How to Find a Stronghold in Minecraft

Guide Java Bedrock

Quick answer: Craft Eyes of Ender (blaze powder + ender pearls) and throw them: each flies about 12 blocks toward the nearest stronghold. Follow the throws until the eye travels downward instead of up - then you are above the stronghold, so dig down. The End portal room has a silverfish spawner and a ring of 12 frames that all need an eye.

What you need

Up to 12 Eyes of Ender for the portal, plus extras for throws during the search
Pickaxe and torches for the dig
Weapon and shield for silverfish

Step by step

Craft 1 Eye of Ender from 1 Ender Pearl and 1 Blaze Powder. This is a shapeless recipe: put the two ingredients in any two slots of the inventory crafting grid or a crafting table. Bring up to 12 eyes for empty portal frames, plus extras for the search.
In the Overworld, throw an eye (use). It flies about 12 blocks toward the nearest stronghold, then either falls to be picked up again (80%) or shatters (20%). It points toward the starting staircase chunk, not directly to the portal room.
Walk in that direction and throw again. While you are more than 12 blocks from the stronghold's start chunk corner the eye rises; when you are closer than that it travels downward.
To triangulate, throw from two far-apart spots, note the direction each time, and head to where the two lines cross.
When the eye goes down, you are near the northwest corner of the stronghold's starting chunk. Dig a careful staircase rather than straight down and light your way. Explore the stronghold to find the portal room; it can be several rooms away from the starting staircase.
Find the End portal room: the frames sit in a 5x5 ring (3 per side, no corners) over a lava pool, with a staircase holding a silverfish monster spawner. Each frame has a 10% chance of already holding an eye; use eyes on the empty ones until all 12 are filled.

Java vs Bedrock

Java Edition: every world has exactly 128 strongholds in 8 rings around the origin; the first ring has 3 strongholds between 1,280 and 2,816 blocks from the origin. Bedrock Edition: strongholds generate at least 160 blocks from the origin with no fixed limit, plus 3 extra ones at least 453 blocks away.

Versions: Describes the current Java and Bedrock releases. See the edition note above for differences.

Frequently asked questions

Why did my Eye of Ender go down into the ground?

Within about 12 blocks of the corner of the stronghold's starting chunk, the eye travels downward instead of up. That means you are above the stronghold: dig down and explore, since the portal room can be several rooms away from the start.

Can a stronghold lack a working End portal?

Most of a stronghold can be overwritten by caves, mineshafts, ancient cities, trial chambers and other features. It is rare for the End portal to be replaced, but if it happens you need to find another stronghold, because a portal only works with all 12 frames present.

How many Eyes of Ender do I need?

Keep up to 12 eyes for the portal, minus any already present in its frames. Each frame has a 10% chance of coming pre-filled, but that is not a promise that one will be filled. Bring extra eyes because each search throw has a 20% chance to shatter.