Find an Ancient City
/locate structure minecraft:ancient_cityGives the X and Z of the nearest Ancient City; the height shows as ~.
/locate command in Minecraft
The /locate command finds the nearest structure, biome or point of interest and gives its coordinates and distance. Use it to reach an Ancient City, Trial Chambers or a Cherry Grove without exploring for hours, then click the coordinates to teleport.
Syntax
/locate biome <biome>/locate poi <poi>/locate structure <structure>| Argument | Expects | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| biome | ID or #tag · biome | Biome ID like minecraft:cherry_grove or minecraft:mushroom_fields. Biome tags starting with # also work. |
| poi | ID or #tag · point_of_interest_type | Point of interest type, e.g. minecraft:lodestone, minecraft:nether_portal or a job site like minecraft:librarian. Tags like #minecraft:bee_home work too. |
| structure | ID or #tag · structure | Structure ID like minecraft:ancient_city or minecraft:stronghold, or a tag like #minecraft:village for every village type. |
Examples
Nearest village of any type
/locate structure #minecraft:villageThe tag covers plains, desert, savanna, snowy and taiga villages in one search.
Find a Cherry Grove
/locate biome minecraft:cherry_groveReturns full coordinates, Y included, and the distance in blocks.
Find a Nether Fortress from the Overworld
/execute in minecraft:the_nether run locate structure minecraft:fortressSearches the Nether without leaving; the result is in Nether coordinates.
Find a lodestone nearby
/locate poi minecraft:lodestoneFinds a placed lodestone close to you, useful to retrace a compass target.
Interactive tool
Command generator
Fill in the fields, copy the command, paste it in the chat. Syntax checked against Java Edition 26.3.
Turn on JavaScript to use the interactive version.
/locate structure #villageCalculated from the Java Edition 26.3 game files
IDs for /locate structure
Abandoned Campabandoned_camp_bamboo_jungle
Ancient Cityancient_city
Bastion Remnantbastion_remnant
Buried Treasureburied_treasure
Desert Pyramiddesert_pyramid
End Cityend_city
Iglooigloo
Jungle Pyramidjungle_pyramid
Mineshaftmineshaft
Nether Fortressfortress
Nether Fossilnether_fossil
Ocean Monumentmonument
Ocean Ruinsocean_ruin_cold
Pillager Outpostpillager_outpost
Ruined Portalruined_portal
Shipwreckshipwreck
Strongholdstronghold
Swamp Hutswamp_hut
Trail Ruinstrail_ruins
Trial Chamberstrial_chambers
Villagevillage_desert
Woodland MansionmansionIDs for /locate biome
Badlandsbadlands
Bamboo Junglebamboo_jungle
Basalt Deltasbasalt_deltas
Beachbeach
Birch Forestbirch_forest
Cherry Grovecherry_grove
Cold Oceancold_ocean
Crimson Forestcrimson_forest
Dappled Forestdappled_forest
Dark Forestdark_forestDeep Cold Oceandeep_cold_ocean
Deep Darkdeep_dark
Deep Frozen Oceandeep_frozen_oceanDeep Lukewarm Oceandeep_lukewarm_oceanDeep Oceandeep_oceanDesertdesert
Dripstone Cavesdripstone_caves
End Barrensend_barrensEnd Highlandsend_highlandsEnd Midlandsend_midlandsEroded Badlandseroded_badlands
Flower Forestflower_forestForestforestFrozen Oceanfrozen_oceanFrozen Peaksfrozen_peaksFrozen Riverfrozen_river
GrovegroveIce Spikesice_spikes
Jagged Peaksjagged_peaksJunglejungleLukewarm Oceanlukewarm_ocean
Lush Caveslush_caves
Mangrove Swampmangrove_swamp
Meadowmeadow
Mushroom Fieldsmushroom_fields
Nether Wastesnether_wastesOceanoceanOld Growth Birch Forestold_growth_birch_forestOld Growth Pine Taigaold_growth_pine_taigaOld Growth Spruce Taigaold_growth_spruce_taiga
Pale Gardenpale_garden
PlainsplainsRiverriver
SavannasavannaSavanna Plateausavanna_plateauSmall End Islandssmall_end_islandsSnowy Beachsnowy_beachSnowy Plainssnowy_plainsSnowy Slopessnowy_slopesSnowy Taigasnowy_taiga
Soul Sand Valleysoul_sand_valleySparse Junglesparse_jungle
Stony Peaksstony_peaksStony Shorestony_shore
Sulfur Cavessulfur_caves
Sunflower Plainssunflower_plains
SwampswampTaigataigaThe Endthe_end
Warm Oceanwarm_ocean
Warped Forestwarped_forest
Windswept Forestwindswept_forestWindswept Gravelly Hillswindswept_gravelly_hillsWindswept Hillswindswept_hillsWindswept Savannawindswept_savannaWooded Badlandswooded_badlandsReading the result
The answer looks like "The nearest minecraft:ancient_city is at [x, ~, z] (n blocks away)". For structures the height shows as ~, because only the map position is known: dig or fly to find the right level. Biomes and points of interest come with a full Y. The coordinates in chat are clickable to teleport there.
Dimensions and IDs
/locate only searches the dimension you are in. To find a Nether Fortress from the Overworld, run it through /execute in minecraft:the_nether. Several structures have variants: villages are split into village_plains, village_desert and others, so the tag #minecraft:village is easier. Some IDs differ from the names: a Woodland Mansion is mansion, an Ocean Monument monument, Trial Chambers trial_chambers.
Common errors
- "Could not find a structure of type ... nearby": the structure does not generate in this dimension, or the world was created with Generate Structures off.
- Points of interest only exist in chunks that were already generated, so
poiworks best close to you. - Searching a rare biome can take a moment on a busy server.
Once you have the coordinates, /teleport takes you there.
✓ Checked in Java Edition 26.3 · updated 2 November 2026
/locate: FAQ
How do I find a stronghold with /locate?
Run /locate structure minecraft:stronghold. The Y value shows as ~, so dig down at the given X and Z to reach it.
Why does /locate not find a fortress in the Overworld?
Nether Fortresses only generate in the Nether. Go there, or use /execute in minecraft:the_nether run locate structure minecraft:fortress.
How do I use /locate?
Type it in the chat with cheats on: /locate biome <biome>.
Who can use /locate?
Cheats on, or operator level 2.