So you wanna know how can you make a portal in Minecraft? Look, I get it – portals are game-changers. They zip you across worlds faster than a creeper explodes. But here's the thing: most guides skip the messy details. Like why your portal spawned you over lava or how to actually find End Portal frames. Been there, died to that. Twice.
After wasting three hours trying to link Nether portals on my SMP server last week (and getting roasted in chat), I decided to document everything. No fluff, just what works in 2024 Java and Bedrock editions. We'll cover Nether, End, and even experimental portal types Mojang doesn't advertise. Let's fix your portal problems for good.
Nether Portals: Your Hell Highway
Honestly? Nether portals are shockingly simple once you know the rules. But build them wrong and you'll be respawning at your bed while your gear cooks in lava. Happened to my friend Dave – he still whines about it.
Materials You Absolutely Need
Don't show up empty-handed. Here's the bare minimum:
- 10 obsidian blocks (minimum for smallest portal)
- Flint and steel or fire charge (redstone dust + gunpowder + coal)
- Diamond or netherite pickaxe (obsidian mining takes ages with iron)
Fun fact: I once tried using a blaze's fireball to light my portal. Worked! But then the blaze shot me into lava. 2/10 wouldn't recommend.
| Portal Size | Obsidian Needed | Internal Dimensions | My Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum (Standard) | 10 blocks | 2×3 opening | Works 90% of time |
| Tall (4-block height) | 12 blocks | 3×4 opening | Ghast-proof design |
| Max Size (Java) | 40 blocks | 21×21 opening | Overkill but looks epic |
| Irregular Shapes | Varies | Non-rectangular | Won't activate! (learned the hard way) |
Building Step-by-Step (No More Guesswork)
Forget those YouTube shortcuts – this is the foolproof method:
- Clear a 4×5 space – mobs love interrupting builds
- Place obsidian frame: Bottom (4 blocks), sides (3 high), top (4 blocks)
- Ignite the bottom inner edge with flint and steel
- Purple swirls appear – congrats, you made a portal!
Pro tip: Place water buckets around your feet when building near lava lakes. Saved me twice yesterday.
Why Your Portal Might Screw Up (And Fixes)
- Portal spawns you over lava? Your Nether-side spawn point is blocked. Place platforms before first use.
- Getting "ghost portals"? Chunk errors. Relog or rebuild 100+ blocks away.
- Zombified piglens spawning? Light level below 11. Torch spam the area.
End Portals: The Final Gate
Alright, this one's trickier. Unlike Nether portals, how can you make a portal in Minecraft for the End? Technically, you don't "make" it – you activate existing frames. But most guides don't tell you how to actually find them.
Finding Strongholds Like a Pro
First, get Eyes of Ender (blaze powder + ender pearls). Now:
- Throw an eye – it floats toward nearest stronghold
- Follow for 500-700 blocks (Java) or 600-1100 blocks (Bedrock)
- When it drills downward, dig straight down (place ladders!)
Warning: Eyes have 20% break chance per throw. Carry 12+ unless you enjoy grinding blazes.
| Platform | Strongholds per World | Portal Room Spawn Rate | My Survival Tip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Java Edition | 128 | 100% in first 3 strongholds | Mine at Y=-30 to avoid caves |
| Bedrock Edition | Infinite | ~50% chance per stronghold | Always check library chests for eyes |
Activating the End Portal
Found the room? Now the real work starts:
- Clear silverfish spawners (bring buckets of water)
- Insert Eyes of Ender into empty frame slots
- All 12 frames filled? Jump into the void!
Personal rant: Why do 40% of portal rooms generate with missing eyes? Mojang, fix this.
Secret Portal Types Mojang Doesn't Tell You About
Yeah, there are experimental portals. They're buggy but functional if you're brave:
Ruined Nether Portals
These broken structures spawn naturally. To repair:
- Add missing obsidian (usually 2-8 blocks)
- Use flint and steel on frame
- Loot the chest first – free obsidian!
Crying Obsidian Portals (Bedrock Exclusive)
They look cool but function differently:
- Can't be ignited normally
- Teleport items but not players (great for item transport)
- Emits light level 10 – handy for mob farms
Tried making one with glowstone once. Wasted 4 hours. Just use regular obsidian.
Portal Linking Science Explained
Ever built two Nether portals that should connect but don't? Here's why:
- Coordinates matter: Nether is 8x smaller than Overworld
- Overworld portal at (100, 70, 200)? Build Nether-side portal at (12, 70, 25)
- Always build portals at same Y-level to prevent "portal drift"
PSA: If your portal creates a new one 200 blocks away, break the unwanted portal immediately. Otherwise, it'll keep respawning you there. Trust me – lost a hardcore world to this bug.
Essential Portal Safety Protocol
Look, portals are dangerous. Follow these or lose your gear:
- Pre-Nether checklist: Full iron gear, fire res potion, cobblestone (ghast-proof building)
- Portal traps: Place obsidian walls around Overworld-side portals on PVP servers
- Chunk loader trick: Place hoppers near portals to keep them active during travel
My golden rule? Never enter a portal without:
- A stack of cobblestone
- 3+ food
- Wooden tools (in case you get stranded)
Your Burning Portal Questions Answered
Why does my Nether portal sometimes spawn me at a different location?
Portal linking uses coordinates. If multiple portals exist within 128 blocks (Overworld) or 16 blocks (Nether), the game picks the closest. Solution? Demolish unused portals.
Can I move an activated End Portal?
Nope. Portal frames are indestructible in survival. You're stuck with the stronghold's location. But hey, that's why we have Nether highways.
How can you make a portal in Minecraft creative mode faster?
Use the /fill command. Example: /fill ~ ~ ~ ~5 ~5 ~ minecraft:obsidian creates a wall. Still need flint and steel though.
Do portals work across dimensions?
Nether portals connect Overworld↔Nether. End portals connect Overworld↔End. No direct Nether↔End travel without mods. Tried. Crashed my game.
Advanced Portal Hacks for Veterans
Once you've mastered how to make a portal in Minecraft, try these pro strats:
- Portal chunk loaders: Place portal on chunk border to keep both chunks loaded (Java only)
- Silent Nether travel
- Portal-based farms: Zombified piglens can travel through portals – great for gold farms!
Last tip: Name tags prevent hostile mobs from despawning. Name a zombie, push it through portal, and you've got an inter-dimensional pet!
Look, portals seem intimidating but they're just obsidian rectangles with fancy particles. Grab 10 obsidian, light that sucker up, and see where it takes you. Worst case? You die spectacularly and have a great story for Reddit. Now go build!
Comment