You’re standing there in a dark, damp cave, holding a handful of glowing green orbs and wondering if you’ve actually got what it takes to finish the game. It’s a classic Minecraft moment. Honestly, learning how to make the end in minecraft—or more accurately, how to find and activate the portal—is the biggest hurdle between you and that credit scroll. It isn’t just about crafting; it’s about a messy, dangerous scavenger hunt across two different dimensions.
Most people think you just "build" the portal like you do for the Nether. You don't. Unless you are in Creative Mode, you are at the mercy of world generation and some very grumpy Endermen.
The Reality of Finding the Stronghold
You can’t just slap some blocks together in Survival mode and expect a portal to appear. To "make" the End happen, you have to find a Stronghold. These are massive, sprawling underground fortresses that look like someone tried to build a castle but forgot how sunlight works. They are rare. They are buried deep.
To find one, you need Eyes of Ender. This is where the grind starts. You'll need Blaze Powder from the Nether and Ender Pearls from, well, killing Endermen. Mix them in your crafting grid. Now you have a compass that points to your destiny. When you throw an Eye of Ender, it floats toward the nearest Stronghold.
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Follow it.
Sometimes the eye shatters. That’s the game being mean. Always bring extra. You might need twenty; you might need five. It’s a gamble. Once the eye starts diving into the ground, start digging. But don't dig straight down. Never do that. You’ll probably fall into a library or, worse, a pit of silverfish.
Surviving the Silverfish Spawner
Once you find the portal room—which is usually tucked away behind iron doors or hidden down a random staircase—you’ll see the frame floating over a pool of lava. There is almost always a silverfish spawner right in front of it. These tiny bugs are the most annoying thing in the entire game. They have tiny hitboxes. They call their friends. They hide in stones.
Break the spawner. Immediately. Don't try to be a hero and "farm" them. Just smash it with a pickaxe and breathe a sigh of relief.
Activating the Portal Frame
The frame itself consists of 12 individual blocks arranged in a 3x3 square (minus the corners). In Survival, these are already placed for you. Your job is to fill the empty sockets. Each block has a slot for an Eye of Ender.
Here is the kicker: sometimes the game generates a few eyes already in the slots. Usually, it's zero or one. If you get lucky, you might see two or three. You need to place an Eye of Ender in every empty slot to "make" the End portal come alive. When the last eye clicks in, the center of the square turns into a pitch-black, starry void.
Don't jump in yet.
If you’re playing in Creative Mode, the rules change completely. You actually have to build the frame yourself. This is where a lot of players mess up and get frustrated because the portal won't "turn on." The secret is the orientation of the blocks.
- You must stand inside the center of the portal area while placing the frames.
- The "tabs" or patterns on top of the End Portal Frame blocks must face the center.
- If even one block is rotated the wrong way, the void won't appear.
It’s finicky. It’s a bit weird. But that’s how the game’s logic works.
Gear Up Before You Leap
Jumping into that black void is a one-way trip until the dragon is dead. If you aren't prepared, you’re just delivering a free loot box to the Endermen. You need a bow with Infinity or a lot of arrows. You need a diamond or netherite pickaxe to tower up those obsidian pillars.
Wait.
Bring water buckets. I cannot stress this enough. If an Enderman looks at you funny, or if the Ender Dragon knocks you into the air, a water bucket is your only hope of surviving the fall. Slow falling potions are better, but water is the classic "pro" move.
Also, beds. If you’re feeling bold, beds explode in the End. It’s a high-risk, high-reward strategy for killing the dragon quickly. Just don't accidentally blow yourself up instead.
The Mathematical Odds of a Full Portal
Every now and then, the internet loses its mind over a "seed" where the End portal is already fully filled with eyes. This is statistically insane. Each individual frame block has a 10% chance of spawning with an eye already inside. To get all 12 filled naturally, the odds are one in a trillion. Literally.
Most of us will be doing the heavy lifting ourselves.
What Most People Get Wrong About the End
People often think the End is just a boss arena. It’s not. It’s an entire dimension. Once the dragon is dead, you get access to the outer islands. That’s where the real rewards are. We're talking about Elytra—wings that actually let you fly—and Shulker Boxes, which basically give you an infinite inventory.
But you can't get there without knowing how to make the end in minecraft work for you first.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Forgetting the Bed: Set your spawn point near the portal before you go in. If you die in the End, you don't want to wake up 2,000 blocks away at your original world spawn.
- Looking Up: The End is crawling with Endermen. Wear a carved pumpkin on your head if you're nervous. It ruins your vision, but it keeps them from attacking you.
- No Pickaxe: You might spawn inside a solid obsidian box. If you don't have a pickaxe, you are literally trapped in a dark room until you starve or punch your way out over several hours.
Technical Nuances for 2026 Players
In the latest versions of Minecraft, world generation has become more complex. Strongholds can sometimes be overwritten by deep dark biomes or ancient cities. If your Eye of Ender is leading you into a massive cave system, keep your eyes peeled for mossy stone bricks. That’s the tell-tale sign of the Stronghold.
Sometimes the portal room is "disconnected" from the rest of the Stronghold by a cave or a ravine. If you find a Stronghold but no portal, don't give up. Start mining through the walls. It’s there somewhere.
Your Next Moves
Before you head out to conquer the void, make sure your house is in order.
- Farm Blazes: Head to a Nether Fortress. You need at least 7-10 Blaze Rods to be safe.
- Trade with Piglins: If you hate hunting Endermen, trade Gold Ingots with Piglins in the Nether. They frequently drop Ender Pearls, saving you the hassle of a midnight hunt.
- Craft the Eyes: Combine the powder and pearls.
- Locate and Dig: Use the eyes to find the Stronghold, clear the silverfish, and place the eyes in the frame.
The End isn't just a place; it's the final test of everything you've learned in the game. Get your armor enchanted, grab your pearls, and stop overthinking the process. The void is waiting.
Once you have activated the portal, the real game begins. You’ll be navigating floating islands and raiding cities in no time. Just remember to bring a way back down.