How to make Activator Rails in Minecraft

This Minecraft tutorial explains how to craft activator rails with screenshots and step-by-step instructions.

In Minecraft, activator rails are one of the many transportation items that you can make. The crafting process will create 6 activator rails at a time.

rails

Let's explore how to make activator rails.

Supported Platforms

Activator rails are available in the following versions of Minecraft:

Platform	Supported (Version*)
Java Edition (PC/Mac)	Yes (1.5)
Pocket Edition (PE)	Yes (0.13.0)
Xbox 360	Yes (TU19)
Xbox One	Yes (CU7)
PS3	Yes (1.12)
PS4	Yes (1.12)
Wii U	Yes
Nintendo Switch	Yes
Windows 10 Edition	Yes (0.13.0)
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.

Where to find Activator Rails in Creative Mode

Minecraft Java Edition (PC/Mac)

Here is where you can find an activator rail in the Creative Inventory menu:

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

Minecraft Pocket Edition (PE)

Here is where you can find an activator rail 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 - 1.20.0	Items

Minecraft Xbox Editions

Here is where you can find an activator rail 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 - 1.20.0	Items

Minecraft PS Editions

Here is where you can find an activator rail 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 - 1.20.0	Items

Minecraft Nintendo

Here is where you can find an activator rail 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 - 1.20.0	Items

Minecraft Windows 10 Edition

Here is where you can find an activator rail 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 - 1.20.0	Items

Minecraft Education Edition

Here is where you can find an activator rail 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.

Required Materials to make Activator Rails

In Minecraft, these are the materials you can use to craft an activator rail:

6 Iron Ingots

2 Sticks

1 Redstone Torch

How to craft Activator Rails 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 Activator Rails

In the crafting menu, you should see a crafting area that is made up of a 3x3 crafting grid. To make activator rails, place 6 iron ingots, 2 sticks, and 1 redstone torch in the 3x3 crafting grid.

When making activator rails, it is important that the iron ingots, sticks, and redstone torch are placed in the exact pattern as the image below. In this first row, there should be 1 iron ingot in the first box, 1 stick in the second box, and 1 iron ingot in the third box. In the second row, there should be 1 iron ingot in the first box, 1 redstone torch in the second box, and 1 iron ingot in the third box. In the third row, there should be 1 iron ingot in the first box, 1 stick in the second box, and 1 iron ingot in the third box. This is the Minecraft crafting recipe for activator rails.

Crafting recipe for activator rails

Now that you have filled the crafting area with the correct pattern, six activator rails will appear in the box to the right.

rails

3. Move the Activator Rails to Inventory

Once you have crafted rails, you need to move the new item to your inventory.

Completed activator rails