In Minecraft, portals are the only way to move between the Overworld, the Nether, and the End. Without them, you can’t reach the Ender Dragon or use the Nether for fast travel. Many players struggle with building portals because the frames must be exact, and the wrong block can break the whole build. This guide shows you how to make both the Nether Portal and the End Portal, explains their differences, and gives you fixes if something goes wrong.
What Are Portals in Minecraft?
Portals are structures made from special blocks that connect different dimensions. The two main ones are the Nether Portal and the End Portal.
The Nether Portal takes you to the Nether, a fiery dimension filled with hostile mobs, lava, and valuable resources like quartz, blaze rods, and ancient debris. The End Portal leads to the End, where you fight the Ender Dragon. Both portals are part of the game’s core progress system, so learning how to build them is a must.
How to Make a Nether Portal in Minecraft?
The Nether Portal is the most common portal players build. It uses obsidian blocks and a flint and steel to light the frame.
Steps to build it:
- Mine obsidian with a diamond or netherite pickaxe. You need at least 10 blocks.
- Build a rectangle standing upright. The smallest size is 4 blocks tall and 5 blocks wide, using 10 obsidian in total if you leave out the corners.
- If you want, you can make larger frames, up to 23 by 23 blocks.
- Hold flint and steel and right-click (Java) or tap (Bedrock) on one of the bottom blocks to ignite.
- A purple, swirling field will appear inside the frame — that means it’s active.
Once lit, the portal transports you to the Nether. Stepping back through it takes you home.
How to Make an End Portal in Minecraft?
The End Portal works differently from the Nether Portal. In Survival Mode, you can’t build it from scratch. Instead, you must find a stronghold using Eyes of Ender, then locate the End Portal room inside. In Creative Mode, you can build it anywhere with End Portal Frames.
Steps in Creative Mode:
- Place 12 End Portal Frame blocks in a three by 3 square, leaving the middle empty.
- Make sure you stand inside the frame when placing them — orientation matters.
- Insert an Eye of Ender into each frame block.
- When all 12 are filled, the portal activates, showing a starry black surface.
In Survival, players need to:
- Craft Eyes of Ender with blaze powder and ender pearls.
- Throw them to locate a stronghold.
- Place missing Eyes into the stronghold’s portal frames until it activates.
Differences Between Java and Bedrock Portals in Minecraft
Players often notice slight differences between Java Edition and Bedrock Edition when building portals. In Java, the orientation of the End Portal frame is important, which means you usually need to stand inside the frame while placing blocks for it to work correctly. Bedrock Edition is a bit more forgiving and sometimes allows portal frames to function even if they are placed differently. Nether Portal mechanics also vary slightly, especially when linking multiple portals for travel.
The distance covered in the Nether compared to the Overworld can shift depending on which edition you are playing. Knowing these edition-specific rules makes it easier to avoid mistakes and saves time when setting up portals.
Common Problems and Fixes While Making Portals in Minecraft
Building portals can fail if you miss a single detail. Here are common issues:
- Nether Portal won’t light: check that the frame is obsidian only, no crying obsidian or other blocks.
- End Portal stays inactive: Eye of Ender is placed incorrectly or is missing from the frame.
- Portal size wrong: remember Nether Portals must be at least 4×5 blocks.
- Stronghold portal missing: keep searching, not all strongholds have an active End Portal.
Checking each step usually solves the problem.
Uses of Portals in Minecraft
Portals aren’t just for beating the game. They also help with strategy. In the Nether, blocks cover more distance, so players use portals for fast travel across the Overworld. Portals can also move mobs between dimensions, useful for farms or creative builds. The End Portal, of course, is the gateway to the final boss, but players also use it for farming endermen and shulker shells once the dragon is defeated.
Conclusion
Making Minecraft portals is simple once you know the steps. Nether Portals need obsidian and fire, while End Portals require frames and Eyes of Ender. Both connect you to new dimensions, new mobs, and new challenges.
If you’re stuck, recheck the frame size or block placement. Once built correctly, portals open the way to the game’s biggest adventures. Try them in your world and see how they change your journey. And if you find this guide helpful, share it with friends so they can build their own portals too.
