Crawling

Crawling is a mechanic^[1]^[2] that prevents the player from suffocating when inside small gaps. Crawling covers a pose that occurs when the player is in an area less than 1.5 blocks high.

Entering crawling

A player cannot crawl when there is no risk of suffocation. Crawling is initiated automatically in any situation that would cause the player's head to intersect a block in such a way that the area underneath the block is less than 1.5 blocks. For example:

Closing a trapdoor on the player
Closing a fence gate when it is at the same altitude as the player's head
Using a piston to push a block into the player
Exiting swimming mode in a one-block-high space
Exiting elytra mode in a one-block-high space
Having a tree grow over a player
Throwing an ender pearl into a one block space
Having a shulker box push the player down
- This normally makes the player sneak instead of crawl, but when it is above a slab or a not-full block, then the player crawls.
Getting off a pig with a saddle if it's under a one-block-high space
Having a boat land on the player's head
Waking up from a bed placed in a two-block-high space, with no space to the side of the bed

In these circumstances, the player automatically switches to a crawling state. When enough space opens up above the player's head, the player automatically exits this state and begins standing again. In the crawling form, the player is reduced to 0.625 blocks tall, or ⁵⁄₈ of a block, meaning that they can crawl over blocks 0.375 blocks tall, or ³⁄₈ blocks tall, the height of a daylight detector.

When crawling, the player travels at sneaking speed. The speed of crawling can be increased with the Swift Sneak enchantment. The speed can also be increased by sprinting before entering the crawling state. This raises the speed by 30%.

Crawling players can still produce footstep sounds^[3] and alert sculk sensors; both of these effects can be eliminated by pressing the sneak key while crawling.

History

Java Edition

Java Edition
1.9	16w04a	When players glide into 1 block tall spaces with an elytra, they now keep their smaller hitbox, allowing them to crawl although their pose behaves as if they are walking.^[4]
1.13	18w07a	Actual swimming is added, which allows the player to access this position easier. The animation is still glitched.
	18w20a	Fixed the animation under opaque solid blocks. The player still visually stands up underneath transparent blocks, though.^[5]
	18w22a	Fixed the animation under transparent blocks.^[6]
	pre5	The animation is broken again.
	pre6	Fixed the animation again.^[6]
1.13.1	18w30a	The animation is broken.
1.14	19w14a	Crawling is now fixed. Originally an accidental side-effect resulting from swimming, crawling is now an integral feature in the game.^[1]
	19w14a	The player now automatically enters crawling mode when they intersect a block.
	19w14b	Only the top half of the player is checked for the collision to enter crawling, rather than the whole body.
	Pre-Release 4	Crawling speed has been reduced.
	Pre-Release 4	It is no longer possible to start sprinting while crawling.

Bedrock Edition

Bedrock Edition
1.12.0	?	A glitch in this version where exiting swimming position in a one block results the player still in swimming position that is similar to crawling.
1.12.0	?	This position also allows the player to float when the position is done mid-air.^[7]
1.14.0	?	It is no longer possible to start swimming in 1-block deep water, which makes accessing the position a bit harder than before.
1.17.10	beta 1.17.10.21	The player no longer floats with this position mid-air.
1.20.10 Experiment Short Sneaking and Crawling	Preview 1.20.10.20	Added proper crawling behind the "Short Sneaking and Crawling" experimental toggle.
		Created new player crawling animation.
		Players now begin crawling when in a 1 block gap, similar to sneaking.
		Crawling now has the same speed as sneaking.
1.20.10 Experiment Crawling	Preview 1.20.10.23	Crawling is now behind the "Crawling" experimental toggle.
1.20.10 Experiment Crawling	Preview 1.20.10.23	Players can now be forced into crawl state while flying.
1.20.30 Experiment Crawling	Preview 1.20.20.20	The player now gets forced out of crawl state when riding.
1.20.30	Preview 1.20.20.22	The crawling ability is no longer behind the "Crawling" experimental toggle.
1.20.30	Preview 1.20.30.21	Players can now toggle flying when crawling in Creative mode.

Legacy Console Edition

Legacy Console Edition
Xbox 360	Xbox One	PS3	PS4	PS Vita	Wii U	Switch
TU46	CU36	1.38	1.38	1.38	Patch 15	1.0.1	With the advent of elytra, a position similar to crawling becomes possible. When players glide into 1 block tall spaces with elytra, they keep their smaller hitbox, allowing them to crawl although their pose behaves as if they are walking.
TU69		1.76	1.76	1.76	Patch 38		Actual swimming is added, which allows the player to access this position easier. The animation is still glitched.