How To Make A Compass In Minecraft: 5 Steps (with Pictures)

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Terms of Use wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Learn why people trust wikiHow How to Make a Compass in Minecraft PDF download Download Article Author Info

Last Updated: August 7, 2025

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  • Sourcing the Materials
    • |
  • Making the Compass
    • |
  • Crafting with the Compass
    • |
  • Video
    • |
  • Q&A
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  • Tips
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  • Things You'll Need
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wikiHow is a “wiki,” similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. To create this article, 10 people, some anonymous, worked to edit and improve it over time. This article has been viewed 170,759 times. Learn more...

A compass is used in Minecraft to direct the player to his or her original spawn point. It will point wherever it is, be it in a chest, on the floor, in your inventory or in the character's hand. However, it won't work when in The Nether or The End worlds. Here is how to make one.

Steps

Part 1 Part 1 of 3:

Sourcing the Materials

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  1. Step 1 Obtain four iron ingots and one redstone. 1 Obtain four iron ingots and one redstone.
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Part 2 Part 2 of 3:

Making the Compass

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  1. Step 1 Consider whether you even need to make the compass first. 1 Consider whether you even need to make the compass first. If you're low on iron ingots and/or redstone, you can save them by simply looking at the compass pointer when the items are placed in the crafting table but then not activating the crafting.
    • Note that you can also see the compass on the item statistics page if you've made a compass in the past. This means you can see the direction pointer without having to even use the crafting table.
    • If you need a compass to make map paper, you'll need to craft it.
  2. Step 2 Craft a compass. 2 Craft a compass. Place the four iron ingots and one redstone into the crafting table as follows:
    • Place the redstone in the center grid spot.
    • Place the four iron ingots above, below and next to the redstone.
    • Wait for the compass to be crafted.
    • Shift click or drag the compass to your inventory.
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Part 3 Part 3 of 3:

Crafting with the Compass

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  1. Step 1 Make a map. 1 Make a map. To make a map using a compass, surround the compass with paper.
    • Go to the crafting grid and place the compass in the center.
    • Place paper in all of the other empty slots.
  2. Step 2 Craft the map. 2 Craft the map. Shift click or drag to place the map into your inventory.
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Community Q&A

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  • Question How do I use the compass? Community Answer Community Answer Click it as if you were to eat it, and it will point you home. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 9 Helpful 29
  • Question What's the point of having a compass? Stephz16 Stephz16 Community Answer It directs you to your spawn point. If you've set up home at your spawn point, or set your spawn point to home, it will take you home. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 6 Helpful 33
  • Question I put the 8 pieces of paper and compass on the crafting table, but it's not showing that it made a map. Anyone know why this might happen? Gaming_Online Gaming_Online Community Answer The compass needs to go in the very middle, and the paper has to surround it. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 12 Helpful 15
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Video

Tips

  • Compasses cannot be stacked. It's not likely that you'll need more than one at any time. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
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Things You'll Need

  • Minecraft game, installed
  • Redstone
  • Iron
  • A computer/laptop

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References

  1. Cross checked against Minecraft Wiki, http://www.minecraftwiki.net/wiki/Compass

About This Article

wikiHow is a “wiki,” similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. To create this article, 10 people, some anonymous, worked to edit and improve it over time. This article has been viewed 170,759 times. 4 votes - 100% Co-authors: 10 Updated: August 7, 2025 Views: 170,759 Categories: Minecraft Crafting In other languages Italian Spanish Chinese Russian French Indonesian Japanese
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Co-authors: 10 Updated: August 7, 2025 Views: 170,759 100% of readers found this article helpful. 4 votes - 100% Click a star to add your vote

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