How To Make And Expand A Map In Minecraft - WikiHow

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Terms of Use wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Learn why people trust wikiHow The Ultimate Guide to Making a Map in Minecraft PDF download Download Article Written by Cory Stillman

Last Updated: October 31, 2025 Fact Checked

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  • Creating a Map
    • |
  • Using the Map
    • |
  • Expanding the Map
    • |
  • Video
    • |
  • Q&A
    • |
  • Tips
    • |
  • Warnings
|Show more |Show less X

This article was co-authored by wikiHow staff writer, Cory Stillman. Cory Stillman is a Technology Writer for wikiHow. Cory has experience writing about Film and TV for several online publications, including Screen Rant and Film Cred. He earned a degree in Film and Media Studies with a minor in Creative Writing and certificates in Global Studies and Children’s Literature from the University of Pittsburgh. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 1,099,541 times. Learn more...

Having a map handy in Minecraft can be a game-changer when you’re playing in multiplayer or survival mode. Fortunately, crafting a map is rather easy. And you can even choose to expand your map once you have crafted it! This wikiHow article will walk you through exactly what you need to do to make, use, and expand a map in Minecraft, including what resources you’ll need and how to combine them to make your map.

The Best Way to Create a Map in Minecraft

Craft 1 compass and 9 pieces of paper. To make the map, move the compass to the center of the crafting grid and fill the surrounding squares with the pieces of paper. Fill in the map by equipping it and moving around the world.

Steps

Part 1 Part 1 of 3:

Creating a Map

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  1. Step 1 Make sure that... 1 Make sure that you have a crafting table and a furnace. You'll need the crafting table to create the map and its components, while you'll use the furnace in order to create parts for the compass that accompanies the map.[1]
    • If you're in creative mode, type map on search bar.
  2. Step 2 Gather resources. 2 Gather resources. In order to create a map, you'll need the following items:
    • Sugar Canes - You'll need 9 of these. Sugar Canes are light-green stalks that usually grow near water.
    • Iron ore - You'll need 4 of these. Iron ore resembles a grey block with orange flecks on it. Make sure to mine iron ore with at least a stone pickaxe.
    • Redstone - You'll need one pile of Redstone. You can find Redstone starting at layer 16 and working down, so you'll likely need to dig quite far down to find Redstone. It resembles grey rock with glowing red freckles.
    • Fuel - Anything that burns will do. You can gather 4 blocks of wood, or one block of something like charcoal or coal.
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  3. Step 3 Open the furnace. 3 Open the furnace. Right-click (computer), left-trigger (console), or tap (mobile) the furnace to open it.
  4. Step 4 Smelt iron ingots. 4 Smelt iron ingots. Add your iron ore to the top box in the furnace interface, then add the fuel to the bottom box in the interface. The furnace will automatically begin running.
  5. Step 5 Move the iron bars into your inventory. 5 Move the iron bars into your inventory. Select the iron bars, then select an empty space in your inventory.
    • On mobile versions of Minecraft, tapping an item will move it straight into your inventory.
    • On console editions of Minecraft, selecting an item and then pressing Y or triangle will move the item straight into your inventory.
  6. Step 6 Open the crafting table. 6 Open the crafting table. Select the crafting table to do so.
  7. Step 7 Create a compass.... 7 Create a compass. Place the Redstone pile in the center square of the crafting grid, then place an iron bar in the top-middle, bottom-middle, left-middle, and right-middle squares. You should see a compass icon appear.
    • On mobile, tap the sword-shaped "Equipment" tab on the left side of the screen, then tap the compass-shaped icon.
    • On console editions, select the "Equipment" tab, find the compass icon, and press A (Xbox) or X (PS).
  8. Step 8 Move the compass into your inventory. 8 Move the compass into your inventory. Select the compass, then select your inventory.[2]
  9. Step 9 Create nine pieces of paper. 9 Create nine pieces of paper. To do so, place three Sugar Canes in the bottom-left crafting square, three in the bottom-middle square, and three in the bottom-right square.[3]
    • On mobile, tap the bed-shaped "Items" icon on the left side of the screen, then tap the white paper-shaped icon.
    • On console editions, select the "Items" tab, select the paper-shaped icon, and press A or X.
  10. Step 10 Move the paper into your inventory. 10 Move the paper into your inventory.
  11. Step 11 Create your map. 11 Create your map. Place the compass in the center square of the crafting grid, then place one piece of paper in each of the remaining empty squares (8 pieces total). You should see a tan piece of paper appear; this is the map icon.[4]
    • On mobile, tap the "Equipment" tab, then select the map icon.
    • On consoles, select the "Equipment" tab, select the map icon, and press A or X.
  12. Step 12 Move the map into your inventory. 12 Move the map into your inventory. Now that you've created your map, you can begin filling it up.
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Part 2 Part 2 of 3:

Using the Map

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  1. Step 1 Equip your map. 1 Equip your map. Select it in the equip bar at the bottom of the screen to do so. The map will be blank when you first create it, but you can fill it by moving around the world while holding it.
    • The map will not fill itself unless you are holding it as your active item while moving through the world.
    • Keep in mind that you cannot use your own map to search for treasure in Minecraft. To find gold, look for a treasure map.
  2. Step 2 Bring up the map view. 2 Bring up the map view. Press the right mouse button or the left trigger, or tap and hold the screen (mobile). You should see the map open.
    • On mobile, you can also tap Create Map if you see this option at the bottom of the screen.
    • It may take a few moments for the map to fill the first time you use it.
    • Your map will begin filling in the direction you are currently looking. North will always be at the top of the map.
  3. Step 3 Walk around while using the map. 3 Walk around while using the map. You'll see the world begin to appear on your map from a top-down perspective. The first map you create is a 1:1 representation of the world, so each pixel on the map represents a single block in the world.
    • As you walk while using the map, you'll see the edges of the map start to fill with data.
    • Your initial map will only fill when the space is taken up. Maps do not scroll to show more space, so you'll need to expand your map to see more.
  4. Step 4 Find your player indicator. 4 Find your player indicator. Your location will be noted by a white oval on the map.
    • If you constructed your map without a compass (Bedrock Edition only), there will be no indicator.
  5. Step 5 Mark locations on your map. 5 Mark locations on your map. In the original edition of the game, you can place your map on any banners you find or create. Those banners will then remain marked on your map moving forward. You can also rename these banners to better identify their location.
    • Create a banner at a Crafting Table using 6 Wool and 1 Stick.[5]
    • Marked banners will remain on your map even after the banner has been destroyed, until you next arrive in that area for the map to update and reflect the banner's destruction.
    • In Bedrock Edition, mount your map inside an item frame to do the same.
    • Reader Poll: We asked 182 wikiHow readers what color of wool in Minecraft is their favorite, and 53% of them said blue. [Take Poll]
  6. Step 6 Clone... 6 Clone your map. Craft another empty map and place it in the top left corner of your inventory. Place the map you wish to copy in the bottom left corner, and you will see a new copy of this map appear on the right side. You can now drag that new map into your inventory.[6]
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Part 3 Part 3 of 3:

Expanding the Map

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  1. Step 1 Understand how expanding works. 1 Understand how expanding works. The first time you make a map, it's a set size; you can increase the size of the map up to four times (doubling it each time), allowing for a more comprehensive map of the world.
    • You cannot expand a map in the Legacy Console versions of Minecraft. This is the version of Minecraft that was originally released for the Xbox 360/One and the PlayStation 3/4.
  2. Step 2 Craft more paper if necessary. 2 Craft more paper if necessary. You'll need eight pieces of paper for each zoom level (up to 32 pieces total). If you don't have at least 8 pieces of paper, craft more before proceeding.[7]
  3. Step 3 Open your crafting table. 3 Open your crafting table. Select the crafting table to do so.[8]
    • If you're using Minecraft on mobile, you'll need an anvil for this step instead.
  4. Step 4 Place your map in the middle. 4 Place your map in the middle. Click your map, then click the center square in the crafting grid.[9]
    • On mobile, tap the left-most square on the anvil's interface, then tap your map.
  5. Step 5 Surround the map with paper. 5 Surround the map with paper. Click your stack of paper, then right-click each empty space around the map at least once.
    • On mobile, tap the middle square in the interface, then tap your paper.
  6. Step 6 Move the resulting map into your inventory. 6 Move the resulting map into your inventory. You should see a yellow map icon appear to the right of the crafting interface; click it, then click your inventory.[10]
    • If you added two or more pieces of paper to each crafting square, you can add back the map to create another zoomed-out version.
    • On mobile, tap the resulting map in the far-right box to move it into your inventory.
  7. Step 7 Repeat this process up to three more times. 7 Repeat this process up to three more times. By placing the zoomed-out map back in the center of the crafting grid and surrounding it with paper again, you can zoom out your map once again. This process can be repeated up to three times after the initial expansion.
  8. Step 8 Use the map... 8 Use the map to document more of the world. By equipping the map and walking around with it, you'll be able to add the world's landmarks to the map.
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Community Q&A

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  • Question Why are the maps numbered? Community Answer Community Answer So you don't have to go through all the maps looking for a specific one. Another thing to do would be adding an anvil with a name tag; this way, you can find the exact map you need. 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 30 Helpful 83
  • Question How do I add different locations on a map without another player? PeacheePinkee PeacheePinkee Community Answer You have to travel around to expand the map. If you don't want to travel, there is no way. 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 32 Helpful 40
  • Question How do I hold the map with two hands on Minecraft PC using a mobile phone? Community Answer Community Answer Just holding the map should cause your player to use two hands, even on mobile. 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 24 Helpful 40
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Video

Tips

  • You can also find maps in a Cartographer's chest, located inside villages.[11] Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
  • If you make a map in the Nether, it will be black. Start the map at your portal though, and the portal will be in the middle of the map. You can use your icon's position to work out roughly where you are relative to the portal. Thanks Helpful 5 Not Helpful 2
  • You can only use maps in the Overworld. They do not work in The Nether or The End. Thanks Helpful 5 Not Helpful 3
Show More Tips

Tips from our Readers

The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.
  • Clone your map and put it away for safekeeping before you do serious map exploring. If you go far away, this prevents you from losing your work.
  • Building a big house or a house in a location that stands out can help you locate it more easily.
Submit a Tip All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published Name Please provide your name and last initial Submit Thanks for submitting a tip for review! Advertisement

Warnings

  • If you're killed by a mob (or you die from other causes), your map will drop along with the rest of your inventory. Always be extremely cautious when documenting your world. Thanks Helpful 13 Not Helpful 5
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References

  1. ↑ https://www.digminecraft.com/basic_recipes/make_map.php
  2. ↑ https://www.digminecraft.com/basic_recipes/make_map.php
  3. ↑ https://www.digminecraft.com/basic_recipes/make_map.php
  4. ↑ https://www.digminecraft.com/basic_recipes/make_map.php
  5. ↑ https://minecraft.fandom.com/wiki/Map#Marking_points
  6. ↑ https://www.gamespecifications.com/copy-a-map-minecraft/
  7. ↑ https://www.minecraft.net/en-us/article/paper
  8. ↑ https://www.digminecraft.com/getting_started/cartography_table_increase_map_size.php
  9. ↑ https://www.digminecraft.com/getting_started/cartography_table_increase_map_size.php
More References (2)
  1. ↑ https://www.digminecraft.com/getting_started/cartography_table_increase_map_size.php
  2. ↑ https://www.digminecraft.com/getting_started/cartography_table_copy_map.php

About This Article

Cory Stillman Written by: Cory Stillman wikiHow Technology Writer This article was co-authored by wikiHow staff writer, Cory Stillman. Cory Stillman is a Technology Writer for wikiHow. Cory has experience writing about Film and TV for several online publications, including Screen Rant and Film Cred. He earned a degree in Film and Media Studies with a minor in Creative Writing and certificates in Global Studies and Children’s Literature from the University of Pittsburgh. This article has been viewed 1,099,541 times. 25 votes - 74% Co-authors: 40 Updated: October 31, 2025 Views: 1,099,541 Categories: Minecraft Crafting Article SummaryX

To make a map in Minecraft, make sure you have a crafting table, furnace, 9 sugar canes, 4 iron ore, 1 pile of redstone, and 4 blocks of wood or 1 block of charcoal or coal to use as fuel. Smelt your iron ore in the furnace, and create a compass on the crafting table with the redstone and iron. Then, add the sugar cane to the table to make 9 pieces of paper. Once you have the resources made, place the compass in the center of the crafting table and place one piece of paper in each of the remaining empty squares. A tan map will appear to add to your inventory! If you want to learn how to use the map or expand it so it's larger, keep reading! Did this summary help you?YesNo

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Yes No Advertisement Cookies make wikiHow better. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Cory Stillman Written by: Cory Stillman wikiHow Technology Writer 25 votes - 74% Click a star to vote Co-authors: 40 Updated: October 31, 2025 Views: 1,099,541

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