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Minecraft Pocket Edition - how to make, use, and zoom out maps

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Minecraft Pocket Edition - how to make, use, and zoom out maps
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A handy new feature introduced in Minecraft Pocket Edition's 0.14 update lets you create maps of your current location.

You can use this to help you know where you have and haven't explored, to keep track of interesting locations, and to display an atlas of your kingdom your castle wall.

In this guide we'll tell you everything you need to know about making, marking, and zooming maps.

Maps need paper 01

To get started you'll need paper. Paper comes from sugar canes, which are often found growing near the sea. Smash these canes to bits and then craft them into paper with a crafting table.

Making an empty map 02

When you have nine sheets you can craft an empty map. It will then be in your inventory.

Make your first map 03

When you're holding an empty map, a "Create Map" button will appear at the bottom of the screen. Hit it and you'll have a map in your hands, showing you everything you've seen in your local area.

04

The map will automatically fill itself in as you explore more territory.

Add a cursor 05

The annoying thing about these maps is that you have no idea where you are on them, which makes orienteering rather difficult. But don't worry, there's a fix for that. Find or craft an anvil and put a map and a compass in the two slots. A new map will be created.

06

This one has a white cursor on it which shows you where you are and in which direction you are facing. Handy!

Zoom it out 07

The other issue with the map is that is very zoomed in and constricted to a small location. But it's possible to make a map that shows a much larger area. Just combine the map with eight sheets of paper on an anvil to make a zoomed out map.

08

You can do this multiple times to really zoom the map out! It will take you a long time to explore all this territory…

Put it on the wall 09

Finally, you can combine a map with an item frame to hang the atlas on your wall. An item frame, which is also new for 0.14, is crafted from eight sticks and one leather pelt. You can also place two maps next to each other on two item frames to make an even bigger map!

Mark Brown
Mark Brown
Mark Brown is editor at large of Pocket Gamer