How to Pick up an Item in Minecraft

This Minecraft tutorial explains how to pick up an item with screenshots and step-by-step instructions.

In Minecraft, when you break a block, an item will appear that you can pick up. These are items that you can add to your inventory. Let's explore how to pick up an item.

Steps to Pick up an Item

1. Target the Block

In Minecraft, you first need to find a block to break. When you find a block that you want to break, position your pointer (the plus sign) on that block. You should see the block become highlighted in your game window.

2. Break the Block

The game control to break the block depends on the version of Minecraft:

• For Java Edition (PC/Mac), left click and hold on the block of dirt.
• For Pocket Edition (PE), you tap and hold on the block of dirt.
• For Xbox 360 and Xbox One, press and hold the RT button on the Xbox controller.
• For PS3 and PS4, press and hold the R2 button on the PS controller.
• For Wii U, press and hold the ZR button on the gamepad.
• For Nintendo Switch, press and hold the ZR button on the controller.
• For Windows 10 Edition, left click and hold on the block of dirt.
• For Education Edition, left click and hold on the block of dirt.

You will need to continue to dig until the block breaks.

In Survival mode, you will see a smaller block of dirt appear. This is an item that you can pick up and add to your inventory. In Creative mode, you will not have an item to pick up because you have unlimited resources anyways.

3. Pick up the Item

When the block is floating on the ground, you can pick it up to add it to your inventory. To pick up the item, you just need to walk over to it.

The item will automatically be added to a box in your hotbar.

Dirt is a useful item and should be kept in your inventory to be used later.

Congratulations, you just learned how to pick up an item in Minecraft.