How to Use Player Locator Bar in Minecraft

The player locator bar is a brand new feature set to release in the upcoming Minecraft Summer Drop 2025. This is a game-changing addition for multiplayer modes, as now you won’t need to go searching for your friends like a madman. This bar shows your friends or any other online player as colorful indicators, making it easier to follow them. Want to know how to use it? Find out how to enable and use the player locator bar in Minecraft right here.

How to Enable Player Locator Bar in Minecraft

For now, the Minecraft player locator bar can only be enabled in the latest snapshots in Java and Bedrock beta and preview. By default, the setting is already turned on. This is an upcoming feature in the Minecraft Summer Drop 2025. As such, you won’t find it in the stable release just yet.

Nonetheless, if you’re a creator or server admin and can’t see it, here’s how to turn on the player locator bar in both Minecraft editions:

Enable Player Locator Bar in Java Edition

In Java, Mojang has brought the feature out of the experimental features and integrated it into the Minecraft world, starting with Snapshot 25W17A. So, you can enable the locator bar in the following steps:

• Open up Minecraft Launcher and boot up the latest snapshot.
• Now, you can start a multiplayer world by typing the server address and the name of your world.
• Invite a few friends to your server, and you’ll be able to notice the locator bar overlay on your XP bar.
• If you still can’t see it, open the in-game chat using the “T” key and enter this command: /gamerule locatorBar true. This will enable the locator bar in your Java world.
• You can further modify the indicators using the command: /waypoint modify <player tag> <attributes>.

Enable Player Locator Bar in Bedrock Edition

In Minecraft Bedrock edition, the player locator can be turned on slightly differently during the world creation. So, follow the given steps below to enable it:

• Open your Minecraft Launcher and launch the latest Bedrock preview.
• Now, create a new world and you’ll be presented with the world customization menu.
• Select the multiplayer tab and scroll to the bottom on the right-hand side.
• Here, toggle on the locator bar option and start your Minecraft world.
• Invite your friends over, and the locator bar will be displayed over your XP bar with indicators.

If you have started a new Minecraft world without enabling the feature, don’t worry. Like the Java edition, you can turn it on from inside the game using the same /gamerule locatorBar true command. However, do note that you cannot modify the locator bar in the Bedrock Edition.

How to Use Player Locator Bar in Minecraft

The player locator bar is always displayed if other players are in your world. However, it disappears for five seconds, showing the XP bar whenever you gain XP. Moreover, if you’ve opened the anvil or enchanting table UI, the XP bar replaces the locator bar.

You can make the most out of this efficient tool by noticing the small square indicators on the bar. These are called waypoints, and each will be of a unique color, denoting each individual in your world unless you modify them. Furthermore, the waypoints change depending on the number of blocks you’re away from the player in the following manner:

• Square: 0-179 blocks
• Circle: 179-230 blocks
• Small Square: 230-281 blocks
• Small Circle: 281+ Blocks

Additionally, sometimes, you might find small white arrows on the waypoints. An arrow on top or bottom means the player is at a higher or lower level than you, respectively.

So, no need to write your coordinates in the game chat and wait until your friends arrive. You can continue mining or looting structures, and others can easily find you by following the waypoints.

How to Hide from Player Locator Bar in Minecraft

Despite the fact that the player locator bar will be a boon to most, we can understand if you want some privacy. Thankfully, there are some ways to hide from this radar. As such, here’s how to hide from the player locator bar in Minecraft:

• Crouching or sneaking: Crouching or sneaking in Minecraft will hide your waypoint from the player locator bar. However, your speed will decrease a lot as well unless you have the Swift Sneak enchantment on your boots.
• Wear a carved pumpkin/mob head: Get yourself a pumpkin, carve it using shears, and wear it to hide your waypoint. The same can be done using any Minecraft mob head. However, it’s challenging to obtain, but it gives a better vision than a carved pumpkin.
• Use the potion of invisibility: You can also drink a potion of invisibility to stay hidden from the radar as well as from the eyes of your friends. This is probably the best and most efficient way to hide from the locator bar.

Another way of hiding from the player locator bar is approaching players directly from behind. However, do make sure you sneak otherwise you’ll give your location away!

And that’s how you use the player locator bar in Minecraft. Have you tried this feature with your friends yet? Let us know in the comments below!