The player locator bar is about to innovate your multiplayer experience in Minecraft, especially with the launch of the Summer Drop 2025. No more frantic searches for your friends; this feature displays online players as colorful indicators, making it effortlessly easy to follow them. Let’s dive into how you can enable and use this exciting new addition in Minecraft.
How to Enable Player Locator Bar in Minecraft
At this moment, the player locator bar is accessible exclusively in the latest snapshots of Java and Bedrock beta versions. It’s enabled by default, but since this feature will officially launch in the Summer Drop 2025, you won’t find it in the stable version yet.
If you’re a creator or server admin and you can’t see it, here’s how to toggle the player locator bar for both Minecraft editions:
Enable Player Locator Bar in Java Edition
In Java, Mojang has refined this feature and integrated it into the gameplay, starting with Snapshot 25W17A. To enable the locator bar, follow these steps:
- Launch the Minecraft Launcher and start the latest snapshot.
- Create a multiplayer world by entering the server address and world name.
- Invite friends to your server to see the locator bar overlay on your XP bar.
- If it’s still missing, press the “T” key to open the chat and enter: /gamerule locatorBar true.
- Modify the indicators with: /waypoint modify <player tag> <attributes>.
Enable Player Locator Bar in Bedrock Edition
In Bedrock Edition, you can activate the player locator slightly differently during world creation:
- Open the Minecraft Launcher and boot up the latest Bedrock preview.
- Create a new world and navigate to the world customization menu.
- Select the multiplayer tab and scroll down to the options.
- Toggle on the locator bar option and start your Minecraft world.
- Invite your friends, and the locator bar will show over your XP bar.
If you forget to enable this feature initially, don’t worry! Similar to Java, you can still turn it on in-game with the command: /gamerule locatorBar true. However, note that in Bedrock Edition, you cannot modify the locator bar.
How to Use Player Locator Bar in Minecraft
The player locator bar will always appear if there are other players in your world. It momentarily disappears for five seconds to show the XP bar when you gain experience, and will also be hidden when using the anvil or enchanting table UI.
- Square: Indicates 0-179 blocks away.
- Circle: Represents 179-230 blocks away.
- Small Square: Denotes 230-281 blocks away.
- Small Circle: Marks 281+ blocks away.
Additionally, you might notice small white arrows on the waypoints indicating elevation; upwards means the player is higher, while downwards shows they’re below you.
Now you can focus on mining or exploring structures, letting others locate you with ease through these waypoints instead of typing out coordinates in the chat.
How to Hide from Player Locator Bar in Minecraft
While the player locator bar is incredibly useful, you might want some privacy. Here’s how you can hide:
- Crouching or sneaking: This will hide your waypoint, but it slows you down unless you have the Swift Sneak enchantment.
- Wear a carved pumpkin or mob head: Carve a pumpkin with shears and wear it, or use a mob head for a better perspective.
- Use the potion of invisibility: Drinking this potion effectively hides you from the radar and from your friends.
Another way to stealthily approach is to sneak up on players from behind, just remember to stay quiet to avoid being detected.
So, have you given the player locator bar a try with your friends yet? Dive back into the world of Minecraft and make the most of this innovative feature!
For more gaming insights, be sure to keep exploring related content from Moyens I/O.