The End Portal is hidden in a fortress, and you need Eyes of Ender to locate it

The End Portal is the gateway to the final dimension in Minecraft's main story. It sits inside a Nether Fortress, which you reach by building a Nether Portal in the Overworld and traveling through the Nether. You cannot find the End Portal by walking around — you have to craft Eyes of Ender and follow them to the fortress, then search the fortress structure itself for the portal frame.

The process takes time but follows a clear path: gather materials, craft Eyes of Ender, follow them to a fortress, explore the fortress, find the portal room, and place Eyes of Ender into the frame to set up it. Most players complete this in one or two play sessions once they understand the steps.

Key Takeaways

  • Eyes of Ender are crafted from Ender Pearls (dropped by Endermen) and Blaze Powder (from Blazes in the Nether), and they fly toward the nearest End Portal.
  • You must first build a Nether Portal in the Overworld using Obsidian blocks, then travel through it to reach the Nether where Nether Fortresses spawn.
  • Nether Fortresses are large structures made of dark brick and contain Blazes, Blaze spawners, and chests with valuable loot.
  • The End Portal frame sits in a specific room within the fortress; it looks like a 3×3 grid of dark blocks with a center space, and you fill it by throwing Eyes of Ender into each empty frame block.

Gather Ender Pearls and Blaze Powder to craft Eyes of Ender

Ender Pearls drop from Endermen when you kill them. Endermen spawn in the Overworld at night or in dark areas, and they are tall, dark, three-block-tall creatures that teleport when you look at them. You need at least 12 Ender Pearls to make 12 Eyes of Ender (you throw one Eye at a time, and some may fall into lava or get lost). Kill Endermen with a sword or bow until you have enough.

Blaze Powder comes from Blazes, which only spawn in the Nether inside Nether Fortresses. You cannot get Blaze Powder in the Overworld. To reach Blazes, you must first build a Nether Portal, travel through it, locate a fortress, and fight the Blazes inside. Each Blaze drops Blaze Rods when killed, and you can craft Blaze Rods into Blaze Powder at a crafting table (one rod makes two powder).

Once you have at least 12 Ender Pearls and 12 Blaze Powder, open your crafting table and place one Ender Pearl and one Blaze Powder in any two adjacent slots. This creates one Eye of Ender. Repeat until you have 12 Eyes.

Build a Nether Portal and travel to the Nether

A Nether Portal is a 4×5 rectangle of Obsidian blocks (the frame, not filled in). You need 10 Obsidian blocks minimum. Obsidian forms where water meets lava; you can also mine it with a Diamond or Netherite pickaxe if you find it naturally. Build the frame, then use a Flint and Steel (crafted from Iron Ingots and Flint) to light the center of the frame. The portal activates with a purple swirl.

Step into the portal. You will arrive in the Nether, a dangerous dimension filled with lava, fire, and hostile mobs. The Nether is much hotter visually and has a red-brown color. Nether Fortresses spawn randomly throughout the Nether, so you may need to walk or travel for a while to find one. Look for large structures made of dark brick and dark wood.

Locate a Nether Fortress and find the End Portal room

A Nether Fortress is a large structure with multiple rooms, corridors, and bridges. It contains Blazes (flying mobs that shoot fireballs), Blaze spawners (dark cage-like blocks that continuously spawn Blazes), and chests with loot. The fortress is made of Nether Brick, Nether Brick Fences, and Nether Brick Stairs. Once you enter a fortress, explore its corridors and rooms carefully.

Inside the fortress, look for a room with a End Portal Frame. The frame is a 3×3 grid of dark blocks arranged on the ground or on a platform, with a center space. The blocks look like dark stone with a slight glow. This is the only place in the Nether where the End Portal frame appears. If you do not find it in the first fortress, return to the Overworld, build another Nether Portal in a different location, and search a different fortress.

Throw Eyes of Ender into the frame to open the portal

Stand in front of the End Portal Frame and throw one Eye of Ender into the center space. You throw it by holding the Eye in your hand and right-clicking (or using your secondary action button). The Eye will fly into the frame block, and that block will light up. Repeat this process for all nine frame blocks until all nine are filled and glowing.

Once all nine blocks are filled, the center of the frame will open with a purple swirl, identical to a Nether Portal. This is the End Portal. Step into it to enter the End dimension, where you will face the Ender Dragon and complete the main story of Minecraft.

What to bring before entering the End

The End is a hostile dimension with the Ender Dragon, Endermen, and Endermites. Bring armor (Diamond or Netherite is best), a sword, a bow with arrows, blocks for building (to reach the dragon), food to heal, and a pickaxe to mine End Stone if needed. Do not bring valuable items you cannot afford to lose, because if you die in the End, your items will disappear after five minutes.

Many players also bring a bed, because beds explode in the End and can damage the Ender Dragon. This is an advanced tactic and not necessary for beginners. Focus on armor, weapons, and healing items first.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I find the End Portal in the Overworld without going to the Nether?

No. The End Portal frame only generates inside Nether Fortresses. There is no way to reach the End without traveling through the Nether first. You must build a Nether Portal, find a fortress, and locate the portal frame inside it.

What if I lose my Eyes of Ender before reaching the fortress?

Eyes of Ender can fall into lava, water, or off cliffs and disappear. Craft extra Eyes before you start following them. If you run out, return to the Overworld, gather more Ender Pearls and Blaze Powder, and craft additional Eyes. You can also search Nether Fortress chests for Eyes of Ender, though this is rare.

Do Eyes of Ender always lead to the same fortress?

Eyes of Ender fly toward the nearest End Portal frame. If you throw multiple Eyes in the same area, they will all point to the same fortress. If you want to search a different fortress, travel far away in the Nether before throwing Eyes again.

Can I build my own End Portal frame?

In Survival mode, no. End Portal Frames cannot be crafted or placed by players. They only exist in generated Nether Fortresses. In Creative mode, you can place them manually, but this bypasses the intended progression.

What happens if I fall into the void while looking for the portal?

The void is the empty space below the Nether. If you fall into it, you will die and drop your items. Always build bridges or use blocks to navigate safely, and avoid walking near edges of platforms or fortresses.