Minecraft Crafter added to game in 1.20.3 Snapshot 23W42A – Automatic crafting in vanilla Minecraft

Michael Hassall

Michael Hassall

The Crafter, a highly anticipated new item in Minecraft, was added to the game in the 1.20.3 Snapshot 23W42A. Here’s everything you need to know:

If you can’t wait to get your hands on Minecraft’s Crafter block, the new automatic crafting item revealed at Minecraft Live 2023, then wait no longer, as it was added to the game in the 1.20.3 Snapshot 23W42A. This new feature, which is due to be released fully in the Minecraft 1.21 update, is currently only accessible via experimental features, and is only in its early stage of development. Here’s how to grab it early:

How to get the Crafter in Minecraft

Currently, to use the Crafter in Minecraft, you’ll need to first make sure you’re playing on the 1.20.3 Snapshot 23W42A. You may need to add a new installation of Minecraft in the client, or switch over to using the Snapshot option in the Minecraft Launcher.

(Screenshot by esports.gg)
(Screenshot by esports.gg)

Once you’re definitely playing on a Snapshot, you’ll need to activate Experiments when creating a New World. To do this, select Create New World, and then Experiments at the bottom.

(Screenshot by esports.gg)
(Screenshot by esports.gg)

In the Experiments window, turn the option reading “Update 1.21” from “Off” to “On.” This will give you access to the Crafter in Minecraft.

(Screenshot by esports.gg)
(Screenshot by esports.gg)

How to craft the Crafter in Minecraft

The crafter has a simple recipe in Minecraft:

  • 5 x Iron Ingot
  • 1 x Crafting Table
  • 1 x Dropper
  • 2 x Redstone

They’ll need to be arranged in the following manner:

(Screenshot by esports.gg)
(Screenshot by esports.gg)

Be aware this is Beta/Snapshot content and is subject to change in the future.

How Crafters work in Minecraft

Crafters are able to produce blocks, items, and any craftable time that you can create on a Crafting Table automatically. To do so, they’ll need to be put in the Crafter the correct way to complete that item. 

Once an item is crafted by a Crafter, it can’t be removed manually. Currently, you’ll need to power the Crafter and activate it to remove the item. This can be done with a Button, or by powering a block next to the Crafter.

(Screenshot by esports.gg)
(Screenshot by esports.gg)

To craft items that may not need the full crafting grid, you can block certain sections. This way, you can create items like swords, pick axes, and really anything you can think of. Crafters can be fed into and have items drawn out by Hoppers. This is just one of the ways that Crafters can change the way you play the game.

However, one Minecraft developer insists that the Crafter isn’t “revolutionary.” We beg to differ. Automatic crafting with the Crafter will change the way people play Minecraft forever!


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