Spyglass

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Spyglass
Spyglass.png: Infobox image for Minecraft item 'Spyglass'
Invicon Spyglass.png: Inventory sprite for Spyglass in Minecraft as shown in-game with description: Spyglass

A spyglass is a utility item used to zoom in on distant objects.

Obtaining

Crafting

Ingredients Crafting recipe
Amethyst Shard +
Copper Ingot
Invicon Amethyst Shard.png: Inventory sprite for Amethyst Shard in Minecraft as shown in-game linking to Amethyst Shard with description: Amethyst ShardInvicon Copper Ingot.png: Inventory sprite for Copper Ingot in Minecraft as shown in-game linking to Copper Ingot with description: Copper IngotInvicon Copper Ingot.png: Inventory sprite for Copper Ingot in Minecraft as shown in-game linking to Copper Ingot with description: Copper Ingot
Invicon Spyglass.png: Inventory sprite for Spyglass in Minecraft as shown in-game with description: Spyglass

Generated loot

This section describes content that is currently in development.
 
This content has appeared in development versions for Third Drop 2026, but the full update adding it has not been released yet.
Item Structure Container Quantity Chance
Java Edition 26.3
Spyglass Abandoned Camp Common chest 1 19%
Bedrock Edition 26.50
Spyglass Abandoned Camp Common chest 1 19%

Usage

To use a spyglass, the player selects it from the hotbar and clicks use while looking in the desired direction.

Spyglasses are used to zoom in on a specific location in the player's field of view (FOV). The spyglass changes the FOV to 1⁄10 of the FOV set in options. By default, the FOV is set to 70° in Java Edition and 60° in Bedrock Edition, resulting in an FOV of 7° in Java Edition and 6° in Bedrock Edition through the spyglass. The player's FOV can be set from 30° to 110°, so the spyglass FOV can range from 3° to 11°. Regardless of the situation, or status effects the player has, using the Spyglass always shows a FOV 1⁄10 of the FOV set in options.

A square cutout overlay is applied to the screen when the spyglass is in use, similar to the effect applied when wearing a carved pumpkin. Pressing F1 removes the overlay,‌[Java Edition only][1][2] similarly to a carved pumpkin.

Hazy distant objects remain hazy when viewed in the spyglass. Mobs too distant to render also do not render in the spyglass. The spyglass shows a magnified view of what the player already sees.

The player is slowed down while watching through the spyglass. Camera movement damping can be adjusted in the controls settings in Bedrock Edition. When the player uses the spyglass continuously for 1 minute (1200 game ticks), the interface is automatically closed.

If the player has a certain effect on their screen like fire, the spyglass does not remove that effect on the player's screen.

A spyglass being used to zoom in on a block of gold starting from normal FOV (70°).

Sounds

Java Edition

Sounds
SoundClosed captionsSourceDescriptionIdentifierTranslation keyVolumePitchAttenuation
distance
​Spyglass expandsPlayersWhen a player uses a spyglassitem.spyglass.usesubtitles.item.spyglass.use​0.5varies [sound 1]16
​Spyglass retractsPlayersWhen a player stops using a spyglassitem.spyglass.stop_usingsubtitles.item.spyglass.stop_using​0.5varies [sound 2]16
  1. ↑ Can be 1.15, 1.33, 1.4, or 1.55
  2. ↑ Can be 1.0, 0.8, or 0.9

Bedrock Edition:

Sounds
SoundClosed captionsSourceDescriptionIdentifierTranslation keyVolumePitch
​ ?PlayersWhen a player uses a spyglassitem.spyglass.use​ ?0.51.15–1.55
​ ?PlayersWhen a player stops using a spyglassitem.spyglass.stop_using​ ?0.50.8–1.0

Data values

ID

Java Edition:

NameIdentifierForm Translation key
ItemSprite spyglass.png: Sprite image for spyglass in Minecraft SpyglassspyglassItem item.minecraft.spyglass

Bedrock Edition:

NameIdentifierNumeric ID Form Translation key
ItemSprite spyglass.png: Sprite image for spyglass in Minecraft Spyglassspyglass660Item item.spyglass.name

Advancements

IconAdvancementIn-game descriptionActual requirements (if different)
Is It a Bird?Look at a Parrot through a Spyglass—
Is It a Balloon?Look at a Ghast through a Spyglass—
Is It a Plane?Look at the Ender Dragon through a Spyglass—

History

Reveal

October 3, 2020 Spyglasses are revealed at Minecraft Live 2020. They were originally named "telescopes" and had an oval vignette.

Java Edition

Java Edition
1.1720w45a Added spyglasses.
The scope texture is currently a circle with glare spots.
20w46a The scope texture is now a glass square with a copper border.
20w48a The spyglass is now a 3D model instead of a flat sprite.
The texture of the spyglass has changed.
A spyglass in use is anchored better to the player's "eye" when viewed in 3rd person.
21w05aCopper ingots are now renewable via drowned, making spyglasses renewable.
21w10a Spyglasses have a new texture in the inventory. The 3D model is still used in the hand, similar to tridents.
1.17.1pre1 The texture of the spyglass model has changed.
Upcoming Java Edition
26.3snap1Spyglasses can now generate as part of abandoned camps in chests.

Bedrock Edition

Bedrock Edition
1.17.0
Experiment
Caves and Cliffs
beta 1.17.0.50 Added spyglasses.
1.17.0beta 1.17.0.52Spyglasses are now available without enabling Experimental Gameplay.
26.40
Experiment
Drop 3 of 2026
Preview 26.40.27Spyglasses can now generate as part of abandoned camps in chests.
Upcoming Bedrock Edition
26.50Preview 26.50.22All features from the "Drop 3 of 2026" experiment have been fully implemented.

Issues

Issues relating to "Spyglass" are maintained on the bug tracker. Issues should be reported and viewed there.

Trivia

  • If /item replace is used to place a spyglass on a player's head, the item appears stuck to the center of the player's face.
  • If loaded in an outdated world in Bedrock Edition, it has no texture, but can still be used.

Renders

This article would benefit from the addition of isometric renders.
 
Please remove this notice once you have added suitable isometric renders to the article.
The specific instructions are: Add renders of Ari, Efe, Kai, Makena, Noor, Sunny, and Zuri

Screenshots

In other media

References

  1. ↑ MC-203575 – The spyglass overlay goes away when pressing F1 – resolved as "Works As Intended".
  2. ↑ MCPE-125869 – Spyglass's overlay don't go away even if the player toggles Hide GUI on/ Pressing F1 – resolved as "Won't Fix".

Sources