I still remember the first time I spawned in a new Minecraft world and stared up at a massive mountain range miles away, wishing I could just zoom over the forests and rivers instead of trekking for 20 minutes. If you’ve ever felt that same frustration, you’re probably looking for how to fly in Minecraft, and the good news is there are legitimate ways to do it no matter what game mode you play. You don’t have to stick to slow ground travel forever, and you don’t even have to enable cheats if you don’t want to. We’ve tested every method across Java, Bedrock, Pocket, and console editions to make sure these work for every player, no matter your platform or skill level.
Flying in Creative Mode: Basic Controls for Every Platform
If you play in creative mode, flying is already enabled by default, no extra work required. This is the simplest way to learn how to fly in Minecraft before you try more advanced methods in survival, and it’s perfect for building large structures without climbing ladders or scaffolding every 10 minutes. The controls are slightly different depending on what you play on, so we’ve broken them down clearly to avoid confusion:
- PC (Java/Bedrock): Double-tap the space bar to start flying. Hold space to go up, left shift to go down, and use WASD to move horizontally. Double-tap space again to stop flying and drop to the ground.
- Console (PlayStation/Xbox/Switch): Double-tap the jump button (X on Xbox, X on PlayStation, B on Switch) to activate flight. Use the left stick to move horizontally, right stick up to climb, right stick down to descend. Double-tap jump again to land.
- Pocket Edition (Mobile): Double-tap the jump button on your screen to start flying. Use the directional pad to move, drag up on the screen to climb, drag down to descend, and double-tap jump again to stop flying.
One common mistake new creative mode players make is holding jump too long and flying way higher than they intended, so if you’re new, start with short bursts to get used to the sensitivity. You can also adjust your fly speed in the game settings if the default feels too slow or too fast for your needs. Creative flight is also the only method that lets you fly through blocks, so it’s ideal for checking underground builds or fixing gaps in large structures without breaking blocks to get access.
Flying in Survival Mode Without Cheats Using Elytra
If you play survival mode and don’t want to enable cheats or mess with commands, the Elytra is the only legitimate way to fly long-term. If you’re looking for how to fly in Minecraft without breaking your survival playthrough rules, Elytra is your best bet. This pair of glider wings is found in end ships, which spawn in the End dimension outside of end cities, so you’ll have to beat the Ender Dragon first to get access to them. It’s a bit of work, but it’s 100% worth it for the freedom of flying without cheats.
Once you have your Elytra, equip it in the chest plate slot of your inventory, then find a high spot to jump from. You’ll need to press the jump button once while falling to activate the glide, and you can angle your camera up to gain altitude (slowly) or down to pick up speed. To get true, sustained flight instead of just gliding, you’ll need to use fireworks rockets. Craft fireworks with paper, gunpowder, and optional dye, then right-click (or use the use item button on console/mobile) while gliding to boost yourself forward. The more gunpowder you use to craft the firework, the longer the boost will last, so stock up on gunpowder from creepers or mob farms before you set off on a long flight.
There are a few downsides to Elytra flight you should know, too. If you fly into a block or crash into the ground at high speed, you’ll take massive fall damage, so always keep an eye on your surroundings. I still remember crashing my first Elytra into a cactus because I was looking at a herd of llamas instead of the ground, so trust me when I say paying attention matters. You can also repair damaged Elytra with phantom membranes, which drop from phantoms that spawn when you haven’t slept for three or more in-game days.
How to Fly in Minecraft Survival Using Temporary Cheat Methods
If you’re playing on a single-player world or a server you own, you can use cheats to enable flight even in survival mode, no Elytra required. This is a great option if you need to move a lot of materials quickly, fix a build that’s high up, or just explore without spending hours hunting for Elytra in the End. The most common way to do this is with the /fly command, but you’ll need to have cheats enabled on your world first.
If you didn’t enable cheats when you created your world, you can turn them on temporarily by opening the world to LAN and selecting “Allow Cheats” before starting the LAN session. Once cheats are active, just type /fly [your username] into the chat box, and you’ll be able to fly just like you would in creative mode, even with survival mode’s damage and inventory rules still active. Keep in mind that using the /fly command on public servers will usually get you banned, unless the server explicitly allows it for certain ranks or game modes. Never use this method on a server you don’t own or have explicit permission to use cheats on, as most server admins consider it unfair to other players. Another cheat-adjacent method is using slow falling potions to glide short distances without Elytra, but that’s less of a true flight method and more of a way to avoid fall damage while moving through the air.
Modded Flight Options for Custom Minecraft Worlds
If you play modded Minecraft, there are dozens of different flight options that work in both survival and creative mode, depending on what mods you have installed. These range from simple jetpacks to magical brooms, and most are balanced to fit into survival playthroughs without feeling too overpowered. You can pick options that fit the theme of your modpack, whether you’re playing a tech-focused pack, a magic pack, or a mix of both.
Some of the most popular modded flight options include Iron Jetpacks, a mod that adds craftable, upgradable jetpacks that run on fuel like coal or redstone flux. These are great for early to mid-game flight before you get Elytra, and you can upgrade them to go faster, hold more fuel, and even fly through water. Botania’s Flight Tiara is another fan favorite, a magical item that lets you fly as long as you have mana stored in your inventory. It’s a good option for magic-focused modpacks, and it doesn’t require fuel once you’ve crafted it, as long as you keep mana tablets on you. The Aether mod’s golden feather also grants permanent flight when held, as long as you’re exploring the Aether dimension.
Modded flight is usually balanced so you have to work for it just like you would for Elytra in vanilla, so it doesn’t take away the survival challenge if you don’t want it to. Always download mods from trusted, verified sources to avoid malware or corrupted files that could break your world or steal your account information.
At the end of the day, the right way to fly depends entirely on your playstyle and what you want out of your Minecraft world. If you’re a purist who loves the survival grind, hunting down Elytra and mastering firework boosting will give you the most satisfying sense of achievement. If you just want to build and explore without limits, creative mode flight or cheat commands will work perfectly for you. No matter which method you pick, learning how to fly in Minecraft will completely change how you interact with your world, cutting down travel time and letting you explore places you never would have been able to reach on foot. Take a little time to practice the controls before you head out on a long trip, and don’t forget to pack extra fireworks or fuel if you’re using Elytra or a modded jetpack.