You need 12 End Portal Frames and 12 Eyes of Ender to complete a portal

An End Portal is a frame structure that opens a gateway to the End dimension, where you fight the Ender Dragon. You cannot craft the frames themselves — you have to find them in Strongholds, which are underground structures buried deep beneath your world. Once you locate a Stronghold and gather the frames, you place them in a specific pattern and insert Eyes of Ender into each one to activate the portal.

The process takes time because Strongholds are rare and Eyes of Ender require materials you may not have yet. But the route is straightforward: find the Stronghold, collect the frames, craft the Eyes, and assemble the portal in the correct formation.

Key Takeaways

  • End Portal Frames are only found inside Strongholds — you cannot craft or obtain them any other way in Survival mode.
  • You need Eyes of Ender to activate the portal, which you make by combining Ender Pearls (dropped by Endermen) with Blaze Powder (from Blazes in the Nether).
  • The portal frames must be placed in a 3×3 square with the center block empty, and each frame must face inward toward that center.
  • Finding a Stronghold requires throwing Eyes of Ender, which fly toward the nearest Stronghold and show you the direction to dig.

Locating a Stronghold using Eyes of Ender

Before you can collect End Portal Frames, you need to find a Stronghold. The only way to do this is with Eyes of Ender. Craft one Eye of Ender by combining an Ender Pearl with Blaze Powder in your crafting table — the Ender Pearl goes in the center and the Blaze Powder goes to the left of it. When you throw an Eye of Ender (right-click while holding it), it flies upward and moves toward the nearest Stronghold, then falls to the ground after traveling about 20 to 40 blocks.

Follow the Eye, pick it up, and throw it again. Repeat this process multiple times — you will be moving in the direction of the Stronghold with each throw. The Eye will eventually fly downward, which means the Stronghold entrance is directly below you. Start digging down carefully at that spot. Eyes of Ender break sometimes when they land, so bring extra materials to craft more if needed.

Strongholds are large structures with multiple rooms, corridors, and a central area containing the End Portal Frame. The portal room is usually deep inside, so explore thoroughly once you break through to the underground structure.

Collecting the 12 End Portal Frames from the Stronghold

Once inside the Stronghold, search for the portal room — it is a large chamber with a 3×3 grid of End Portal Frames already placed in the floor or on a platform. These frames are already positioned correctly; you do not need to move them. However, if the frames are not already there or if you want to move them, you can break them with any tool and collect them as blocks.

You need all 12 frames to complete the portal. If the Stronghold you found does not have all 12 frames in place, you may need to find another Stronghold or check if some frames are in adjacent rooms. Each Stronghold contains at least one complete portal frame set, so one Stronghold is usually enough.

Bring a pickaxe to break the frames quickly. The frames do not require a specific tool type, so any pickaxe works. Once you have collected all 12 frames, you can either reassemble them in the same location or transport them elsewhere to build your portal in a more convenient spot.

Crafting Eyes of Ender for activation

You need 12 Eyes of Ender — one for each frame. To craft an Eye of Ender, you need an Ender Pearl and Blaze Powder. Ender Pearls drop from Endermen, which spawn in the Overworld at night or in dark areas. Blaze Powder comes from Blazes, which live in the Nether and drop Blaze Rods when killed. Craft Blaze Powder by placing a Blaze Rod in your crafting table — one rod makes two Blaze Powder.

To make one Eye of Ender, place an Ender Pearl in the center of your crafting table and Blaze Powder directly to its left. This produces one Eye. Repeat this 12 times to create enough Eyes for the full portal. If you do not have enough Ender Pearls or Blaze Powder, you will need to hunt more Endermen or return to the Nether to find more Blazes.

Store your Eyes of Ender in your inventory or a chest near the portal location. Do not throw them until you are ready to activate the portal, because thrown Eyes can break and you will lose the materials.

Placing the frames in the correct 3×3 pattern

The End Portal Frame must be arranged in a hollow 3×3 square — that is, 12 frames around the outside with the center block empty. Each frame must face inward, meaning the decorative top part of the frame points toward the center of the square. When you place a frame, it automatically faces the direction you are looking, so position yourself outside the square and place each frame facing inward.

Here is the layout: imagine a 3×3 grid of blocks. Place frames on all 8 outer blocks and skip the center. The frames on the corners and edges all point toward that empty center space. If a frame is facing the wrong direction, break it and place it again while standing in a different position.

You can build this portal anywhere — in the Stronghold itself, back at your base, or in a prepared area. The location does not matter as long as the frames are in the correct pattern and facing inward. Make sure the center block is completely empty; if there is a block in the middle, the portal will not activate.

Inserting Eyes of Ender to activate the portal

Once all 12 frames are placed correctly, stand near the portal and right-click on each frame with an Eye of Ender in your hand. Each frame will consume one Eye and display a glowing effect. After you insert all 12 Eyes, the center of the portal will fill with a dark, swirling texture — this is the active End Portal. Walk into the center to enter the End dimension.

If the portal does not activate after you insert all 12 Eyes, check that every frame is facing inward and that the center block is empty. A single frame facing the wrong direction will prevent activation. If you need to fix it, break the misaligned frame and replace it.

Once you enter the End, you will spawn on a small island with the Ender Dragon flying overhead. This is the final boss fight. Defeating the dragon closes the End dimension and returns you to the Overworld, completing the main objective of the game.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I build an End Portal in Creative mode?

Yes. In Creative mode, you can place End Portal Frames directly from your inventory without finding a Stronghold. The frames work the same way — arrange them in a 3×3 square facing inward, then insert Eyes of Ender to activate. This is useful for testing or building without the survival grind.

What happens if I lose an Eye of Ender before placing it?

You will need to craft another one. Gather more Ender Pearls from Endermen and more Blaze Powder from the Nether, then combine them again. Eyes of Ender can break when thrown, so always craft extras before you start the activation process.

Do I have to fight the Ender Dragon?

No. Entering the End is optional. You can build the portal and choose not to go through it. However, defeating the Ender Dragon is considered the main ending of Minecraft Survival mode, and it unlocks the end credits sequence.

Can I reuse the same End Portal to go back and forth?

Yes. Once activated, the portal stays active and you can use it repeatedly. The Eyes of Ender are consumed during activation, but the frames remain. You can enter and exit the End as many times as you want through the same portal.

What if I cannot find a Stronghold?

Keep throwing Eyes of Ender and following them. Strongholds are always present in the world, but they can be far away. If you are having trouble, try throwing Eyes from different locations — sometimes one direction leads faster than another. You can also use the /locate command in Java Edition to find coordinates, or explore caves and mineshafts to stumble upon a Stronghold entrance.