The End portal is the only way to reach the End and fight the Ender Dragon, but “making” one works differently than most players expect. In survival you do not build an End portal from scratch, you find one in a stronghold and activate it. This guide covers exactly how to locate it, how to turn it on, and how to build your own in creative.
Everything here is confirmed in the current 2026 version of Minecraft (26.2).
Quick answer: in survival, throw Eyes of Ender to find a stronghold, then fill the 12 End portal frames with 12 Eyes of Ender to activate the portal. You cannot craft End portal frames, so you must use the one already built underground. In creative you can place your own ring of 12 frames and activate it the same way.
End Portal at a Glance
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Frames needed | 12 End portal frames (already in a stronghold) |
| Eyes needed | Up to 12 Eyes of Ender |
| How to find it | Throw Eyes of Ender to track the stronghold |
| Craftable? | No, frames cannot be crafted or mined in survival |
| What it opens | The End dimension (Ender Dragon fight) |
Step 1: Craft Eyes of Ender
You need Eyes of Ender for two jobs, finding the stronghold and activating the portal. Craft each one from 1 Ender Pearl + 1 Blaze Powder:
- Ender Pearls drop from Endermen (or come from piglin bartering).
- Blaze Powder is made from Blaze Rods, dropped by Blazes in Nether fortresses.
Make at least 12 or more, since some are consumed and some break when thrown. Aim for around 15 to be safe.
Step 2: Find the Stronghold
Throw an Eye of Ender (use it) and it floats in the direction of the nearest stronghold, then drops (and sometimes shatters, which is why you want spares). Walk that way, throw another, and repeat. When the eye starts flying downward, you are on top of the stronghold, dig down carefully to find it. If you play with cheats, the /locate command points you straight to the nearest stronghold instead.
Inside, look for the portal room: a lava pool with a raised platform holding the End portal frame, a ring of 12 frame blocks around an empty 3×3 center. The room also has a silverfish spawner sitting under the frame, so break it or light it up before you settle in, or you will be swarmed while placing eyes.
Step 3: Fill the Frames with Eyes of Ender
Here is the part that catches people out: some frames may already contain an Eye of Ender. Each frame has about a 1-in-10 chance to spawn already filled, so you rarely need all 12. Check the ring, then place an Eye of Ender in every empty frame by using the eye on it.
Make sure each eye’s “pupil” faces inward toward the center (they orient automatically when placed correctly). Once all 12 frames hold an eye, the portal activates instantly, the center fills with the starry End portal blocks.
Step 4: Enter the End
Stepping into the active portal sends you to the End, where the Ender Dragon waits. This trip is one-way until you either die or beat the dragon, so gear up first: strong gear enchantments, a good bow, food, and blocks. There is no way to place or break an End portal block yourself, so treat the stronghold portal as your permanent gateway.
Building One in Creative
In creative mode or with cheats, you can build your own End portal anywhere. Place 12 End portal frames (from the creative inventory or /give) in a ring: three on each side around an empty 3×3 square, each frame facing inward. Then put an Eye of Ender in every frame, and it activates. This is the only way to “make” an End portal from nothing; in survival, the frames simply cannot be obtained. It is different from a Nether portal, which you build with obsidian and light yourself.
Frequently Asked Questions
In survival you find a pre-built portal in a stronghold and activate it by placing Eyes of Ender in the 12 End portal frames. You cannot craft the frames, so you must use the stronghold’s. In creative, you can place 12 frames yourself and fill them.
Up to 12, one per frame, but some frames spawn already filled (about a 1-in-10 chance each), so you often need fewer. Bring around 15 total to cover finding the stronghold and breakages.
No. End portal frames cannot be crafted or mined in survival. They only exist pre-placed in strongholds, or in creative mode.
Throw Eyes of Ender and follow the direction they float. When an eye starts dropping downward instead of flying, the stronghold is right below you, dig down to find it.
Every one of the 12 frames must contain an Eye of Ender, and each eye must face inward. Check for any empty frame or a wrongly placed eye. Once all 12 are filled, it activates automatically.
No. The Nether portal is built from obsidian and lit with flint and steel to reach the Nether. The End portal uses End portal frames and Eyes of Ender to reach the End and the Ender Dragon.
Making an End portal is really about finding one: gather a good stack of Eyes of Ender, throw them to track down a stronghold, and fill the 12 frames to open the way to the End. Just remember, the frames themselves can never be crafted, so in survival, that underground portal is the one and only door to the dragon.
