The Ender Portal is in a Stronghold, which you locate using Eyes of Ender

The Ender Portal is a structure you find underground in Minecraft's Overworld. It sits inside a Stronghold, a rare generated structure that contains the portal frame and the portal itself. You cannot craft or build an Ender Portal — it only appears in Strongholds that generate when the world is created.

To find a Stronghold, you craft or find Eyes of Ender and throw them into the air. Each Eye flies toward the nearest Stronghold, travels a short distance, then disappears. You follow the direction it flew, craft another Eye, and repeat until the Eyes start flying downward — that means you are directly above the Stronghold entrance.

Strongholds are always underground, sometimes very deep. You will need to dig down or find a cave system that leads to the structure. Once inside, you navigate the halls until you reach the portal room, which contains a frame of End Portal Blocks with a dark void in the center.

Key Takeaways

  • Eyes of Ender are crafted from Ender Pearls (dropped by Endermen) and Blaze Powder (found in Nether Fortresses), or found in Stronghold chests.
  • Throw an Eye of Ender and follow where it flies; it always moves toward the nearest Stronghold, even if that Stronghold is far away.
  • When Eyes start flying downward instead of forward, you are above the Stronghold entrance and need to dig down to reach it.
  • The portal room contains a frame of 12 End Portal Blocks arranged in a square; you must place an Eye of Ender in each empty block to activate the portal.

Crafting or Finding Eyes of Ender

An Eye of Ender is made from one Ender Pearl and one Blaze Powder. Ender Pearls drop when you kill Endermen, which spawn in the Overworld at night or in the End dimension. Blaze Powder comes from Blaze Rods, which drop when you kill Blazes in Nether Fortresses — you must travel to the Nether first and locate a fortress.

If you do not want to fight Blazes, you can find Eyes of Ender in Stronghold chests, though this creates a circular problem: you need Eyes to find the Stronghold, but the Stronghold contains Eyes. The most practical route is to craft them. You need at least one Eye to start the search, then more Eyes as you follow the trail — expect to throw 8 to 12 Eyes before reaching the Stronghold, depending on how far away it is.

Following Eyes of Ender to the Stronghold

Hold an Eye of Ender in your hand and right-click (or use your throw button) to send it flying. The Eye moves in a straight line toward the nearest Stronghold, travels about 40 blocks, then disappears. Mark where it disappeared or remember the direction, then craft another Eye and throw it again from that spot. Repeat this process, always throwing from where the previous Eye vanished.

Eyes of Ender can fly through blocks, so they move in a direct line even if mountains or water are in the way. You do not have to follow the exact path the Eye takes — you only need to follow the direction it flew. After several throws, the Eyes will start flying downward, which means you are standing above the Stronghold. This is when you stop throwing Eyes and start digging.

Digging Down to the Stronghold

Once Eyes are flying downward, dig straight down carefully. Strongholds can be very deep, sometimes 40 or 50 blocks below the surface. Dig in a staircase pattern rather than straight down to avoid falling into lava or a deep pit. You may also find caves that lead into the Stronghold, which is faster than digging.

As you dig, you will eventually hit stone bricks or other Stronghold blocks. These are the walls of the structure. Continue digging until you break through into a hallway or room. Once inside, you are in the Stronghold and can navigate toward the portal room.

Locating the Portal Room Inside the Stronghold

Strongholds are maze-like structures with many hallways, rooms, and dead ends. The portal room is always somewhere inside, but there is no may provide path to it. Explore the hallways and rooms, looking for the portal chamber — it is a large room with a frame of End Portal Blocks in the center, usually surrounded by lava and other hazards.

If you get lost, remember that Eyes of Ender still point toward the portal even when you are inside the Stronghold. Throw another Eye and follow it; it will lead you closer to the portal room. Some players also use the fact that Strongholds have a specific layout — certain rooms connect in patterns — but the simplest method is to explore methodically and use Eyes as a guide when stuck.

Activating the Ender Portal

The portal frame consists of 12 End Portal Blocks arranged in a 3×3 square with the center empty. Some blocks may already have Eyes of Ender in them; you only need to fill the empty ones. Right-click on each empty block with an Eye of Ender in your hand. When all 12 blocks contain Eyes, the portal activates and a dark void appears in the center.

Jumping into the void takes you to the End dimension, where the Ender Dragon waits. You cannot return through the same portal — you must defeat the dragon or find the exit portal, which appears after the dragon is defeated. Make sure you have armor, weapons, and food before jumping in.

What to Bring Before You Enter

Before jumping into the Ender Portal, bring a full set of armor (iron or better), a sword or axe, a bow with arrows, a pickaxe, blocks for building, and food to restore health. The End is a hostile dimension with the Ender Dragon, Endermen, and other dangers. You will also want a bed — placing a bed in the End and clicking it causes an explosion that damages the dragon, making the fight much faster.

Do not bring your most valuable items if you are not confident in your combat skills. If you die in the End, your items drop and you respawn in the Overworld. You can return to the End to retrieve them, but it requires finding the Stronghold again.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can there be multiple Strongholds in one world?

Yes. Most Minecraft worlds have three Strongholds, positioned in a ring around the world's center. If you find one Stronghold and it does not have a portal (rare but possible), Eyes of Ender will lead you to the next one.

What if I lose my Eyes of Ender before reaching the Stronghold?

Craft more. You need Ender Pearls and Blaze Powder, which you can farm by killing Endermen and Blazes. If you are far from a Nether Fortress, explore caves or the Nether until you find one, then return to crafting Eyes.

Do I have to fight the Ender Dragon after entering the portal?

No. You can explore the End, collect items, and leave through the exit portal without fighting the dragon. The exit portal appears after the dragon dies, but you can also find it by exploring — it is usually in a different location than where you entered.

Can I build my own Ender Portal?

No. End Portal Blocks cannot be placed by players in Survival mode. They only exist in Strongholds. In Creative mode, you can place them and activate them with Eyes of Ender, but in Survival, the Stronghold portal is your only option.