How to make Redstone Dust in Minecraft

This Minecraft tutorial explains how to craft redstone dust with screenshots and step-by-step instructions.

In Minecraft, redstone dust is an item that you would normally find and gather in the game. However, you can also make redstone dust with a crafting table as well as a furnace or a blast furnace.

redstone dust

Let's explore how to add redstone dust to your inventory.

Supported Platforms

Redstone dust is available in the following versions of Minecraft:

Platform	Supported (Version*)
Java Edition (PC/Mac)	Yes
Pocket Edition (PE)	Yes
Xbox 360	Yes
Xbox One	Yes
PS3	Yes
PS4	Yes
Wii U	Yes
Nintendo Switch	Yes
Windows 10 Edition	Yes
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.

Where to find Redstone Dust in Creative Mode

Minecraft Java Edition (PC/Mac)

Here is where you can find redstone dust in the Creative Inventory menu:

Platform	Version(s)	Creative Menu Location
Java Edition (PC/Mac)	1.8 - 1.19	Redstone
Java Edition (PC/Mac)	1.19.3 - 1.20	Redstone Blocks
Java Edition (PC/Mac)	1.19.3 - 1.20	Ingredients

Minecraft Pocket Edition (PE)

Here is where you can find redstone dust in the Creative Inventory menu:

Platform	Version(s)	Creative Menu Location
Pocket Edition (PE)	0.14.1 - 1.1.3	Tools
Pocket Edition (PE)	1.2 - 1.19.83	Items

Minecraft Xbox Editions

Here is where you can find redstone dust in the Creative Inventory menu:

Platform	Version(s)	Creative Menu Location
Xbox 360	TU35 - TU69	Redstone and Transportation
Xbox One	CU23 - CU43	Redstone and Transportation
Xbox One	1.2.5 - 1.19.83	Items

Minecraft PS Editions

Here is where you can find redstone dust in the Creative Inventory menu:

Platform	Version(s)	Creative Menu Location
PS3	1.26 - 1.76	Redstone and Transportation
PS4	1.26 - 1.91	Redstone and Transportation
PS4	1.14.0 - 1.19.83	Items

Minecraft Nintendo

Here is where you can find redstone dust in the Creative Inventory menu:

Platform	Version(s)	Creative Menu Location
Wii U	Patch 3 - Patch 38	Redstone and Transportation
Nintendo Switch	1.04 - 1.11	Redstone and Transportation
Nintendo Switch	1.5.0 - 1.19.83	Items

Minecraft Windows 10 Edition

Here is where you can find redstone dust in the Creative Inventory menu:

Platform	Version(s)	Creative Menu Location
Windows 10 Edition	0.14.1 - 1.1.3	Tools
Windows 10 Edition	1.2 - 1.19.83	Items

Minecraft Education Edition

Here is where you can find redstone dust in the Creative Inventory menu:

Platform	Version(s)	Creative Menu Location
Education Edition	0.14.2 - 1.0.18	Tools
Education Edition	1.0.21 - 1.17.30	Items

Definitions

Platform is the platform that applies.
Version(s) is the Minecraft version numbers where the item can be found in the menu location listed (we have tested and confirmed this version number).
Creative Menu Location is the location of the item in the Creative Inventory menu.

How to mine Redstone Dust in Survival Mode

You can add redstone dust to your inventory in Survival mode by mining redstone ore. So, let's get started!

1. Find a Block of Redstone Ore

First, let's explore where to find redstone ore. In Minecraft, redstone ore is easy to find and is found in large deposits. You can usually find iron ore between 10 and 25 blocks below the ground.

redstone ore location

In this example, we are going to dig into a mountain to find redstone ore.

This is what redstone ore looks like:

redstone ore and pickaxe

2. Hold a Diamond, Iron, or Netherite Pickaxe

To mine for redstone dust, you need to dig up the redstone ore with a diamond pickaxe, iron pickaxe, or netherite pickaxe:

How to make a Netherite Pickaxe

How to make a Diamond Pickaxe

How to make an Iron Pickaxe

Other tools will not dig up the redstone ore and drop redstone dust.

In this example, we are going to use a diamond pickaxe to dig up the redstone ore.

3. Mine the Redstone Ore

The game control to mine the redstone ore depends on the version of Minecraft:

For Java Edition (PC/Mac), left click and hold on the block of redstone ore.
For Pocket Edition (PE), you tap and hold on the block of redstone ore.
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 redstone ore.
For Education Edition, left click and hold on the block of redstone ore.

redstone ore dropped

You will need to continue to dig until the block breaks and redstone dust finally appears. The redstone dust will float on the ground.

4. Pick up the Redstone Dust

Make sure you pick up the redstone dust before it disappears.

redstone gathered

Once you pick up the redstone dust, it will appear in your hotbar.

redstone

Redstone dust is a very useful item and should be kept in your inventory to be used later.

How to craft Redstone Dust in Survival Mode

1. Open the Crafting Menu

First, open your crafting table so that you have the 3x3 crafting grid that looks like this:

3x3 crafting area

2. Add Items to make Redstone Dust

In the crafting menu, you should see a crafting area that is made up of a 3x3 crafting grid. To make redstone, place 1 block of redstone in the 3x3 crafting grid.

When making redstone, it is important that the block of redstone is placed in the exact pattern as the image below. In the first row, there should be 1 block of redstone in the first box. This is the Minecraft crafting recipe for redstone dust.

Crafting recipe for redstone dust

Now that you have filled the crafting area with the correct pattern, 9 redstone dust will appear in the box to the right.

redstone dust

3. Move the Redstone Dust to Inventory

Once you have crafted redstone dust, you need to move the new items to your inventory.

Completed redstone dust

Congratulations, you have made redstone dust in Minecraft!

How to smelt Redstone Dust in Survival Mode

You can craft redstone dust in Survival Mode using either a furnace or blast furnace.

Furnace
Blast Furnace

1. Open the Furnace Menu

First, open your furnace so that you have the Furnace menu that looks like this:

furnace menu

2. Add Fuel to the Furnace

Next, you need to add fuel to the bottom fuel box in the furnace.

furnace menu with fuel

In this tutorial, we are going to use coal as our fuel.

TIP: Read our tutorial called How to Add Fuel to a Furnace if you aren't sure what items can be used as fuel, the length of time each fuel will burn, or how many items each fuel can smelt/cook.

3. Add Items to make Redstone Dust

Next, place the redstone ore in the top box of the furnace. You should see the flames smelting the redstone ore.

Furnace recipe for redstone

Once the redstone ore has been smelted in the furnace, the redstone dust will appear in the box to the right.

redstone

4. Move the Redstone Dust to Inventory

Now that you have made redstone dust in your furnace, you need to move the new item to your inventory.

Completed redstone dust

Congratulations, you have made redstone dust in a furnace!

1. Open the Blast Furnace Menu

First, open your blast furnace so that you have a Blast Furnace menu that looks like this:

blast furnace menu

2. Add Fuel to the Blast Furnace

Next, you need to add fuel to the bottom fuel box in the blast furnace.

blast furnace menu with fuel

In this tutorial, we are going to use coal as our fuel.

3. Add Items to make Redstone Dust

Next, place the redstone ore in the top box of the blast furnace. You should see the flames smelting the redstone ore.

Furnace recipe for redstone

Once the redstone ore has been smelted in the blast furnace, the redstone dust will appear in the box to the right.

redstone

4. Move the Redstone Dust to Inventory

Now that you have made redstone dust in your blast furnace, you need to move the new item to your inventory.

Completed redstone dust