You’ve done it a thousand times. You fly around in Creative mode, slap down twelve portal frames in a square, pop in the Eyes of Ender, and... nothing. The black, starry abyss doesn’t appear. You’re just standing in a circle of decorative rocks feeling like a noob. Honestly, it’s one of the most frustrating "easy" things in Minecraft.
Knowing how to build an ender portal in creative isn't actually about the materials. You have infinite resources. It’s about the invisible orientation of the blocks. Minecraft is picky. If a single block is rotated 90 degrees the wrong way—even if it looks identical to the others—the portal stays dead.
The Directional Secret Everyone Misses
Most players think they can just fly above the ground and place the frames while looking down. That’s the first mistake. Minecraft tracks the player's "facing" direction when a block is placed. For an End Portal to activate, the "front" of each frame block must face toward the center of the 3x3 opening.
Think of it like a huddle. Everyone needs to be looking at the middle.
If you are flying around the outside and placing blocks while looking inward, you’re doing it right. If you’re standing in one spot and spinning around to place them, you’re also doing it right. But if you’re walking in a straight line and placing them sideways? It’ll fail every single time. There are tiny green tabs or pixels on the top of the End Portal Frame blocks. If those patterns aren't pointing toward the center of the portal, the game doesn't recognize the structure as valid.
How to Build an Ender Portal in Creative Without Failing
Let’s get into the actual physical build. You need 12 End Portal Frames and 12 Eyes of Ender.
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First, find a flat spot. You don't need to dig a hole, though many people like the 3x3 pit for aesthetic reasons. Stand in the exact center of where you want the portal to be. Do not move.
Place three frames in front of you. Spin 90 degrees. Place three more. Spin again, place three. Spin one last time and place the final three. By staying in the center and rotating your character, you ensure every single block is "facing" the middle. This is the foolproof method.
Now, the Eyes of Ender. You can fly for this part; the orientation of the Eye doesn't matter as much as the frame, but it’s good practice to just click them in while standing still. Once the 12th eye clicks into place, the center should transform into that swirling, purple-black void. If it doesn't, you probably bumped a frame block or placed one while looking at a weird angle.
Why Your Portal is Still a Dud
Sometimes you do everything right and the game still says "no."
Check for "ghost blocks" or weird obstructions. If there’s a blade of grass or a stray flower inside that 3x3 space, it can occasionally mess with the activation logic in certain versions of Bedrock Edition. Clear the area completely.
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Another weird quirk: dimensions. You cannot build a functioning End Portal inside the End itself. I don't know why you'd try, but people do. Also, make sure you aren't trying to make a "giant" portal. Unlike Nether Portals, which can be massive, End Portals are hard-coded to be a 3x3 internal square. 12 blocks total. No more, no less.
Bedrock vs. Java Differences
If you’re on Java Edition, the game is a bit more forgiving with placement, but the "inward facing" rule still applies. In Bedrock (Console, Mobile, Windows 10), the game is notorious for being strict. On Bedrock, I highly recommend digging out the 3x3 area under the portal and filling it with lava. It’s not technically required for the portal to work in Creative, but it mimics the natural generation found in Strongholds. Some players swear it helps the game "check" the portal's validity, though that's mostly placebo—it just looks cooler.
Beyond the Basics: Decorating the Void
Since you're in Creative, the portal frame is just the beginning. Did you know you can break the frame blocks after the portal is active?
Once the black void appears, you can actually switch to a Pickaxe (or just punch them in Creative) and remove the End Portal Frames. The "portal tiles" will stay floating in mid-air. This lets you build insane custom entrances. You could have a portal that looks like a puddle on the floor or a rift in the side of a mountain.
- Pro Tip: Use
/setblockcommands if you want to be surgical. - Aesthetic Choice: Surround the void with Obsidian or Crying Obsidian for a "corrupted" look.
- Warning: If you place a block inside the portal void, it will delete that section of the portal.
Troubleshooting Common Errors
If you've followed the "stand in the middle" trick and it still isn't working, check your Eye placement. Sometimes, especially if you're clicking fast, an Eye might not register or might be placed in a frame that already had one (glitchy, but happens).
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Look at the textures. On the top of the portal frame, there are little "scroll" marks. They should look like they are flowing toward the center. If one looks like it's flowing sideways compared to the others, break it and replace it while facing the correct way.
Moving Forward with Your Creative Build
Building the portal is just the entry point. In Creative, your next move should be prepping the other side. Since you can't "win" in the traditional sense when you're invincible, use your Creative powers to terraform the End.
Replace the End Stone with Grass. Build a giant glass dome around the main island to keep the Endermen in (or out). Use the /fill command to replace the void with water if you want to see how much you can lag your server.
The most important thing to remember is the orientation. Stand in the middle, face outward for each side, and keep the 3x3 space clear. Once you master that, you’ll never have to worry about a "dead" portal again.
Now that the portal is up, head through and start clearing out the Obsidian pillars or use a repeating command block to instantly respawn the Dragon for a chaotic target practice session. If you're building a custom map, focus on removing the frames to create a more seamless, magical transition into the End dimension.