/locate
Finds the nearest specified structure, biome, or point of interest and displays its coordinates.
Overview
Finds the nearest specified structure, biome, or point of interest and displays its coordinates. In vanilla Minecraft Java Edition it is one of the world commands and has been available since version 1.0.
It is invoked as /locate and accepts 2 required arguments (
The output includes clickable coordinates that suggest a /tp command. The search may take time for rare structures. Since 1.19, /locatebiome was merged into /locate biome.
Since 1.19 the type keyword (structure, biome or poi) is mandatory and /locatebiome was folded into /locate biome. The result is a clickable coordinate that suggests a teleport.
Syntax & Arguments
/locate <structure|biome|poi> <id>The full syntax is /locate . Angle brackets < > mark required arguments and square brackets [ ] mark optional ones; a vertical bar | between words means you pick exactly one of those literals. You must always supply
- type
- Required, of type a literal. What to locate: structure, biome, or poi (point of interest).
- id
- Required, of type a resource. The ID of the structure, biome, or POI to find (e.g., village, fortress, plains).
Parameters
| Name | Type | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| type | literal | Required | What to locate: structure, biome, or poi (point of interest). |
| id | resource | Required | The ID of the structure, biome, or POI to find (e.g., village, fortress, plains). |
Examples
The 3 examples below are ready to copy and adapt. For instance, /locate structure minecraft:village_plains finds and displays the coordinates of the nearest plains village. Each example varies the arguments to show a different real use of /locate; read the note under every snippet to see exactly what changes.
/locate structure minecraft:village_plainsFinds and displays the coordinates of the nearest plains village.
/locate biome minecraft:mushroom_fieldsFinds the nearest mushroom fields biome.
/locate structure minecraft:strongholdFinds the nearest stronghold.
Permission Level & Requirements
/locate sits at permission Level 2 - Game Master / Cheats, which means it needs permission level 2, the level cheats grant to single-player worlds and that operators hold by default.
In a single-player world you must have "Allow Cheats" turned on (or open the world to LAN with cheats) before it will run; on a multiplayer server the player needs to be an operator at the matching level.
Java vs Bedrock — Bedrock uses /locate structure with similar arguments but a different structure-id set.
Common Mistakes
- Forgetting the 'structure' or 'biome' keyword, since 1.19, you must specify the type before the ID.
- Using incorrect structure names, many were renamed in 1.19 (e.g., 'buried_treasure' became 'minecraft:buried_treasure').
Notes
The output includes clickable coordinates that suggest a /tp command. The search may take time for rare structures. Since 1.19, /locatebiome was merged into /locate biome.
Related Commands
If /locate is part of your toolkit, the commands below are the ones you will most often reach for alongside it: /tp, /seed, and /spreadplayers. They cover closely related tasks, so the links above jump straight to each one.
/tpFrequently Asked Questions about /locate
What does the /locate command do in Minecraft?
Finds the nearest specified structure, biome, or point of interest and displays its coordinates. It belongs to the world command group and was added in Java Edition 1.0.
What is the correct syntax for /locate?
/locate
What permission level does /locate need?
It requires permission Level 2 - Game Master / Cheats. On a server the player must be an operator at that level, or have cheats enabled in single-player.
What is a common mistake when using /locate?
Forgetting the 'structure' or 'biome' keyword, since 1.19, you must specify the type before the ID.
Can you give an example of /locate in use?
Yes. /locate biome minecraft:mushroom_fields — finds the nearest mushroom fields biome.
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