In Bedrock Edition, the simplest built-in way to look through blocks is Spectator Mode: enable cheats in the world, then choose Spectator in World Settings or enter /gamemode spectator. You can fly through solid blocks and inspect underground areas, but you cannot mine or use items in that mode. Java Edition has different commands and resource-pack behavior, so check the pack’s edition and version before installing anything.
Choose a method for your edition and purpose
| Method | Edition and access | What it does | Main limitation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spectator Mode | Bedrock; cheats must be enabled in the world | Lets you fly through blocks and inspect underground spaces | You cannot interact with blocks or use items while spectating |
| X-ray resource pack or add-on | Depends on the specific pack, edition, platform, and game version | Changes block visuals so selected blocks may be easier to see | Compatibility and installation vary; multiplayer rules may prohibit use |
Java and Bedrock differ in commands and resource-pack capabilities and layouts. Instructions or downloads for one edition are not automatically suitable for the other; Microsoft’s Java and Bedrock comparison outlines those distinctions.
Use Spectator Mode in Bedrock
- Open the world’s settings and enable cheats if they are not already enabled. In a world you can edit, open Play, select the pencil/edit control beside the world, and look in World Settings for the Personal Game Mode option.
- Set Personal Game Mode to Spectator, or, while in the world with cheats enabled, enter
/gamemode spectator. - Fly through terrain to inspect caves, structures, or ore locations. Switch back to a non-spectator game mode when you want to play or mine normally.
Mojang’s Bedrock 1.19.50 release notes describe Spectator Mode as available without an experimental toggle and say spectators pass through solid blocks and entities. The same notes specify that spectators cannot use items or interact with blocks or mobs, so this is an inspection method rather than a way to collect ore.
Bedrock’s earlier 1.19.0 notes described the initial implementation as experimental and not yet at feature parity with Java. The later 1.19.50 notes document its subsequent availability; that does not mean every detail of Bedrock and Java Spectator Mode is identical.
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Consider a resource pack or Bedrock add-on
An X-ray pack attempts to alter block appearances so that ores or other chosen blocks stand out. Its setup depends on the pack’s own instructions and on your edition, platform, and installed game version. Mojang’s Java release notes document changes to resource-pack formats: see the Java 1.21.9 notes and the Java 26.1 notes, which list Resource Pack version 84. That number is a format version, not a guarantee that a particular pack supports your game. Check the pack’s stated compatibility before installing it.
For Bedrock add-ons generally, Minecraft Help explains how to apply a resource or behavior pack to a new or existing world: open Play, create or edit a world, select Resource packs or Behavior packs, and activate the pack. The help page also documents applying add-ons to Realms. This general workflow does not establish that a particular X-ray add-on is available, approved, or compatible. See Minecraft Help: Managing Add-Ons.
A third-party project called Minecraft X-Ray publishes builds for game versions it says it supports and describes its own in-game testing. Those are the project’s claims, not an independent compatibility or security assessment. Its page also warns users not to use X-ray on servers that prohibit it.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Check multiplayer rules before using X-ray
Before using a pack or add-on in a multiplayer world or Realm, read its rules and ask the owner if anything is unclear. Server policies and enforcement are specific to each server; a third-party project’s warning is not a universal Mojang rule. Do not use X-ray where the owner disallows it.
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Check compatibility and downloads carefully
- Confirm whether the instructions and files are for Java or Bedrock, then check any platform requirements.
- Match the pack to your installed game version. Resource-pack formats and compatibility can change between releases.
- Follow the selected pack’s installation instructions; there is no single installation path that applies to every edition, device, and pack.
- Use official documentation for built-in features and scrutinize third-party downloads. The project’s own download or testing claims are not independent security verification.
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