How to use the Player Locator Bar in Minecraft (Java & Bedrock)

The Locator Bar is a new HUD feature in Minecraft 1.21.6, created to help players easily find each other in multiplayer worlds. It sits in place of the XP bar and gives a visual readout of player positions, direction, and elevation, making coordination smoother without needing to constantly share coordinates.

How to Enable the Locator Bar

Java Edition:

• Enabled by default in Minecraft 1.21.6

• To manually enable or disable:
  /gamerule locatorBar true
/gamerule locatorBar false

Bedrock Edition:

• Available under World Settings > Multiplayer Options

• Toggle the Locator Bar feature ON or OFF from the menu before starting your world.

How the Locator Bar Works

• Location: Appears just above the experience bar.

• When Active: Only visible when at least one other player is nearby and not earning XP.

• Icon Indicators:

  • Each player is represented by a colored icon.

  • Arrows appear on icons if the other player is significantly above or below you.

  • Icon shape indicates distance:

    • Circle = The player is nearby (within close range)

    • Square = The player is farther away (out of close visual range)

  • The icon may change in size depending on proximity: smaller = further, larger = closer

Customization Options

• Operators/admins can assign specific colors to player icons: /waypoint modify <player> color <color>

  Replace <player> with the username and <color> with any valid Minecraft color name (e.g. red, blue, green).

Stealth & Concealment Features of the Locator Bar

Players can hide from the Locator Bar using these methods:

• Sneaking (crouch)

• Wearing a Carved Pumpkin or Mob Head

• Potion of Invisibility

• Spectator Mode

These tactics make your icon disappear from the bar, useful for stealth gameplay or roleplay.

Additional Notes:

• If a player is behind you or you are earning XP, the bar may not update or show their icon momentarily.

Disabling the Locator Bar

• Only server operators can disable the Locator Bar using: /gamerule locatorBar false

• Players cannot disable it individually from their personal settings.

Conclusion

The Locator Bar is a small feature that makes a big difference. It cuts out the hassle of sharing coordinates and makes it way easier to stick together or track each other down in multiplayer. Once you get the hang of the icons and how they work, you’ll wonder how you ever played without it.