how to find seed in minecraft

This article needs to be updated.

Please update this page to reflect recent updates or newly available information.
Reason: Seed parity on 1.18 between Bedrock and Java

This article is about the String or integer used to generate worlds. For other uses, see Seeds (disambiguation).

Minecraft seeds are values made up of character(s) (including negative or positive integers) that are used as the basis for generating every Minecraft world.^[1]

1 Compatibility
2 World generation
3 Determining the seed
4 Technical
- 4.1 Realms
- 4.2 Java Edition
- 4.3 Bedrock Edition
- 4.4 Overlap between editions
- 4.5 Seed 0
- 4.6 Generation quirks
  - 4.6.1 Changing terrain without changing some structures
  - 4.6.2 Shadow seeds
  - 4.6.3 Repetition
5 Video
6 History
7 Trivia
- 7.1 Notable Java Edition seeds
8 Gallery
9 References
10 External links
- 10.1 Bedrock and Java Editions
- 10.2 Java Edition only

Compatibility [ ]

Seeds are not compatible across editions, but are sometimes compatible with the older and newer versions. However, after Village & Pillage, the villages and other generated structures changed.

Java Edition seeds between Alpha 1.2.0 and Beta 1.7.3 are mostly the same. Beta 1.8 changed world generation completely, and Release 1.2 changed locations of land biomes with the addition of jungles. Release 1.7.2 rewrote the world generation entirely, determining the arrangement of land biomes and oceans that is still present in the current version‌^{[ until 1.18]}. 1.13 featured addition of underwater caves, new aquatic biomes, and adjustment to locations of mutated biomes and structures. 1.14 included the new bamboo jungle biome, and added snowy tundra villages and pillager outposts. In 1.16, shipwrecks and ocean ruins were made rarer, and four new biomes were added to the Nether. World generation is overhauled in 1.18,‌^{[ upcoming ]} with the addition of bigger caves, biomes in caves, new mountains, and changes in terrain height. Not mentioned are structure additions in several updates throughout, but the addition of a generated structure usually does not require a complete change of biome generation.

Legacy Console Edition seeds were updated in a similar schedule to Java Edition equivalents.

In Bedrock Edition, the 0.9.0 update was the only update to overhaul world generation. Oceans were changed in the Update Aquatic. Villages and other structures were changed in Village & Pillage. 1.17.0 changed the location algorithm for some structures such as dungeons. World generation is overhauled in 1.18.0‌^{[ upcoming ]}, becoming the second update to overhaul the world generation entirely, with the addition of bigger caves, biomes in caves, new mountains, and changes in terrain height.

Until 1.17, certain seeds share a similar biome map across Java and Bedrock with some terrain differences and no similarity in generated structure locations. From 1.18 onwards, all Bedrock Edition seed numbers share a similar terrain and biome map across Java and Bedrock, but still with no similarity in generated structure locations.

World generation [ ]

It has been suggested that this page be split into World generation .^[discuss ^]

If this split may potentially be controversial, do not split until a consensus has been reached.
Reason: Create a page that focuses specifically on how Minecraft generates its terrain

Whenever the game has to generate a new world, it calls upon an algorithm known as Perlin noise. This algorithm outputs a pseudo-random value that is then used to determine the characteristics and features of the world. However, the algorithm always outputs the same value each time for a constant starting point (seed). Thus, the same seed generates the same terrain every time.

A world's seed is set when that world is created. By default, it is decided automatically, but it can also be set manually. Setting and reusing a seed from one world generates the same world. Either a number or a word/phrase can be used, including negatives. If a word/phrase is used, it is converted into a 32-bit integer.

Whenever the world generation algorithm is updated (usually by adding new biomes to the game), the same seed no longer generates the same terrain. If the seed or generator changes in a saved world, new chunks are based on the new seed and no longer match those from the old seed. In Java Edition, major (terrain-breaking) changes were observed with Alpha v1.2.0, Beta 1.8, 1.7.2, and 1.18‌^{[ upcoming ]}. Deleted chunks can regenerate if the seed and generator remain the same, but changes if either the seed or generator changes. In fact, deleting chunks is sometimes done to let newly-introduced features appear in an old world; see Tutorials/Updating old oceans in 1.13 using MCEdit.

Because seeds are simply random values read into an algorithm and not actually names of different worlds, using a certain seed does not result in a world with any relevance to the value of that seed. For instance, using a biome name as the seed does not necessarily result in the creation of a world with primarily that biome, nor does it spawn the player within the said biome.

Determining the seed [ ]

In Java Edition, the player can enter the command /seed to view the world's seed. This command is available in singleplayer worlds even if cheats are off. The player can also select 'Re-create' in the Worlds menu to see the seed.

In Bedrock Edition, the seed can be found on the world options screen. There is also a seed picker that offers the player several pre-set seeds to generate worlds with specific features near the spawn point. Additionally, the beta version has a visible seed on the top of the screen.

Technical [ ]

Realms [ ]

In Java Edition, a player can type /seed in the chat. In Bedrock Edition, the seed is shown in the settings on a single player world, although the seed is not visible when playing on Realms Plus.

Java Edition [ ]

If the seed contains characters other than numbers or is greater than or equal to 20 characters in length, the Java String.hashCode() function is used to generate a number seed. This restricts Minecraft to a subset of the possible worlds to 2³² (or 4,294,967,296), due to the int datatype used. Number seeds or a default world seed must be used to access the full set of possible worlds (2⁶⁴, or 18,446,744,073,709,551,616). There are 2⁴⁸ meaningful seeds because Java's Random uses 48 bits of the seed; seeds are equivalent to one another modulo 2⁴⁸.

Bedrock Edition [ ]

Bedrock Edition has a total of 2³² (or 4,294,967,296) possible worlds no matter whether strings or numbers are used as the seed. This is because Bedrock Edition uses a 32-bit variant of the Mersenne Twister PRNG, which accepts only 32-bit seeds. The hashing algorithm is identical to String.hashCode(): a hash h starts with 0, and for each character c, the value of h is changed to h * 31 + c, within the boundary of a 32-bit integer.

Overlap between editions [ ]

Positive seeds in the range 0–(2³¹ -1)(0–2,147,483,647) generate the same arrangements of biomes in both Java and Bedrock editions, although with different structures and structure locations, caves, ore generation, and spawned entities, as well as minor terrain differences. Java Edition seeds between 2,147,483,648 - 4,294,967,295 have a similar equivalent on Bedrock edition with the aforementioned differences, but must first be negated by subtracting 4,294,967,296 to obtain the Bedrock edition seed number equivalent.‌^{[ until 1.17]}

With the world generation overhaul in 1.18‌^{[ upcoming ]}, all Bedrock and Java Edition seeds in the range from -2,147,483,648 to 2,147,483,648, generate the same arrangements of terrain and biomes in both Java and Bedrock editions, although with different structures and structure locations, old caves, ore generation, and spawned entities, as well as minor terrain differences.

Seed 0 [ ]

In Java Edition, the numeric entry for Minecraft seeds does not allow the number "0" (zero), as the game interprets "0" as a character, hashing it to its ASCII value of 48. However, by using a text seed for which the Java String.hashCode() function returns a zero value, the "zero seed" can still be used. Word strings that produce a zero seed include creashaks organzine, pollinating sandboxes, and drumwood boulderhead.^[2] However, any text that hashes to 0 works, such as ddnqavbj, and 166lr735ka3q6, with zsjpxah being the shortest. Numeric seeds that are congruent to 0 modulo 2⁴⁸ (such as 281474976710656) also generate the same terrain as seed 0, but do not display as 0 using /seed.

In Bedrock Edition, the game rejects all numbers from -9 to +9.^[3] However, changing the last character of the seed by one also changes the output hash code by one, so to arrive to a value of +2 from creashaks organzine, the last letter is advanced two positions to become creashaks organzing. The shortest version is still ddnqavb, followed by any other letter from a through s.

Generation quirks [ ]

This section is missing information about Explain these phenomena considerably more in depth.

Please expand the section to include this information. Further details may exist on the talk page.

Through certain seeds, it is possible to observe interesting effects.

Changing terrain without changing some structures [ ]

Only certain sections of the seed are used to generate specific features within the world. It is possible to generate multiple worlds with identical cave systems, Nether biomes and other arrangements of generated structures simply by converting the seed into binary and tweaking the desired bits.^[4] An example is the seed generator using only the first 48 bits to generate cave systems and badlands clay banding layers.

Shadow seeds [ ]

The biome distribution of one world is identical to the biome distribution of another world whose seed can be found by subtracting the current seed from the constant -7379792620528906219.‌^{[ until JE 1.18]} The terrain generates differently in both worlds, however.

Repetition [ ]

Seed 164311266871034 in spectator mode. Caves are repetitive along the Z axis.

Seed 1669320484 in Bedrock Edition, with repeating canyons.

Certain seeds return 0 in the internal code,^[5] causing infinite arrays of caves and other structures to generate.^[6] In Java and Legacy Console editions, the seed 107038380838084 returns 0 on the first call and 164311266871034 returns 0 on the second call, causing mineshafts, caves and underwater ravines to loop on the X and Z axes respectively.^[7] Underwater caves and normal ravines do not repeat with this seed for 1.13 onward, as a salt was unaccountably added for these. However, if 1 is subtracted from either seed, ravines and underwater caves repeat, but the other three structures do not.

Other features can also repeat, such as decorations. These instead generate diagonally.^[8]

In Bedrock Edition, diagonal cave, ravine, dungeon, and decoration repetition occur with the seeds 289849025 and 1669320484.^[9]

Video [ ]

History [ ]

This section needs to be updated.

Please update this section to reflect recent updates or newly available information.
Reason: Bedrock experimental changes

Java Edition pre-Classic
rd-160052		Added a simple level generator.
Java Edition Classic
0.0.12a		Added a new level generator.
August 25, 2009		Showed another new level generator, which generates cliffs more commonly.
Java Edition Indev
0.31	20091223-2	Isometric level rendering screenshot added.
	20100106	The player can now select island, floating, flat, or original as the level type when generating a world.
		Players can also select square, long, or deep as the level shape.
		Players can also select small, normal, or huge as the level size.
	20100107	Deep floating maps now have layers of islands.
	20100107	Players can now select a level theme; normal or hell.
	20100110	Islands now generate with more sand.
	20100113	Oceans now generate with infinite water.
	20100122	Water now spawns naturally above sea level and on floating islands.
	20100122	Caves are now less flooded.
Java Edition Infdev
20100227-1		Terrain-breaking change to world gen: using any given seed on older versions now generates a different world.
		World generation has been greatly simplified (with the removal of sand, blobs) in order to make infinite world generation implementation easier to work with.
		Added brick pyramids.
		Added obsidian walls.
		All generation beyond 33,554,432 blocks is solid stone.
20100227-2		Brick pyramid generation changed - they will now always come to a single point at the top, rather than sometimes being truncated, resulting in "brick square frusta".
20100313		Removed obsidian walls.
20100313		Oceans are considerably larger than before.^{[check the code]}
20100320		Reimplemented primitive blob generation, in which they spawn as scattered, single blocks.
20100320		Reimplemented tree generation.
20100325		Blob generation has been changed to the modern generation type. However, a float is used in their generation, causing their generation to break down at excessive distances.
20100325		Added caves. They generate through all blocks, not just terrain blocks.
20100327		Terrain-breaking change to world gen: using any given seed on older versions now generates a different world.
		World generation has been significantly overhauled, which is visually very obvious.
		Removed brick pyramids.
		Removed caves.
		Removed random patches of flowers.
		The large stone wall at 33,554,432 no longer generates. Instead, the Far Lands generate at 12,550,824.
20100413		All trees are now large trees.
20100413		Sand and gravel now generate with the world again.
20100420		Terrain-breaking change to world gen: using any given seed on older versions now generates a different world.
20100420		World generation seems considerably less mountainous.
20100608		All trees are now small trees again - big trees do not generate.
20100611		Terrain-breaking change to world gen: using any given seed on older versions now generates a different world.
		Terrain now appears to come in large islands.
		Terrain can now generate high enough to be higher than the world height limit, causing it to be cut off.
		Monoliths now have the potential to generate.^[verify]
		The amount of trees that generate appears to be different now.
20100616		Terrain-breaking change to world gen: using any given seed on older versions now generates a different world.
		Terrain generation in ocean areas is now different.^[verify]
		Reimplemented caves.
		Random patches of flowers and mushrooms now generate.
		Springs now generate.
		Lava now naturally generates, although how it does so exactly is unknown.
Java Edition Alpha
v1.2.0	preview	Terrain-breaking change to world gen: using any given seed on older versions now generates a different world.
Java Edition Beta
1.3		It is now possible to manually determine the seed upon world creation.
1.8	Pre-release	Terrain-breaking change to world gen.
1.8	Pre-release	The debug screen now displays the seed number.
Java Edition
1.2.1	?	Multiplayer servers no longer send the seed to clients.
1.3.1	12w18a	Due to singleplayer becoming multiplayer, the world's seed is no longer displayed on the debug screen.
1.3.1	12w21a	Added `/seed`, which displays the current world seed.
1.7.2	13w36a	Terrain-breaking change to world gen. Seed types were changed.
1.13	18w06a	World generator rewritten in a non-breaking way. Customized removed.
Upcoming Java Edition
1.18	1.18 Experimental Snapshot 1	Terrain-breaking change to the world gen. Revamp Caves, Mountains, and Terrain height system. Amplified and Large Biomes removed.
	1.18 experimental snapshot 2	World generator rewritten in a non-breaking way.
	21w41a	Replaced the random number generator used in world generation, resulting in different terrain being generated using same seed.
	21w43a	Seeds have been reshuffled again. Worlds will not look like as they did in previous snapshots.
Pocket Edition Alpha
v0.1.0		Added seeds.
v0.9.0	build 1	Terrain-breaking change to world gen: using any given seed on older versions now generates a different world.
Upcoming Bedrock Edition
1.18.0	beta 1.18.0.20	Terrain-breaking change to the world gen. Revamp Caves, Mountains, and Terrain height system.
	beta 1.18.0.22	Replaced the random number generator used in world generation, resulting in different terrain being generated using same seed.
	beta 1.18.0.24	Seeds have been reshuffled again. Worlds will not look like as they did in previous betas.

Trivia [ ]

It is possible to generate Legacy Console Edition biomes on Java Edition version 1.7.2 - 1.12.2 by modifying the source code to remove 2 hard-coded layers in the biome stage of biome generation, which downscales the biomes 4x to obtain the final Legacy Console biome map, as the 1.12.2 old Customized's biome size option uses a different hard-coded formula to downscale/upscale biomes. Specifically, legacy console edition does not scale the biomes 2x immediately prior to where the biome edges are applied, whereas Java Edition customized changes the number of times biomes are scaled after beaches are placed on the biome map.

Notable Java Edition seeds [ ]

The following map seeds have, at one point or another, been used for generating official Minecraft maps and resources or otherwise significant community material in Java Edition.

The demo world seed can be played in the full version by entering North Carolina in the seed input.
The PC Gamer demo world seed can be played in the appropiate era by entering glacier, all lowercase unlike the famous seed where the G is capitalized, in the seed input.
The seed for each title screen panorama are as follows:
- The panorama used between Beta 1.8 Pre-release and 18w22c is either 2151901553968352745 or 8091867987493326313,^[10] generated between Beta 1.6.6 and Beta 1.7.
- The panorama used for Java Edition 1.13 is 1458140401, which is the seed resulting from typing 18w22a in as a seed, generated in snapshot 18w22a.
- Java Edition 1.14 is 2802867088795589976, taken in 18w48a.
- Java Edition 1.15 is -4404205509303106230, taken in 19w40a.
- Java Edition 1.16 is 6006096527635909600, taken in 20w13a.
- Java Edition 1.18 is 2151901553968352745, taken in 21w40a.
The seed for the original pack.png file is 3257840388504953787, generated in Alpha v1.2.2.^[11] It can also be generated between Alpha v1.2.0 and Beta 1.7.3 with minor population differences.
The seed for the Skull on Fire painting is either -6984854390176336655 or -1044887956651363087, generated in Alpha v1.1.2_01 or prior.^[12]
The seed used for the original Herobrine doctored screenshot is 478868574082066804, generated in Alpha v1.0.16_02.

Gallery [ ]

2 shipwrecks joined in 1 full boat.
2 cave spider spawners next to each other.
This portal is already activated upon world generation.
A glitched structure with 5 pig spawners and a chest.
Igloo generated inside a mountain.
Spider spawner generated right next to the village.
Savanna village partially generated in mushroom fields biome.
Desert village partially generated in mushroom fields biome along with some ,,underwater" ruins.
Mineshaft and skeleton spawner generated at the very bottom of the world.
Village at spawn with amazing loot in blacksmith´s building.

References [ ]

↑ https://www.mojang.com/2011/02/a-short-demystification-of-the-map-seed/
↑ "The world with that same name on the screenshot uses seed "pollinating sandboxes" as well, a legit way to create a world with seed 0. Other strings that create seed 0 are "creashaks organzine" and "drumwood boulderhead" but I used one that's easy to remember." – @SeargeDP on Twitter
↑ MCPE-44604
↑ https://www.minecraftforum.net/forums/minecraft-java-edition/seeds/2229720-can-two-different-seeds-produce-identical-worlds
↑ http://stackoverflow.com/questions/3065554/can-javas-random-function-be-zero
↑ MC-111378
↑ https://www.reddit.com/r/MCPE/comments/5i6sae/recursive_infinite_mineshaft_seeds_on_mcpe/
↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UtNXUMrSIxQ
↑ MCPE-95011
↑ https://www.reddit.com/r/Minecraft/comments/hthrmk/big_news_we_have_found_the_seed_of_minecrafts/
↑ https://www.reddit.com/r/MinecraftAtHome/comments/iocx6f/packpng_seed_was_found_explanation_tutorial_and
↑ https://www.reddit.com/r/Minecraft/comments/iqg3ey/the_original_screenshot_seed_of_the_minecraft/

External links [ ]

Bedrock and Java Editions [ ]

Chunkbase Minecraft Apps: Online seed/map explorer tool
Minecraft Seeds on Reddit: Community-driven Minecraft Seeds
Minecraft Seeds: Community-driven Minecraft Seeds
Minecraft Seed HQ: Seeds by Minecraft Version
LookingForSeed: Find Minecraft seeds from various categories
Minemap.org: High resolution maps for good seeds for the Java and Windows 10 (Bedrock) Edition

Java Edition only [ ]

Random Seed Reader: Local Java tool
Minecraft SeedHunt: Selected Seeds from various categories for Java 1.16
Minecraft Seeds Java Edition: New Seeds for 1.16.4 Version
SeedCracker: guess a seed from a multiplayer server
Seeder: Seed/map explorer tool and finder for Java