How to make an empty map in Minecraft
A map is unquestionably one of the most crucial objects to keep in your inventory in Minecraft. Aside from using it for navigation, you can also use the map to display your build. But you must first make a map before you can use it. If you want to know how to make an empty map in Minecraft, this guide covers step-by-step instructions and extra tips to help you get it done right the first time.
What do you need to make an empty map in Minecraft?
You need two materials to craft a map in Minecraft; they are:
- Crafting table
- 8 papers
- 1 compass
As you already know, a map is laid out on paper while the compass is used to transform the empty map.
Once you have the resources above, you can start crafting your empty map in Minecraft. If you want to skip gathering materials in Creative mode or while testing, Minecraft item commands can help you spawn what you need quickly.
Making an empty map in Minecraft
Step 1: Load the crafting table
To make an empty map in Minecraft, you’ll need to use your crafting table. You can find crafting tables in your inventory under the crafting menu. When you load the crafting table, ensure to have a 3×3 grid. This will be your crafting area.
Step 2: Add crafting items into the crafting area
Now that you have a crafting area, you want to fill the area with crafting materials. All the paper in your inventory will be displayed, so click on a piece of paper to place it on the crafting table. The compass should be inserted in the center of the grid while the papers go into the other 8 grids.
Note on crafting recipes by edition:
- Java Edition: Place 8 paper in all slots surrounding 1 compass in the center. This produces an empty map in Minecraft that is ready to be activated.
- Bedrock Edition (Empty Map): Place 9 paper in all 9 slots of the crafting grid (no compass needed). This produces a basic Empty Map that does not track your position.
- Bedrock Edition (Empty Locator Map): Place 8 paper surrounding 1 compass in the center, exactly as in Java. This produces an Empty Locator Map — a different item that does show your player marker. These two Bedrock items are not interchangeable, so make sure you craft the one you actually need.
Once all the crafting items are in the correct position, you will see the map in the box next to the crafting grid, meaning that you have successfully crafted an empty map in Minecraft. But that’s not all.
Step 3: Add the map to your inventory
Click on the empty map to add it to your inventory, where you can select it for use. But because this new map is blank, you will need to transform it into an actual map to use it.
Step 4: Transform the empty map in Minecraft
When the player is holding the map, press “Use item” in the options. The map will remain completely blank until you do this — it does not begin recording the world automatically. The moment you activate it, the game creates a Level 0 map centered on the region where you first used it.
That starting location matters: whichever chunk you are standing in when you initialize the map determines which area it covers, so activate it where you actually want to start mapping.
From there, the map fills in only as you physically explore. Walk through an area and it appears on the map; areas you have not visited remain blank. As you travel within the map’s borders, it records routes, terrain, and structures you pass through.
Keep in mind how player markers work by edition. In Java Edition, your player pointer appears on the map automatically while you are holding it — no extra steps needed. In Bedrock Edition, a basic Empty Map will not show your position at all. You need an Empty Locator Map for player-position tracking in Bedrock. According to the official Minecraft Wiki, maps in Java Edition always display the player marker when held, which is a key distinction from Bedrock’s two-map system.
Java Edition vs. Bedrock Edition: key empty map in Minecraft differences
The way maps behave is not the same across all versions of Minecraft, and knowing the difference will save you a lot of confusion.
- Java Edition: The item you craft is called an Empty Map. When you hold and use it, your player marker (the small arrow showing your position and facing direction) appears on the map automatically. No additional steps are required.
- Bedrock Edition — Empty Map: Crafted with 9 paper and no compass. This map records the world around you as you explore, but it does not display your player position. It is useful for documenting terrain and builds, but you cannot use it to track where you are on the map.
- Bedrock Edition — Empty Locator Map: Crafted with 8 paper and 1 compass. This version records the world and displays your player marker, making it the closest equivalent to Java’s standard map experience.
- Upgrading an existing Bedrock map: If you already have a plain Empty Map or an explored map in Bedrock and want to add player tracking, you can add a compass to it at a cartography table to convert it into a locator map. You do not have to start over and craft a new one from scratch.
How to use a cartography table with your empty map in Minecraft
Once you have an empty or explored map, a cartography table is the best tool for managing it. To craft a cartography table, you need 2 paper and 4 planks of any wood type arranged in a crafting table. If you want to learn another useful utility block recipe, this Minecraft stonecutter tutorial is a helpful next step. Once you have one placed in your world, you can use it to perform four high-value actions.
Zoom out a map
Combine an explored map with 1 paper in the cartography table to increase its zoom level. Each time you do this, the map covers a larger area. You can zoom out up to four times, progressing from Level 0 (smallest coverage) to Level 4 (largest coverage). Note that zooming out does not erase existing data — it simply scales the map to show a wider view.
Clone a map
Combine a filled or partially filled map with an empty map in Minecraft in the cartography table to produce an exact copy. Both the original and the clone will update together as you explore, making cloning useful for sharing maps with other players or keeping a backup.
Lock a map
Combine a map with a glass pane in the cartography table to lock it. If you still need glass for crafting, making it first will help you create the pane needed for this step. A locked map will no longer update as the world changes, preserving a snapshot of your world at that moment. This is helpful for archiving a map of a finished build or a specific area you want to keep as a reference.
Convert to a locator map (Bedrock Edition only)
In Bedrock Edition, combine any existing map with a compass in the cartography table to upgrade it to a locator map. This adds player-position tracking to a map that did not previously have it, so you do not need to re-craft the empty map in Minecraft from scratch.
With a detailed and functional map in hand, your Minecraft experience becomes a little less complicated, especially when playing in Survival mode. If you’re trying to access Minecraft on restricted school or work networks, check out our guide to unblock Minecraft at school or work and keep your gameplay uninterrupted. Crafting an empty map in Minecraft is straightforward and requires simple resources.
If you do not have a compass, read our guide on crafting a compass in Minecraft. Additionally, we have published other tips and tricks for surviving in Minecraft. For example, if you’re looking to add some decorative flair to your builds, check out our guide on how to make terracotta in Minecraft. You might also want to use Minecraft color codes to create colorful signs and label areas you’ve mapped out. You can also request a Minecraft topic you want us to cover in the comment. Happy crafting.
