How to Fly with Elytra in Minecraft

Guide Java Bedrock

Quick answer: Wear the Elytra in the chestplate slot, then press jump while in mid-air to spread the wings. Aim down to gain speed and up to lose it, and use firework rockets while gliding to boost. Each second of gliding costs 1 durability, and a pair has 432 (7 minutes 12 seconds).

What you need

Elytra (from an End ship)
Firework rockets without firework stars
Phantom membranes and an anvil for repairs
Optional: Unbreaking or Mending books (applied at an anvil)

Step by step

Get an Elytra: it is found in an End ship's item frame, in an End city in the outer End islands, guarded by a shulker. Equip it in the chestplate slot (you give up chest armor).
Jump off a height and press jump again while in mid-air. The wings open and you glide. You steer by turning; moving your aim up and down changes pitch.
Losing altitude increases speed and gaining altitude decreases it. Sharp turns lose speed quickly.
For the longest cruise without rockets, aim straight at the horizon: expect about 10.06 blocks traveled horizontally per block of starting altitude.
Use a firework rocket while gliding to be pushed in the direction you face. Rockets with firework stars explode at the end of their flight and can damage you, so use rockets without stars for flying. Rockets do not use up elytra durability.
Land carefully: hitting a wall at high speed deals kinetic damage ("experienced kinetic energy"), while hitting a ceiling does not. Landing at an angle steeper than about 50 degrees can cause fall damage.
Repair in an anvil with phantom membranes (each restores 25% of durability, 108 points) or combine two pairs. You cannot enchant elytra at an enchanting table, but an anvil can add Unbreaking or Mending.

Java vs Bedrock

Gliding, pitch and rockets work in both editions. Bedrock differences: touching water or vines stops flight, pressing jump mid-flight cancels it, and in Creative (or with the mayfly ability) you can hold jump to fly up while gliding.

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

Frequently asked questions

Why do fireworks hurt me while I fly?

A rocket with firework stars explodes at the end of its flight and damages you based on the number of stars. Use rockets without stars for boosting.

Can elytra break permanently?

No. When durability reaches 1 they stop working (tattered texture) until repaired, but they never fully break. Repair with phantom membranes in an anvil or combine two pairs.

How long do elytra last?

432 durability, lost at 1 per second of gliding: 7 minutes 12 seconds. Unbreaking III raises that to about 28 minutes 48 seconds. Rockets do not reduce durability.

How do I gain altitude without rockets?

Pitch cycle: from at least 50 blocks up (about 80 is ideal), dive at a pitch of 32-33 degrees until you lose about 60-70 blocks, pitch up to about -50 degrees, then slowly ease back down to 32 degrees and repeat. Done right it gains about 3 blocks per cycle.

What does "experienced kinetic energy" mean?

You died from kinetic damage by hitting a block at high speed. Horizontal surfaces such as ceilings do not cause it.