How to make an End Portal in Minecraft

This Minecraft tutorial explains how to make an End Portal with screenshots and step-by-step instructions.

In Minecraft, an End Portal acts as a doorway from the Overworld to the End dimension. There are 2 ways to make an End Portal, you can either build the frame yourself or you can find a frame already assembled in a Stronghold. Let's explore both ways.

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Required Materials to make an End Portal

In Minecraft, these are the materials you can use to craft an End Portal:

TIP: The End Portal Frames are only needed if you are building the frame of the End Portal yourself!

How to build an End Portal from Scratch

The quickest way to travel to the End dimension is to build your own End Portal using 12 end portal frames and 12 Eyes of Ender. Let's show you how.

The End Portal must be built standing in one spot and placing the portal frames in a circle around you. This ensures that the Eyes of Ender will be facing the correct direction to activate the portal.

1. Build the Frame

You can start by building the frame for your End Portal using 12 end portal frames. Place 3 end portal frames to make the first side of the portal.

how to make an end portal

Next, pivot to the right and place 3 more end portal frames to make the second side of the portal. Be sure that the green tabs on the top of the end portal frames are pointed towards the inside of the portal.

how to make an end portal

Next, pivot to the right again and place 3 more end portal frames to make the third side of the portal. Again, make sure that the green tabs on the top of the end portal frames are pointed towards the inside of the portal.

how to make an end portal

Finally, pivot to the right and place the last 3 end portal frames to complete the frame of the End portal.

how to make an end portal

The pattern of the end portal frames must look exactly like the picture above.

WARNING: If all of the green tabs on the end portal frames are not pointing inwards, the End Portal will not activate in the next step.

2. Complete the End Portal by adding the Eye of Ender

To finish the End Portal, you will need to add the 12 Eyes of Ender. While standing in the center of the portal, place the Eyes of Ender inside each of the end portal frame blocks.

At this point, we have added 11 of the Eyes of Ender. Be careful not to add the 12th Eye of Ender while you are standing in the center of the portal. Doing so will activate the portal and you will fall into the portal sending you to the End dimension!

how to make an end portal

To add the last Eye of Ender, step outside of the portal or fly a bit above the portal and add the last Eye of Ender.

WARNING: All Eyes of Ender must face the same direction towards the center of the portal for the End Portal to activate.

The End Portal will now activate. You can go to the End dimension and battle the Ender Dragon! This is a very quick way to find your way to the End.

End Portal in Java Edition (PC/Mac)

The following is what the End Portal will look like in Minecraft Java Edition (PC/Mac):

how to make an end portal

End Portal in Bedrock Edition

The following is what the End Portal will look like in Minecraft Bedrock Edition:

how to make an end portal in pe

Please note that in Minecraft Bedrock Edition, the white dot on the Eye of Ender should face inward toward the center of the portal. This is opposite to how it faces on Minecraft Java Edition (PC/Mac).

How to complete an End Portal found in a Stronghold

If you prefer the more traditional way, you can look for a portal frame already assembled in a Stronghold. With this method, you will need at least 10 Eyes of Ender to find the Stronghold and activate the portal.

1. Find the Stronghold

In Minecraft, you will first use an Eye of Ender to find the Stronghold in your world. To do this, you need to select the Eye of Ender in your hotbar and then throw it into the air to see which direction it goes.

The game control to throw the Eye of Ender depends on the version of Minecraft:

  • For Java Edition (PC/Mac), right click to throw the Eye of Ender.
  • For Pocket Edition (PE), tap where you want to throw the Eye of Ender.
  • For PS3 and PS4, press the L2 button on the PS controller.
  • For Xbox 360 and Xbox One, press the LT button on the Xbox controller.
  • For Windows 10 Edition, right click to throw the Eye of Ender.
  • For Wii U, press the ZL button on the gamepad.
  • For Nintendo Switch, press the ZL button on the controller.
  • For Education Edition, right click to throw the Eye of Ender.

how to make an end portal

You will see the Eye of Ender float up into the air, hover, and then drop to the ground. This is the direction that you need to go. If the Eye of Ender did not break, you can pick it up and throw it again.

TIP: If you are in Creative mode, it is easiest to fly up in the air to get a better look at where the Eye of Ender is leading you.

Continue to throw the Eye of Ender into the air until it hovers over one spot. This is the location of your Stronghold.

how to make an end portal

Start digging straight down at this location.

how to make an end portal

Once you find the Stronghold, you will need to travel through the hallways searching for the frame of the End Portal. Chances are, you will not find it directly where you dig down, so it may take some time and patience.

how to make an end portal

Start searching through the Stronghold. While you are looking around, you find chests filled with treasures and eventually you will find the End Portal that has not been activated yet.

2. Complete the End Portal by adding the Eye of Ender

how to make an end portal

The End Portal will have 12 blocks where Eyes of Ender need to be placed. There should already be 1 or 2 of the Eyes of Ender placed for you, so you only need to add the other 10-11 Eyes of Ender to complete the end portal.

how to make an end portal

Once you place the Eyes of Ender, the portal will activate. Now, you can go through the end portal to get to the End.

What's Next?