Introduction to Structure Blocks (2024)

Structure blocks are used in Minecraft: Bedrock Edition to save and load blocks that may or may not be arranged in the form of a structure. They can be useful both as building tools and for gameplay animations. You can only edit a structure block in creative mode and they are unbreakable in survival mode and adventure mode.

Like command blocks, you obtain them by using the /give command in the chat.

In this guide, you will learn some of the basic workflows when working with structure blocks. You will learn:

There are four structure block modes in Minecraft: Bedrock Edition:

• Save – Used to save a building into a structure block's memory
• Load – Used to load a building from a structure block's memory
• Corner - Can be used to save a specific section of a structure into memory, using two blocks to define either side of the inner cube that will be saved.
• 3D Export – Exports a .glb model that can be used to 3d print a model.

Save Mode

Let's start with saving a structure into a structure block's memory. This example shows how to use the statue in the structure blocks sample and save it under a new name.

1. Start in creative mode with a structure (or some chunk of the ground you particularly like).
2. Open the chat using the " / " key and give yourself a structure block by typing /give @s structure_block.
3. Right click the structure block.
4. Input the following information about the structure you are saving:
   • Structure Name: Input a name for the structure that will be used to load it later.
     • Make this memorable and (we advise) short.
     • Use only lowercase letters, numbers, underscores, and hyphens in the name.
     • Structures can use a namespace, which could be the name of your team or product. The default namespace is mystructure. The "minecraft" namespace is reserved for vanilla resources, so you should only use "minecraft" if you are overwriting vanilla content.
   • Structure Size: Enter X Y Z coordinates to capture the dimensions of the structure. The maximum values are 64 blocks x 384 blocks x 64 blocks.
   • Relative Position: Select portions of the structure starting the input away from the structure block. A wireframe will appear when you input numbers into the XYZ box.
   • Detect structure size and position: Use corner mode to detect the structure's size and position. This is used in place of Structure Size and Relative Position.
   • Remove Blocks: Removes all blocks and only captures the entities within the structure block.
   • Waterlog Blocks - Allows all blocks in a structure to be properly waterlogged when being placed under water.
   • Include entities – Saves any entities like animals or mobs that may be present in the bounding box.
   • Redstone save mode – Save in memory or Save to disk.
     • Save in Memory is faster, but doesn't permanently save a structure. This is the more common way to save.
     • Save to Disk is slower, but saves the structure to be used in different play sessions.
5. Select Save.

Great! Our structure is saved. Let's use a new structure block to load it into a different location, perhaps by a lovely waterfall.

Load Mode

To load a structure, start by placing a structure block and put it in 'Load' mode.

Notice the Import button. This button allows you to import a .mcstructure file from anywhere on your computer into your Minecraft world.

When you click the Import button, a file picker opens that allows you to choose the file you would like to import into your world.

After you have chosen a file, the structure block will then fill out all of the necessary information about the structure into the structure block itself, and ready the structure to load.

For this example, mystructure:1 was chosen, and the structure block's name and bounds were automatically updated to reflect the information in the .mcstructure file.

When a structure is successfully loaded, you will see a message in the structure block UI telling you the structure has been successfully imported.

After the structure is imported, and the structure block UI looks similar to the UI above, the structure can be loaded into the world.

This is what it will look like when the Load button is clicked:

Here are some other important notes about importing a structure:

• The import button is limited to the windows version of the game (much like the export button).

• You can import multiple different structures into a world with the Import button.

• The structure will be saved to the world once it is loaded into it by clicking the 'Load' button.

• You can only import structures to a world if you are the host of the world. If you are a guest in someone else's world, the import will fail.

Corner Mode

Corner mode makes it simpler to select a structure by surrounding the structure and then selecting the volume within the corner mode structure blocks. You can use two or more structure blocks to define a shape that encapsulates the blocks you wish to save.

1. Place a structure block in corner mode outside of one of the structure's sides. Remember the name you use to save it.
2. Place another structure block in corner mode on the opposite side of the structure with the same name.
3. Place a third structure block and select Save Mode.
4. Enter the name used in the two corner mode structure blocks.
5. Then Detect the sizing in save mode. All blocks must have the same name and have at least 1 block between them to detect the structure.

3D Export Mode

Export mode can be used to create a .glb file that will be usable in behavior packs or a file that can be used to 3D print a Minecraft structure.

To export a 3D file, follow these steps:

1. Structure Name: Enter a name for the structure using only lowercase characters.
2. Relative Position: Select the origin of the structure outline. You can select portions into the ground.
3. Structure size: set distance from relative position to build that cube in space in Minecraft.
4. Remove blocks: Don't use inner blocks.

• This is what you'd choose for a 3D printed item or when creating 3D visuals in the classroom.

What's Next?

Now we have seen a behavior pack in action, you can learn more about how they work and what else you can do with them. Use structure blocks to save and load structures, learn the /structure command, and even learn a simple animation using a command block in the tutorial.

To see examples of structures, check out the Minecraft Structure Blocks Behavior Pack Samples.