Bedrock Edition unused features

Since the beginning of Minecraft's development, there have been a number of features added to the game that have little to no actual use. Some of these features are leftovers from removed features, or simply placeholders for new features in future updates.

Note that this page only documents unused features that are currently in the game. See Bedrock Edition removed features for features previously in the game that are no longer available.

Enchantments
This is a list of unused features related to enchantments.

Curse Enchantments
Curse of Vanishing and Curse of Binding enchantments were added and obtainable via trading with librarian villagers in 1.2.0, however, as of 1.14, librarians no longer sell enchanted books with curse enchantments.

However, Curse of Vanishing and Curse of Binding are still in the game but require an NBT editor to obtain them. Legacy Console Edition had these books, but in Bedrock Edition, they go unused.

Enchant anything
In Bedrock Edition, players cannot enchant a block or item, only tools, weapons, and armor can be enchanted, even if the player is in creative mode.

However, it is possible to apply enchantments to non-enchantable items or blocks using the NBT editor.

By using the NBT editor, it is possible to apply enchantments which cannot be applied in-game normally, such as Fire Aspect on flint and steel.

It is also possible to add multiple enchantments that are not compatible with each other such as Smite and Bane of Arthropods to a sword.

Although the command in Bedrock Edition cannot enchant pass the maximum level limit, it is possible to enchant items with a higher level than the max limit via the NBT editor.

Spectator Mode
Spectator mode was added in an unknown version, but it cannot be entered by using command and world settings, it can only be entered by using NBT Editor, It also cannot take the view of any entities.

Mobs
In vanilla behavior packs, there is a loot table for the giant, a mob that cannot be spawned in Bedrock Edition.

Chest Loot

 * Old Village

New Village architecture is no longer behind Experimental gameplay in 1.11.0, which consists of new chest loot, however old village chest loot has not been removed, but has become unused, this old loot consists of:


 * Unknown

There are unused loot tables which have similar loot like dungeon chest loot before the Better Together Update, it is named monster_room.json (unknown structure)

Other
There is also unknown equipment loot called low_item_tiers.json

Old Stonecutter
Bedrock Edition 1.10.0 introduced the stonecutter with the model and texture similar to the stonecutter, however, the new stonecutter does not replace the old stonecutter, as the old stonecutter was only removed from the creative inventory and commands. It is still available if the player already had it in a world prior to 1.10.0 or uses inventory editing.

Lava in Cauldron
Cauldrons can be used to store lava, but always filled by $10/46$ level. However, using or  command with different data values can obtain a cauldron with $10/46$ through $15/46$ level filled by lava, which normally can't happen due to the fact that dyeing leather armor and filling glass bottles isn't possible with Lava.

Glowing Obsidian


Glowing Obsidian blocks were part of the (now obsolete) Nether reactor. It emits a soft red glow at light level 12, and drops a single obsidian when broken with a diamond pickaxe. It can only be obtained using inventory editors or a Silk Touch enchanted pickaxe. As of 0.12.1, this block doesn't generate anymore. The block may still be obtained using inventory editors or by retaining it from previous worlds before the update.

reserved6


reserved6 is an unused block with a completely off-white texture present $5/46$. It acted as a placeholder block for Fire between Alpha 0.3.3 and Alpha 0.6.1, due to a bug in fire spreading mechanics that caused fire to spread to any block. Before becoming unused, the block was called .name and it had the texture of a stone block. In, fire returned with fixed spreading mechanics, replacing reserved6. Its data value, however, changed to ID 255. Currently, it can only be obtained through inventory editing, however, in, the texture of reserved6 was completely removed and was shown as an update game block.

Nether Reactor Core


The functionality of the Nether Reactor was removed in Pocket Edition Alpha 0.12.1. However, the reactor core block still exists in-game and can be obtained through inventory editing or by retaining it from previous worlds before the update. It now drops its ingredients (unless mined with Silk Touch), allowing players to recover them. Prior to Pocket Edition Alpha 0.12.1, they were used to activate the nether reactor. Tapping on it would activate the reactor if built correctly. When the core is activated for the nether reactor structure, the cobblestone and the Block of Gold are both replaced with Glowing Obsidian.

Paintings
There are four 2×2 tile paintings with no clear purpose or use. Using IDA and the Android  file, it has been found that the paintings are referenced from the game code, particularly in the   method (get all paintings), but the   method excludes them as possibilities for a random painting. The artist and purpose of these paintings are both unknown.

Update Game Blocks


Update Game Blocks are a set of two similar placeholder blocks present $5/46$. These blocks are placed in the world when the game detects an invalid block ID. (This means it is the substitute to the black-magenta checker block that appears in the Java Edition.) They used to take the appearance of a dirt block with the text "update!" and "ate!upd" in green writing, which would form a readable word when placed next to each other. They were introduced in Alpha 0.1.3. Shovels are ineffective against this block despite the dirt sounds and texture.

Now, both blocks render "update" as in the first block. If a block is missing a texture for its respective block particle, the particles will appear with this texture.

They can only be obtained via inventory editing or mods. This block is only used for blocks with invalid IDs. If the block ID is valid, but has no texture, it will be a magenta black checkerboard block instead of this block.

Fake Wood Slab
Before unique slabs corresponding to different wooden planks types were added, oak wooden slabs were treated like other stone-type slabs. They required a pickaxe to break, had a blast resistance greater than normal planks, and had stone sounds. They are still obtainable in worlds, which had them in it previously. They are tagged as Wooden Slab, reflecting on the fact oak was the only wood type in plank form. In Pocket Edition, until Alpha 0.11.0, they are tagged as Fake Wood Slab, and will drop normal oak wood slabs when broken. This slab is still obtainable with commands, with damage value 2 and block type wood_old. It has a missing texture in the inventory. These were never truly exclusive to the Bedrock Edition, as they are essentially a parallel to the block in the Java and Legacy Console editions – only the name and the block drop are unique, this also occurred with the Legacy Console Edition from TU1 to TU12.

Double Slab Block
Double Slab Blocks drop 2 corresponding slabs when broken, most of them look identical to their full block variant. These blocks can be obtained using inventory editing or commands. These blocks are tile.double. slab. The blocks are: There is also a double slab that is unused;
 * Double Brick Slab
 * Double Oak Slab
 * Double Birch Slab
 * Double Spruce Slab
 * Double Jungle Slab
 * Double Acacia Slab
 * Double Dark Oak Slab
 * Double Stone Slab
 * Double Sandstone Slab
 * Double Red Sandstone Slab
 * Double Cobblestone Slab
 * Double Stone Brick slab
 * Double Nether Brick Slab
 * Double Quartz Slab
 * Double Purpur Slab
 * Double Prismarine Slab
 * Double Dark Prismarine Slab
 * Double Prismarine Brick Slab
 * Double Smooth Stone Slab
 * Double Red Nether Brick Slab
 * Double Andesite Slab
 * Double Polished Andesite Slab
 * Double Cut Sandstone Slab
 * Double Smooth Sandstone Slab
 * Double Cut Red Sandstone Slab
 * Double Smooth Red Sandstone Slab
 * Double Diorite Slab
 * Double Polished Diorite Slab
 * Double Granite Slab
 * Double Polished Granite Slab
 * Double Smooth Quartz Slab
 * Double Mossy Cobblestone Slab
 * Double Fake Wooden Slab – which shares some similarities with its single slab version.

Bell-less Block
There is an unused bell which consists of the stand without a bell. This bell cannot be rung, but it will drop a normal bell when broken.

Locked Smoker, Blast Furnace, Lectern, and Barrel
There are also several unused blocks which are in a locked state. These block cannot be opened or used by the player (their GUI does not show up, but the player hand can still perform action).

Smokeless Campfire
Campfires updated from beta 1.10.0 to 1.11.0 will not produce smoke particles because campfires in 1.10.0 had no functionality. Their difference in the code is not known.

More Explorer Maps
Despite Ocean Explorer Maps, Woodland Explorer and Buried Treasure Maps being the only explorer maps that can be obtained in game, other explorer maps actually exist in the game files, and can only be obtained via inventory editing. These maps being:


 * Village Explorer Map: Shows the nearest village, the reason why this map is not obtainable is because it sometimes shows the nearest village from player, and is sold by the cartographer villager, who also spawns in the village, which makes this explorer map essentially useless, as it shows the current location of the village that the player just found.
 * Mineshaft Explorer Map: Shows the nearest abandoned mineshaft, for normal or mesa variant.
 * Temple Explorer Map: Shows the nearest of one of these structures:
 * Jungle Pyramid
 * Desert Pyramid
 * Igloo
 * Swamp Hut
 * Stronghold Explorer Map : Shows the nearest stronghold, this explorer map will often lead the player to a village, because strongholds in Bedrock Edition have a high chance to generate underneath a village's well or meeting point. This can be an alternative way to find strongholds beside using an eye of ender.
 * Ruins Explorer Map : Shows the nearest ocean ruins.
 * Shipwreck Explorer Map : Shows the nearest shipwreck.
 * Pillager Outpost Explorer Map: Shows the nearest pillager outpost.
 * Fortress Explorer Map : Shows the nearest nether fortress. Unlike other explorer maps, this map uses the Nether map layout, instead of the explorer map layout, which is a static gray color with a destination pointer that stays in one place but spinning wildly like the player pointer.
 * End City Explorer Map : Shows nearest end city. Unlike other explorer maps, this map uses the End map layout, instead of the explorer map layout.

These explorer maps, named Unknown Maps, have the same scale as the woodland and ocean explorer maps, however when held, its name is changed to Map 0 and shows a green triangle to mark the destination structure. These explorer maps have normal map textures but have the same layout as a woodland and ocean explorer maps, which are brown. They use stripes for bodies of water, and a sort of tan color for landmasses. If the player obtains these unused explorer maps in an incorrect dimension, ex: obtaining a fortress explorer map in the Overworld will cause the game to freeze and/or eventually crash.

Potions and Tipped Arrows
Some potions are unobtainable in normal gameplay, they appear in 3 different types: drinkable potions, splash potions, and lingering potions. Each potion also has its own respective tipped arrow variant, they are:
 * Potion of Haste
 * Potion of Dullness
 * Potion of Blindness
 * Potion of Resistance
 * Potion of Absorption
 * Potion of Health Boost
 * Potion of Confusion
 * Potion of Levitation

Tipped Arrows
Besides the tipped arrows that are created from unused potions, some tipped arrows are also unused. These tipped arrows do not give any status effects when shot at an entity. These arrows are tipped arrows from base potions:
 * Arrow of Water
 * Arrow of Mundane
 * Arrow of Long Mundane
 * Arrow of Thick
 * Arrow of Awkward

Jigsaw Block
The Jigsaw Block can only be obtained via inventory editors, although it has no function. The block uses the old texture prior to the one before the Java Edition snapshot 18w50a.

Purpur Blocks
There are unused data values of the Purpur Block that have the same texture as the normal Purpur Block and can only be obtained by or inventory editing. These are:
 * 1 - Chiseled Purpur
 * 3 - tile.purpur_block.smooth.name (which seems to be Smooth Purpur)

Textures
There are no items, placeable blocks, or mobs for these, as they only appear as textures, meaning they are currently without use in-game. Note that some of these are from the Education Edition of Minecraft, which their textures still exist in Bedrock Edition.

Barrel
There are unused top textures of barrels, one is filled with fish, the other is similar in appearance to the open state.

Border
The Border was a red block in a cobblestone wall shape, however, its texture is shown as a full red block.

Allow and Deny
Allow and Deny Blocks' textures still remain, despite them no longer existing as blocks.

Chalkboard
Chalkboard comes in 3 variants: Slate, poster, and board.

Camera
The camera's texture still remains, despite it no longer existing as a block (however, in servers still can get the block), although it was re-added in beta 1.12.0.2, being obtainable with the command, but only as item. It is used to take photos because back then, phones didn't have the ability to take screenshots.

Cyan flower
The cyan flower was removed from the game, but Its texture still remains as

Items from Education Edition
Items that were added during Alpha 0.16.0 development versions:


 * All Chalkboards
 * Slate
 * Poster
 * Board


 * Camera Block
 * Camera Front
 * Camera Back
 * Camera Side
 * Camera Top


 * Border Block


 * Allow and Deny block

Portfolio
The Portfolio was an item that can save photos that were taken with the camera.

Chalkboard
Comes in all 3 variants: Slate, poster, and board.

Border Block
Used in the education edition for classroom mode

Minecart with Furnace
The Minecart with Furnace exists on Java and Legacy Console Editions, while in Bedrock Edition it only appears as a inventory icon texture.

Quiver
The quiver was going to be used to hold arrows, but it was never implemented; Dinnerbone said that holding arrows in the offhand felt more natural.

Hoglin Meat


, two textures named and  were added. They are textured identically to raw steak and cooked steak, respectively.

Gray Tabby Cat
In the default resource pack, a texture file for a gray tabby cat exists. However, it is completely unused and cannot be spawned in-game.

Old Nitwit Villager and Old Nitwit Zombie Villager
Nitwit villagers have existed in Bedrock Edition from earlier versions alongside its zombie villager version, but remain unused. Its texture still exists in the game files. Nitwit villager and zombie villager added in 1.10.0 but they are new villagers with a different ID and texture, which means the old nitwit villager and zombie villager textures are unused.

Old Pocket Edition Panorama
As of the Bedrock Edition 1.2.0 update, the Bedrock Edition uses a new panorama background, but the old panorama before 1.2.0 was not removed.

As of 1.5.0, the panorama changed to Aquatic. The background panorama from 1.2.0 - 1.4.0 was removed, while the old panorama texture still exists.

Even in 1.8.0, when the background panorama changed again to pandas and cats in the jungle, the old panorama texture still remains in the game, although it is unobtainable.

Again in 1.11.0, when background panorama changed to village and pillage, the old panorama texture still remains in the game, although it's not used.

Status effects
Some of the status effects in Pocket Edition are unobtainable and can only be obtained using inventory editing or.

Health Boost
Health Boost was added to the game in Alpha 0.12.0. It gives extra health that can regenerate. It can only be obtained with commands.

Saturation
Saturation was added to the game in Alpha 0.12.0. It can only be obtained using commands. Note that all foods replenish food saturation, but they don't actually add the Saturation status effect. It can only be obtained with commands.

Nether in Old World Type
Nether Portals cannot be activated in the Old world type unless converted to the infinite world type.

As of Alpha 0.16.0 build 5, commands can be used by players to access the Nether in the Old world type without converting it to Infinite by using commands or  with the Nether Portal.

The Nether in the Old world type looks like the normal Nether with the exception that is it is limited in size. It is the same size as the Overworld, which is 256&times;256 with 128 block height. However, the Nether and the Overworld may have the same size, but traveling 1 block in the nether will still be equal to traveling 8 blocks in the Overworld. This is a problem that can make the game freeze or crash, which is the reason why the Nether can't be accessed in the old world type. When the player goes to the Nether, a new Nether portal will generate naturally in the Overworld, because a portal placed with commands isn't counted. However, the player cannot make a nether portal normally.

End in Old World Type
The End Dimension was added, and alongside the End in the old world type. The End cannot be accessed because strongholds never generate in the Old world type and building an end portal also won't work. The only way to access it is via block-placement commands such as and.

Unlike the Nether in old worlds, which can generate all structures, The End in the Old only generates the main island and doesn't generate the outer islands, due to the size limit of 256&times;256.

However, sometimes the End in the Old world type doesn't generate properly, resulting in the central island not generating due to the border.

If this happens, the ender dragon may get stuck in mid-air at the border, and the exit portal only generates cut in half or even doesn't generate at all. The end gateway portal won't work either, due to the size limit.

These problems are the reasons why the End dimension can't be accessed normally, as the only way to go back to the Overworld is via cheats or death.

5th Giant Tree Taiga biome variants
The file  contained a biome name which never existed in game.

"mega_taiga": { "water_surface_color": "#2d6d77", "water_fog_color": "#2d6d77" },   "mega_spruce_taiga": { "water_surface_color": "#2d6d77", "water_fog_color": "#2d6d77" },   "mega_taiga_mutated": { "water_surface_color": "#2d6d77", "water_fog_color": "#2d6d77" },   "mega_spruce_taiga_mutated": { "water_surface_color": "#2d6d77", "water_fog_color": "#2d6d77" },   "mega_taiga_hills": { "water_surface_color": "#286378", "water_fog_color": "#286378" },

Out of 5 giant tree taiga biomes, only 4 can generate in the game while another one only appears in this code, as that biome is not defined in vanilla behavior pack at biomes folder. It is unknown if this biome was a dropped feature or not.

Colors: #2d6d77 #286378

World settings
level.dat contains several player abilities. Most of these are used in multiplayer, to determine who has what permissions. However, some are completely inaccessible without an NBT editor. With the exception of, none of these settings can be altered in-game for the world itself, only for individual players. The  changes in-game as players toggle flight mode, but cannot be altered manually without editing.

Armed Zombie Villager
The zombie villager was added, but it cannot spawn with armor equipped. However, armed zombie villagers are still spawnable via mob editing. If a zombie villager is wearing armor, the helmet will be struck through its head, the chestplate and leggings can only be seen through holes in their clothes, while the boots look normal.

Wither Skeleton Archer
If a wither skeleton is equipped with a bow, it will use it as a ranged weapon, and arrows shot will always be set on fire regardless of what enchantment it has, or if it has an enchantment. However, wither skeleton archers cannot spawn naturally.

Wither Jockey
Spiders spawned in the Nether have a 1% chance of spawning while being ridden by a skeleton, which have an 80% of being a wither skeleton and a 20% of a normal skeleton. However, since spiders cannot naturally spawn in the Nether, this mob is unused. Instead, it can be spawned using spider spawn eggs in Creative mode. Wither jockeys also have a cave spider variant.

Zombie Horse
Zombie horses can only be spawned using its spawn egg or, as it cannot spawn naturally.

Zombie Horse Jockey (and Variants)
These jockeys (see below) are unused since zombie horses cannot spawn naturally.
 * Zombie horse jockey
 * Baby zombie riding zombie horse
 * Husk zombie horse jockey
 * Baby husk riding zombie horse
 * Zombie villager zombie horse jockey
 * Baby zombie villager riding zombie horse

Baby Trader Llama
Trader Llamas were added in beta 1.11.0.1 which at that time were breedable and can spawn a baby. However, as of beta 1.11.0.3, Trader Llamas no longer spawn naturally as babies since they are no longer breedable, causing the baby trader llama to become unused.

Ravagers
Some Ravager with riders do not spawn naturally and can only be summoned using :


 * vindicator riding ravager
 * pillager captain riding ravager
 * vindicator captain riding ravager

Agent


The Agent was added in alpha 0.17.0.1, although it was hidden in the .apk file of the game. However, it is still used in conjunction with Code Connection.

NPC
The NPC was added in alpha 0.16.0 Build 1; although, it was removed in alpha 0.16.0 Build 2 leaving their savegame ID and spawn egg.

The NPC was re-added again in beta 1.8.0.8, they currently have no functionality as of in this version. They can be spawned using.

Their spawn egg can only be obtained via.

As of 1.10.0 onward, NPCs can no longer be summoned using. However, the player can do it with NBT editors, they currently have the dialog screen for members and editing screen for players with the Operator permission or players with world builder permission.

Camera
The camera was first found in the Pocket Edition Alpha 0.1.0 .apk file, as of this version, the camera has functionality.

As of 0.9.0, the camera entity was removed. Tommaso stated "It doesn't mean that it's dead forever, in fact, I have a lot of ideas for it! I think it will be back when have shaders, sharing and redstone."

The camera was re-added in alpha 0.14.0, only accessible with inventory editors, but was removed again in alpha 0.16.0. However, the block can still be obtained in servers.

Cameras were added again in beta 1.8.0.8, but it requires mob editing to summon it or using an NBT editor to get its spawn egg. The camera can now be obtained using as of beta 1.12.0.2.

In beta 1.13.0.1, this item can be used by slide while using the item, the take picture sound can be heard and an explosion can be seen and a picture is saved to LocalState/screenshots folder on Windows 10 or /storage/emulated/0/screenshots folder on Android.

Old Villager
Old villagers, prior to the Village and Pillage update are still available in the game, but they are instantly converted into  (new villagers). Their spawn egg can only be obtained via. However, trying to spawn them with that spawn egg will spawn an old villager which is instantly killed. A new villager will then spawn and take its place.

However, in template worlds that have old villagers in them, the villagers will remain as old villagers with their old texture and won't be converted, and they will still behave normally (as v1 villagers).

Their trade tables were not removed, even though trading GUI has changed between Village and Pillage and prior updates.

Elder Guardian Ghost
The elder guardian ghost is a new unused mob added in beta 1.13.0.4. Its file isn't included in the behavior pack, and it can only be spawned using the command. The elder guardian ghost has same model and texture as the elder guardian, but uses the player hurt sound, has fewer health and is missing the back tail model. When spawned outside of water, it will float upward till it despawns, similar to a mob tied with a balloon, or under a high level of levitation effect, but it will clip through blocks. The guardian ghost itself isn't immune from suffocation damage.

If an elder guardian ghost is spawned underwater, it will slowly sink downward, clip through all blocks (including bedrock), until it eventually it falls into the void and dies. When underwater, the elder guardian ghost can rotate its body, look at players, and swim while slowly sinking downward.