraft Java Edition (PC/Mac) 1.20 with the following command:

/locate biome mushroom_fields

Type the command in the chat window.

locate command

Once the cheat has been entered, you should see the coordinates of the nearest Mushroom Island biome.

completed_locate command

In this example, the /locate command output the following message to indicate the coordinates of the nearest Mushroom Island: "The nearest minecraft:mushroom_fields is at [2674, 71, -1366] (3149 blocks away)".

We can then use the /tp command to teleport to these coordinates:

/tp 2674 71 -1366

Congratulations, you just learned how to use the /locate command in Minecraft to find both structures and biomes!

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