/seed

The /seed command shows the seed of the Minecraft world you are in. A seed is the number that generates a world’s terrain, biomes and structures. Knowing your seed lets you recreate the same world, share a great world with friends, use seed map tools to find villages, slime chunks and strongholds, and check whether a new update changed your terrain. This reference covers how to find your seed in Java and Bedrock, what seeds are, how text seeds work, seed maps and common questions.

Syntax

Edition	How to get the seed
Java	/seed
Bedrock	No /seed command; open world settings and read the Seed field

In Java, /seed prints the seed in chat in square brackets. Click it to copy it to your clipboard. In single player, /seed works in most worlds; on servers, it needs operator permission, because server owners often keep seeds private so players cannot find hidden bases and structures with seed maps.

How to find your seed in Bedrock

1. From the main menu, open Play and select the edit (pencil) icon next to your world, or pause the game and choose Settings.
2. Open the Game section.
3. Scroll to the Seed field under World Options. The number is your world seed.

On Realms, only the owner can see the seed in the Realm settings. On Bedrock servers, the seed is usually hidden from players.

What is a seed?

Minecraft worlds are generated by an algorithm that uses a starting number, the seed. The same seed in the same edition and version always produces the same terrain, biomes and structure positions. Seeds are 64-bit numbers, so there are about 18 quintillion possible worlds. When you create a world without typing a seed, the game picks a random one.

Text seeds

You can type words instead of numbers when creating a world, such as your name or a phrase. Minecraft converts text into a number using a hash, so the same text always gives the same world. Some famous text seeds, such as the title screen seed in Java, are shared widely by the community.

Using a seed to create a world

1. In Java, choose Create New World, open More World Options or the World tab, and paste the seed into the Seed for the World Generator field.
2. In Bedrock, choose Create New, open Advanced or World settings, and enter the seed in the Seed field.
3. Create the world. If you use the same edition and version, you get the same world.

Do seeds work across editions and versions?

Since the Caves and Cliffs update (1.18), Java and Bedrock generate the same terrain and biomes for the same seed in most cases, which was a big change from older versions. However, structures such as villages, temples and strongholds can be in different places between editions, and loot inside chests is different. Seeds also change between major updates: a seed from version 1.12 generates a completely different world in 1.21, because world generation was rewritten. When someone shares a seed, they should also share the edition and version.

Seed maps and tools

Seed map websites let you enter your seed and edition to see a map of biomes and structures without exploring. Players use them to find villages near spawn, ancient cities, woodland mansions, ocean monuments, strongholds and, in Java, slime chunks for slime farms. They are popular for planning bases and farms, though some players avoid them to keep exploration exciting. In-game, the /locate command does a similar job for structures and biomes.

Why servers hide the seed

On survival servers, knowing the seed lets players find structures, slime chunks and even predict ore locations with special tools, which gives an unfair advantage and helps griefers find hidden bases near structures. That is why /seed requires operator permission on servers and most server owners never share it. Some servers also use plugins to change structure placement so seed maps are less accurate.

Famous and useful seed types

• Village at spawn: start next to a village for food, beds and trading.
• Survival island: start on a small island in an ocean for a challenge.
• Speedrun seeds: spawn near a ruined portal, village and stronghold.
• Biome showcases: cherry groves, huge mountains or mushroom islands near spawn.
• Ancient city near spawn: quick access to Swift Sneak and echo shards.

Seed lists are shared constantly on community sites. Always check that a seed matches your edition and version before relying on it.

Common questions

• /seed says unknown command: you are on Bedrock, which has no /seed command; check world settings instead.
• /seed says no permission: you are on a server without operator status.
• Same seed, different world: different edition or version, or different world settings such as Large Biomes or Amplified.
• Can I change a world’s seed? No. The seed is fixed when the world is created; new chunks always use it.

Related commands

• /locate: find structures and biomes in-game.
• /setworldspawn: move spawn somewhere you like.
• /tp: travel to places you found on a seed map.

/seed FAQ

How do you find your seed in Minecraft Java?

Type /seed and click the number to copy it.

How do you find your seed in Bedrock?

Open world settings and look at the Seed field in Game settings.

Do Java and Bedrock seeds match?

Terrain and biomes mostly match since 1.18, but structures differ.

Can you use /seed on a server?

Only with operator permission.

World types and seeds

A seed only recreates the same world if the world type matches. Java offers Default, Superflat, Large Biomes, Amplified and Single Biome world types, and each produces a completely different world from the same seed. Bedrock offers Infinite and Flat, plus experimental options in some versions. When sharing a seed, include the world type and any experimental features you enabled, as well as the edition and version number. Data packs and mods that change world generation also change what a seed produces.

Seeds for speedrunning and challenges

Speedrunners use set seeds to practice routes, because the same seed always places the same ruined portal, village and stronghold. Random-seed runs are considered the main category, but set-seed runs show how fast the game can be completed with perfect knowledge. Challenge players use seeds like a single island in an endless ocean or a spawn surrounded by ice spikes to test their survival skills. Sharing the seed lets others try the same challenge and compare results.

Seeds and ore locations

Ores are also placed by the seed, which is why some tools try to predict diamond locations from it. On public servers, this is considered cheating and is one reason seeds are hidden. In single player, it is your choice, but many players feel finding diamonds yourself is part of the fun.

Writing down your seed

Save your seed somewhere outside the game when you start a world you love. If the world file is ever lost or corrupted, the seed lets you regenerate the same terrain and structures, even if your builds are gone. It is also handy for sharing the world with friends who want to start their own copy.

Seeds are free to share and use, so swapping favorite seeds with friends is one of the easiest ways to discover great new worlds.

Happy exploring.

See the related commands above for next steps.