Compass

By Luis Joshua Gutierrez , Samuel Heaney , Dan Hammill

Updated: Dec 24, 2021 2:17am UTC

A Compass is a multipurpose tool in Minecraft and is primarily used for navigating to certain areas and is also used to craft other items. So if you’re looking for the recipe on how to make a Compass, what they do, the different kinds of compasses, and what you can craft with one, we have you covered in our Compass Guide below.

Looking for something more specific? Be sure to click these links to jump ahead.

What is a Compass and What Does It Do in Minecraft

A compass is used to direct players. It’ll either lead you to your very spawn point when you first loaded into the world or a Lodestone if you tamper with it. Compasses can also be used to craft other useful items in-game. But if you take a normal compass to the Nether or The End it’ll just spin around and be useless.

How to Make a Compass

To make a compass you’re going to need a few other items first. Listed below are all the items you will need to craft a Compass, as well as a screenshot demonstrating the recipe placement.

Iron Ingots: 4
Redstone Dust: 1

How to Use a Lodestone Compass

To make a Lodestone Compass you’re going to need to find a Lodestone first. After you find it take your compass and right-click it or press the left trigger to make it a Lodestone Compass.

Making a Lodestone Compass is particularly helpful when in the Nether or The End. Because the compass will always point to the Lodestone no matter what, so if you get lost in either one of these dimensions, it’s a good way to lead you back to the portal home.

Where to Find a Compass

Compasses can be found all throughout the world in Minecraft. Listed below are the locations that are known to have compasses and the chances of finding one for both Bedrock and Java.
Bedrock

Shipwreck

Map Chest: 1 (7.7%)

Stronghold

Library Chest: 1 (10.5%)

Village

Cartographer's Chest: 1 (26.3%)

Java

Shipwreck

Map Chest: 1 (7.7%)

Stronghold

Library Chest: 1 (10.9%)

Village

Cartographer's Chest: 1 (26.3%)

To learn more about the different types of Biomes that are available to find across Minecraft, be sure to check out our Biomes guide for more details.

What to Craft With a Compass

Compasses can also be used to craft other items, they're the key ingredient in making a map.

Now that you've learned what a compass can make, why not check out our How to Make a Map guide that details everything you need to know about making a map in Minecraft.