Structure Block

For the block in Minecraft: Story Mode, see MCSM:Structure Block.

Structure Block

Rarity tier	Epic ‌[JE only] Common ‌[BE only]
Renewable	No
Stackable	Yes (64)
Tool	None
Blast resistance	3,600,000
Hardness	-1
Luminous	No
Transparent	No
Flammable	No
Catches fire from lava	No
Map color	22 COLOR_LIGHT_GRAY
Note block instrument	Default (Harp)

A structure block is used to generate structures manually. They can also be used to save and load structures, alongside structure void blocks.

Obtaining

Structure blocks are available using the /setblock, /fill, or /give commands, or the Creative inventory in Java Edition through the "Operator Utilities" tab. When placed, structure blocks are unbreakable in Survival and have the same blast resistance as bedrock. In Bedrock Edition, only save-mode structure blocks are obtainable through commands in the inventory.

Usage

When placed, use the structure block to open its GUI. The GUI opens only if the player is in Creative mode, and has permission level 2 or higher.

Once a structure is named, its name appears above the structure block when highlighted, preceded by the block mode (e.g. "Save:minecraft:example").‌^{[Java Edition only]}

Switching between modes preserves the settings of the structure block wherever possible.

In item form, the structure block uses a "blank" texture, a texture that is not used when on a placed block.

Structure blocks can't be moved by pistons, and can't be destroyed by the ender dragon.

Save

Save mode allows the player to highlight a structure in the world and save it to memory, level file, or a separate file.‌^{[Bedrock Edition only]}

Structure Name

A text box for entering the resource location of the structure to be saved. Only some characters are allowed. In Bedrock Edition, it has a "mystructure:" prefix by default.

Relative Position / Offset

The X, Y, and Z offsets of the structure, relative to the bottom north-west corner of the structure block. Sets the origin of the structure outline.

In Java Edition, the origin must be at most 48 blocks away in all directions. In Bedrock Edition, the origin must be at most 64 blocks away horizontally, and 384 blocks vertically.

Show invisible blocks‌^{[JE only]}

Displays invisible blocks as small colored cubes. Off by default.

Invisible blocks as shown by the "Show invisible blocks" option

Block	Appearance	Color	Notes
Air minecraft:air Cave Air minecraft:cave_air Void Air minecraft:void_air		rgb(127.5, 127.5, 255)	All air types look the same by design.[1]
Structure Void minecraft:structure_void		rgb(255, 191.25, 191.25)
Barrier minecraft:barrier		rgb(255, 0, 0)
Light Block minecraft:light		rgb(255, 255, 0)

Structure Size / Size

X, Y, and Z offset from the Relative Position coordinates. This sets the opposite corner of the structure, and defines the structure's size.

The maximum structure size is 48×48×48 in Java Edition and 64×384×64 in Bedrock Edition.

When successful, generates an outline surrounding the structure that's mostly white except for the red, green and blue lines that represent the X, Y and Z axis. In Bedrock Edition, the structure also gets previewed with a rotatable 3D model inside of the structure block's GUI.

Detect structure size and position / Detect

Automatically calculates the size and position of the structure using a corner block placed on the opposite corner of the structure.

The name of the structure in the save block must match the name within the corner block, or the size calculation fails.

Two corner blocks can also be used. It uses the second corner block instead of the structure block.

Include entities

When saving the structure, if this option is on, saves any entities within the structure as well.

Remove blocks‌^{[BE only]}

When saving the structure, if enabled, no blocks are included in the structure.

Redstone Save Mode‌^{[BE only]}

Sets the save location for the structure file when the structure block gets activated by redstone. Save In Memory stores the structure in the game's loading memory, which will be lost after leaving the world, while Save To Disk stores the structure permanently in the level files.

Show Bounding Box‌^{[BE only]}

Toggles the outline of the structure, both in the preview and in the world.

Save

When all coordinates and a structure name have been entered, press this button to save the structure.

In Java Edition, this saves the structure to a file. The name of the structure is the name of the file.

Structures can be saved to a file only by manually pressing this button. If a structure block in Save mode is instead powered by redstone, the structure is only saved in memory. This is the case even if a file for that structure already exists on disk. Reloading the world clears any structures stored in memory. This is for unspecified security reasons.^[2]

If no namespace is specified, a default value of minecraft is used. This can be changed by prefixing the structure name with <namespace>: in the structure block.

Structures are saved in .minecraft/saves/(WorldName)/generated/(namespace)/structures.^{[note 1]}

In Bedrock Edition, this saves the structure into the level database file rather than a standalone file.

Export‌^{[BE only]}

Used to export a structure into a .mcstructure file, which can be used to load from the structures folder of a behavior pack or import in a Load structure block. If the structure contains a custom block from a behavior pack, then the block is also saved on the structure block. This option is only available on Windows devices by default and Android with resource packs however, starting with version 1.21.130, the button becomes completely useless on Android, as exporting to unsupported platforms has been removed.

Load

Load mode allows the player to load and rotate saved structures.

Structure Name

The name of the structure to load.

In Java Edition, structures are searched in the following order:

• from memory
• from a file (.minecraft/saves/<World Name>/generated/<namespace>/structure/)
• from data packs
• built-in structures from minecraft.jar

In Bedrock Edition, structures are searched for in the following order:

• from memory
• from disk (level database)
• from behavior packs

In Bedrock Edition, vanilla NBT structure files cannot be loaded with structure block.

Relative Position / Offset

The X, Y, and Z offsets of the structure, relative to the bottom north-west corner of the structure block. Coordinates may be specified as numbers between -48 and 48 in Java Edition, or between -64 and 64 horizontally, and -384 and 384 vertically in Bedrock Edition.

Show bounding box

Highlights the outline of the structure. On by default.

Structure Integrity and Seed

Removes random blocks that compose the structure based on a user-defined seed.

Lower integrity values result in more blocks being removed. The integrity value must be between 0.0 and 1.0‌^{[JE only]} or 100.00.‌^{[BE only]}

Strict Placement‌^{[JE only]}

When on, the blocks of the structure do not emit block updates or run their post-placement code when the structure gets loaded.

Include entities

Include any entities saved in the structure file when loading the structure. Off by default. In Java Edition, due to MC-103452, passenger entities aren't saved.

Waterlog Blocks‌^{[BE only]}

When loading the structure blocks that replace water become waterlogged instead of replacing blocks with air, creating air pockets.

Remove Blocks‌^{[BE only]}

When loading the structure, don't include any blocks from the saved structure.

Rotation (0, 90, 180, 270)

Sets the rotation of the structure to 0° (no rotation), 90° clockwise, 180° clockwise, and 270° clockwise (or 90° counter-clockwise).

Mirror (¦, <>, ^v)

Sets the mirroring of the structure to none (¦), left to right (< >), or front to back (^ v). At 0° rotation < > mirrors across the X-axis and ^ v mirrors across the Z-axis.​

In Bedrock Edition, the options are x and z, which can be toggled to set mirroring.

Animation Mode‌^{[BE only]}

Select the animation to show how structure is loaded. Place by Layer makes structure loaded layer by layer, Place by Block makes structure loaded one block by block. Default to none.

Once the loading has started, breaking the structure block can not stop the loading process.

Loading with animation may break blocks in structures that contain multiple parts (such as beds, doors, or tall grass), or need to be attached to other blocks (such as torches), and may cause water, lava, and fire to spread out.

Animation Time‌^{[BE only]}

Adjust the animation time in seconds for loading the structure.

Load

Press to load the structure.

In Java Edition, press this button once to prepare the outline preview of the structure. When satisfied with the position, press again to generate the structure.

A redstone signal will also activate the structure block and load the structure.

Import‌^{[BE only]}

Only available on Windows. Opens the file explorer and allows to select a .mcstructure file exported from a Save structure block. This imports the structure into the memory, allowing to use its save name to load (entered by default).

Corner

Corner mode allows for an easier and automatic size calculation while saving or loading structures.

To use, place on the opposite corner of a save structure block or a second corner structure block. Then, using a save block, press "DETECT".

When successful, a bounding outline appears.

Structure Name

The name of the structure on which to calculate the size and position.

Name is case sensitive,‌^{[BE only]} it must match exactly with the name provided by the complementary save or corner structure block.

3D Export

This feature is exclusive to Bedrock Edition.

3D Export mode,^{[note 2]} is similar to Save mode, but the structure is saved as a 3D model in the format of .glb rather than as an actual structure.^[3] Therefore, structures saved this way can be viewed with 3D Viewer^[4] or Paint 3D^[5], but cannot be generated via load mode.

The 3D file exported is basically the same as the real-time rendering in the preview. Animated textures such as Nether portal blocks, liquids, magma, etc. only have a static texture. Some blocks cannot be displayed properly, such as piston arms, chests, beds, etc. including entities is not supported in this mode.

Structure blocks in 3D export mode cannot be activated by redstone.

3D export can't be used in Marketplace world templates.

Structure Name

Enter the name of the structure. Case sensitive. The player must enter a file name in order to export.

Size

Enter the X, Y, and Z values to set the distance from the Relative Position coordinates. This sets the opposite corner of the structure, and defines its size.

Maximum structure size is 64×384×64.

Offset

Enter the X, Y, and Z values for the structure here, based on the position of the structure block. Sets the origin of the structure outline.

Maximum allowed distance from the structure block is 64 blocks in any direction.

Remove Blocks

While exporting the structure, doesn't include any blocks within saved structure.

Show Bounding Box

Toggles the outline of the structure, both in the preview and in the world.

Data

Data is a deprecated mode, which is superseded by the jigsaw block, but still used in some certain vanilla structures (igloo, end city, woodland mansion, ocean ruin, shipwreck). Structure blocks in data mode can be used only during natural generation. They mark the location to run a specified hardcoded function, which can be used only for relevant structures. In Java Edition, this mode is hidden unless the ⌥ Alt key is held while switching from Corner mode. In Bedrock Edition, data mode structure block cannot be obtained with commands.

Custom Data Tag Name

The name of the function to run.

Igloo

"chest" - sets the loot table for a chest beneath the structure block to "chests/igloo_chest" and sets the loot table seed dependent on the world seed.

End city

"Chest" - Sets the loot table for a chest beneath the structure block to "chests/end_city_treasure" and sets the loot table seed dependent on the world seed.

"Sentry" - Creates a shulker at the location of the structure block.

"Elytra" - Creates an item frame entity with an elytra item inside it at the location of the structure block.

Woodland mansion

"ChestSouth" - Sets the loot table for a chest that replaces the structure block to "chests/woodland_mansion" and sets the loot table seed dependent on the world seed.

"ChestNorth" - Sets the loot table for a chest that replaces the structure block to "chests/woodland_mansion" and sets the loot table seed dependent on the world seed.

"ChestEast" - Sets the loot table for a chest that replaces the structure block to "chests/woodland_mansion" and sets the loot table seed dependent on the world seed.

"ChestWest" - Sets the loot table for a chest that replaces the structure block to "chests/woodland_mansion" and sets the loot table seed dependent on the world seed.

"Mage" - Creates an evoker at the location of the structure block.

"Warrior" - Creates a vindicator at the location of the structure block.

"Group of Allays" - Creates a group of allays at the location of the structure block.

Ocean ruins

"chest" - Creates a chest at the location of the structure block, setting its loot table to either "chests/underwater_ruin_big" or "chests/underwater_ruin_small", with seed dependent on the world seed.

"drowned" - Creates a drowned at the location of the structure block.

Shipwreck

"map_chest" - Sets the loot table for a chest that replaces the structure block to "chests/shipwreck_map" and sets the loot table seed dependent on the world seed.

"treasure_chest" - Sets the loot table for a chest that replaces the structure block to "chests/shipwreck_treasure" and sets the loot table seed dependent on the world seed.

"supply_chest" - Sets the loot table for a chest that replaces the structure block to "chests/shipwreck_supply" and sets the loot table seed dependent on the world seed.

Show Bounding Box‌^{[BE only]}

Toggles the outline of the structure, both in the preview and in the world.

Sounds

Java Edition:

stone sound type
Sound	Closed captions	Source	Description	Identifier	Translation key	Volume	Pitch	Attenuation distance
	​Block broken	Blocks	Once the block has broken	block.stone.break	subtitles.block.generic.break​	1.0	0.8	16
	​Block placed​[until: JE 26.4]	Blocks	When the block is placed	block.stone.place	subtitles.block.generic.place​	1.0	0.8	16
	​Block breaking	Blocks	While the block is in the process of being broken	block.stone.hit	subtitles.block.generic.hit​	0.25	0.5	16
	​Something falls on a block	Entity-Dependent	Falling on the block with fall damage	block.stone.fall	subtitles.block.generic.fall​	0.5	0.75	16
	​Footsteps	Entity-Dependent	Walking on the block	block.stone.step	subtitles.block.generic.footsteps​	0.15	1.0	16

Bedrock Edition:

normal sound type
Sound	Closed captions	Source	Description	Identifier	Translation key	Volume	Pitch
	​Block broken	Blocks	Once the block has broken	dig.stone	subtitles.block.generic.break​	1.0	0.8–1.0
	​Block placed	Blocks	When the block is placed	place.stone	subtitles.block.generic.place​	1.0	0.8–1.0
	​Block breaking	Blocks	While the block is in the process of being broken	hit.stone	subtitles.block.generic.hit​	0.27 [sound 1]	0.5
	​Footsteps	Players	Falling on the block with fall damage	fall.stone	subtitles.block.generic.footsteps​	0.4	1.0
	​Footsteps	Players	Walking on the block	step.stone	subtitles.block.generic.footsteps​	0.3	1.0
	​Footsteps	Blocks	Jumping from the block	jump.stone	subtitles.block.generic.footsteps​	0.12	1.0
	​Footsteps	Blocks	Falling on the block without fall damage	land.stone	subtitles.block.generic.footsteps​	0.22	1.0

Data values

ID

Java Edition:

Name	Identifier	Form	Block tags	Translation key
Structure Block	structure_block	Block & Item	dragon_immune wither_immune	block.minecraft.structure_block

Name	Identifier
Block entity	structure_block

Bedrock Edition:

Name	Identifier	Numeric ID	Form	Item ID[i 1]	Translation key
Structure Block	structure_block	252	Block & Giveable Item[i 2]	Identical[i 3]	tile.structure_block.name

Name	Savegame ID
Block entity	StructureBlock

Block states

Java Edition:

Name	Default value	Allowed values	Description
mode	data	corner	Corner Structure Block
		data	Data Structure Block
		load	Load Structure Block
		save	Save Structure Block

Bedrock Edition:

Name	Metadata Bits	Default value	Allowed values	Values for Metadata Bits	Description
structure_block_type	0x1 0x2 0x4	data	corner	3	Corner Structure Block
			data	0	Data Structure Block
			export	5	Export Structure Block
			invalid	4	Inventory Structure Block
			load	2	Load Structure Block
			save	1	Save Structure Block

Block data

A structure block also has a block entity associated with it.

Java Edition:

Bedrock Edition:

See Bedrock Edition level format/Block entity format.

Videos

History

Development

December 18, 2013							Dinnerbone states that implementing "big structures" is difficult, and that a means to make them "easier to do" is planned for addition at some point.
March 18, 2015							Searge tweets an image of a then-mysterious dark block.
April 8, 2015							Searge tweets a cryptic message containing another screenshot of the mysterious dark block.
							He later asks if players would like an unobtainable block whose effects to the world are "visible and exciting."[6]
April 14, 2015							Searge tweets another cryptic image, with the dark block visible in the hotbar and in the upper-right corner.
							Bright dots cover a mysterious floating structure in the upper-left corner, which Searge "clarified" in a later tweet.[7]
June 24, 2015							Searge explains that the mysterious block is a technical block used internally for world generation.
July 5, 2015							The usage of structure blocks was detailed in a live stream during MINECON 2015.
May 3, 2016							Jens Bergensten tweets a screenshot of the new structure block textures.
							Jeb was instructed to make structure blocks "feel mysterious."[8]
May 13, 2016							ProfMobius tweets an image of the new structure blocks in action, generating what appears to be a fossil made of quartz blocks.

Java Edition

Java Edition
1.9			15w31a				Added structure blocks.
							Structure blocks are currently available only with the /setblock command.
							Structure blocks currently do not have an interface and are used internally by the developers.
1.10			16w20a				The textures of structure blocks have been changed.
							Structure blocks are now obtainable using /give command and usable in-game.
			16w21a				Structure blocks no longer emit light (was previously light-level 15).
							"Structure Integrity and Seed" to load mode have been added to structure blocks.
1.13			17w47a				The saved structures of structure blocks are now stored in <World Name>/generated/<namespace>/structures/<name>.nbt.
							Due to The Flattening, structures saved before this version are now broken and don't load in any blocks who's previous ID is not a valid ID in current versions, such as planks.
			18w21a				The rarity of structure blocks has been changed from "Common" to "Epic".
1.16			20w16a				The maximum size per axis of structure blocks has been increased from 32 to 48.
1.17			20w46a				Default mode of structure blocks is now "Load". "Data" is now hidden by default.
							"Data" can be accessed by clicking the mode button while holding the ⌥ Alt key.
1.19.3			22w45a				Structure blocks are now available in the Creative inventory, but only if cheats are enabled and the "Operator Items Tab" option in the controls menu is turned on.[9]
1.21.5			25w02a				Added the "Strict Placement" option.

Bedrock Edition

Pocket Edition
1.0.0			alpha 0.17.0.1				"Added" structure blocks. While fully implemented, they have no assigned block ID and are completely unobtainable.
Bedrock Edition
1.2.0			beta 1.2.0.2				Structure blocks now have a block ID and can be obtained with /give and /setblock.
							Structure blocks now have a new mode called "3D Export" with a new texture. However, it's possible to use them only in Windows 10 and "3D Export" is the only mode.
1.5.0			beta 1.5.0.0				Structure blocks can now be obtained in iOS and Android, but cannot be used yet.
1.9.0			beta 1.9.0.0				The option to export using Remix3D has been removed from structure blocks. Instead, structures now export locally.
1.13.0 Experiment Experimental Gameplay			beta 1.13.0.1				Structure blocks are now usable, with save and load mode available only through Experimental Gameplay.
1.16.0			beta 1.15.0.51				A detect button for save mode has been added to structure blocks.
			beta 1.16.0.57				Structure block functionality with save and load mode are now available outside of Experimental Gameplay.
1.17.0			beta 1.16.230.54				The structure placement block now has placement animation options similar to /structure command.
1.17.30			beta 1.17.20.21				Added corner mode to structure blocks.
1.21.130			Preview 1.21.130.20				It is no longer possible to export structures on unsupported platforms, including mobile.
26.70			Preview 26.70.20				Added a Keep Structure Voids toggle which keeps structure voids upon loading a structure.

Legacy Console Edition

Data history

Issues

Issues relating to "Structure Block" are maintained on the bug tracker. Issues should be reported and viewed there.

Gallery

Textures

• 
  Comparison of Java Edition 1.9 and Java Edition 1.10 blank structure block textures.

Screenshots

• 
  Selecting a tree on an island using Save and Corner structure blocks.
• 
  Preparing to load the saved tree structure into an empty sunflower plains.
• 
  Structure loaded.
• 
  A structure block showing invisible blocks.

Development images

• 
  The first image of the then-mysterious structure block, as posted by Michael Stoyke.
• 
  Another cryptic image by Searge; the structure block can be seen in the center of the image, as well as the hotbar.
• 
  The previous image, brightened for clarity.
• 
  Yet another of the cryptic images posted by Searge; note the structure block in the hotbar and several in the upper-right corner.
• 
  The secret message uncovered in the previous image with the use of an image-editing program.
• 
  Another mystery image.
• 
  Yet another mystery image.
• 
  The mystery images in sequence.
• 
  A "side quest" mystery image.
• 
  Highlighting of the end city structures.
• 
  The structure block on the data mode in 1.9.
• 
  The interface in 1.9.
• 
  Highlighting of end city structures in save mode.
• 
  Highlighting of structures.
• 
  Teaser screenshot of the 1.10 structure block textures.
• 
  An image, tweeted by ProfMobius, of a structure block generating a fossil-like structure made of quartz.
• 
  The UIs of different structure block types.

See also

• Jigsaw block

Notes

References

External links

• "Get some structure (blocks) in your life" by Tom Stone – Minecraft.net, May 5, 2019.