Before you begin
- Install compatible Litematica and malilib builds for your game instance.
- Load a file and create a placement to show its hologram.
- Align the placement, gather materials and build in manageable layers.
- Check mismatches and learn how to save or edit your own schematics.
Java only, client-side mod
malilib (same game version)
Fabric (1.14+), Forge 1.12.2
Litematica wiki on GitHub
Install Litematica and malilib
Litematica is a client-side schematic mod for Minecraft Java. Select the loader and mod builds supported by your exact game version, including a matching malilib dependency. Use the project download pages and version filters; mixing game-version builds can prevent startup.
Put the files in the mods directory of the launcher instance you actually run. A modpack can use a separate game folder. Confirm both mods loaded before opening a schematic. Ordinary hologram viewing is client-side; some state-placement and pasting features need server support or permissions.
Understand files, placements and real blocks
A .litematic file stores schematic data. A placement positions that data in a world. Its hologram is a building reference, not actual blocks. Moving a placement does not move an existing world build.
In Survival, you normally gather materials and follow the hologram. Loading a file does not construct the whole structure. Creative pasting is a separate operation. Keep an original copy before editing schematic data.
Open menus and set hotkeys
Common defaults are M for the main menu and M + C for configuration. Litematica uses malilib hotkeys: rebind them in its own Hotkeys tab. Keyboard layouts, modpacks and conflicts can change the combinations.
- M + P commonly opens Schematic Placements.
- M + L commonly opens the Material List.
- M + V commonly opens the Schematic Verifier.
- M + R toggles main rendering; M + G toggles schematic rendering.
- M + T toggles tool-item functionality.
Load a file and create a placement
Put the schematic in the active instance’s schematics directory. Open Load Schematics, choose the file and enable Create a placement when loading.
If the data is already loaded but no placement exists, use Loaded Schematics to create one. In Schematic Placements, select the intended entry. A loaded file and an enabled placement are separate states.
Move and rotate the hologram
Select the placement and open Configure in Schematic Placements. Set its coordinates and rotation against a recognizable corner of your building site. Check height as well as horizontal position.
Review subregion transforms when the schematic contains multiple regions. A placement origin and the corner of the visible building need not coincide. Keep the position fixed once aligned so later comparisons use the same reference.
Placement configuration ↗Author explanation of placement origins ↗
Gather materials and verify the result
Open the Material List for the intended schematic or placement. Read the list scope and mode before gathering items. A saved-file total and a comparison against an existing world build answer different questions. Refresh relevant data after changing the placement.
The Schematic Verifier compares schematic blocks with the world. Review missing, extra, wrong-block and wrong-state results. The correct block facing the wrong way still needs attention. Select mismatch categories to locate positions instead of relying only on a total.
A block comparison is not a functional test of a farm. Inspect entities, inventories, fluids and redstone behavior separately. Only available world data can be compared.
Official feature overview ↗Material List and Verifier shortcuts ↗
Build one layer at a time
Use Render Layers to show one layer or a limited range and advance as you build. Restore the full range if most of the schematic disappears unexpectedly. These controls change the displayed guide, not world blocks.
Check stairs, slabs and stateful blocks as you progress. When fluids hide the guide, inspect the documented visual options rather than assuming blocks are absent from the file.
Use Easy Place
Select a placement, enable easyPlaceMode in Generic settings and check easyPlaceUseKey. You can bind easyPlaceToggle. With the hold option enabled, aim at schematic positions while using the configured key. Easy Place assists the position you target; it is not a whole-build Survival printer.
Multiplayer orientation support depends on the server. Keep an appropriate automatic/default protocol unless its administrator confirms the matching support. Forcing an unsupported protocol can produce rejected placements or ghost blocks. Materials, reach, permissions and server rules still apply.
If placement fails, check the enabled mode, selected placement, use key and reach. Compare with a single-player test to distinguish local settings from server restrictions. Do not assume an unmodified server can place every requested state.
Select an area and save your own schematic
Area selections choose what to capture. Placements position a loaded schematic. Choose the selection tool mode, create a named selection and review its corners or subregions in the Area Editor.
Save to a new schematic file after checking all bounds. If missing chunks are reported, move through the selected area to load them before completing the save. Preserve a separate original when revising a build. Older multi-region tutorials use an earlier interface.
Saving and missing chunks ↗Multi-region selection concepts, older UI ↗
Edit schematic data deliberately
Edit Schematic mode changes schematic data rather than placing world blocks. Older releases call it Schematic Rebuild. Work on a copy and configure the relevant schematicEdit hotkeys before replacing or removing blocks.
Leave this mode when you return to normal building. Otherwise, clicks on the overlapping hologram may keep editing its data. Reload discards unsaved changes; save when you intend to retain them. Render-layer restrictions can also limit edit operations.
Creative pasting and preservation limits
Creative pasting is separate from manual hologram building. In a backed-up test world, select a placement, choose the paste tool mode and configure its execution hotkey. Inspect replace behavior before executing: settings can preserve existing blocks or replace them with schematic contents.
Server pasting requires supported commands or integration and permission to use them. A schematic cannot bypass world protection. Saving and restoring block-entity data differs between single-player and multiplayer. Inventories may be unavailable to the client. Stop running redstone before capturing a contraption and verify its behavior after a test paste.
Troubleshoot visibility, performance and errors
No menu: check loaded mods and key conflicts. No hologram: check the loaded file, enabled placement, rendering toggles and layer range. Wrong position: review origin and transforms. Missing sections: inspect subregions and loaded chunks.
Poor performance: show fewer placements or layers and try a smaller schematic. Incorrect blocks: compare game and mod versions with the source. Record Minecraft, loader, Litematica and malilib versions when requesting help, along with the exact error. Remove tokens and personal details from logs.
Official FAQ ↗Official issue tracker ↗Browser file-opening guide →
Default Litematica hotkeys
Litematica uses malilib hotkeys, not the vanilla Controls screen. Change them in M + C, Hotkeys tab.
| Keys | Action |
|---|---|
| M | Open the main menu |
| M+C | Open the configuration menu (Generic, Visuals, Hotkeys, Colors, Info Overlays) |
| M+P | Open Schematic Placements |
| M+L | Open the Material List of the selected placement |
| M+V | Open the Schematic Verifier |
| M+R | Toggle all Litematica rendering |
| M+G | Toggle schematic (ghost block) rendering only |
| M+T | Toggle the tool item |
| Numpad - | Configure the selected placement (position, rotation, mirror, subregions) |
| Numpad * | Open the Area Editor for the selected area |
| Page Up / Page Down | Move the rendered layer up or down |
| M+Page Up / Page Down | Change the render layer mode |
| Ctrl+scroll holding the tool | Cycle tool modes |
| Alt+scroll holding the tool | Nudge the selected placement or area in the direction you look |
| Ctrl+M | Cycle the sub-mode of the current tool mode (for example paste replace behavior) |
| Middle-click holding the tool | Select the placement or area you are looking at (about 200 blocks range) |
| Alt+middle-click | Store the clicked block state for Edit Schematic mode |
easyPlaceUseKey default: right mouse button | Place the correct block with Easy Place |
easyPlaceToggle unbound | Turn Easy Place on or off |
executeOperation unbound | Run the current tool operation, for example paste, fill or delete |
All 9 tool modes
Hold the tool item (a stick by default, enabled with M + T) and press Ctrl + scroll to switch.
Area Selection
Create and resize named selections (left and right click corners, middle-click to select a box).
Saving your own schematic.
Schematic Placement
Select a placement and move its origin with a click.
Aligning a hologram with your site.
Fill
Fill the selected area with a block (Creative, uses commands).
Clearing or preparing a build site.
Replace Block
Replace one block type with another inside the area.
Swapping materials in Creative.
Paste Schematic in World
Paste the selected placement with executeOperation.
Creative or test worlds.
Grid Paste
Paste the placement repeatedly in a grid.
Repeating modules such as farms.
Move
Move the contents of an area to a new position.
Relocating a build in Creative.
Delete
Remove all blocks inside the area.
Clearing space in Creative.
Edit Schematic
Change the schematic data itself instead of the world (was Schematic Rebuild up to 1.17).
Fixing a schematic before building.
Render layers and the Verifier
| Layer mode | What it shows |
|---|---|
| All | Show the whole schematic. |
| Single Layer | Show one layer; Page Up/Down moves it. |
| All Below | Show the chosen layer and everything under it. |
| All Above | Show the chosen layer and everything above it. |
| Layer Range | Show a range between two layers. |
Schematic Verifier results
| Result | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Missing | A schematic block is not placed yet. |
| Extra | A world block exists where the schematic has air. |
| Wrong block | A different block type is placed. |
| Wrong state | The right block faces or connects the wrong way (stairs, slabs, logs, redstone). |
Easy Place settings
| Option | Where | Default | What it does |
|---|---|---|---|
easyPlaceMode | Generic, on/off | off | Turns Easy Place on. |
easyPlaceHoldEnabled | Generic, on/off | on | Keep placing while the use key is held. |
easyPlaceFirst | Generic, on/off | on | Place the closest block first. |
easyPlaceVanillaReach | Generic, on/off | off | Use 4.5 blocks reach so servers do not reject far placements. |
easyPlaceSwapInterval | Generic, ms | 0 | Wait after swapping slots; raise it on high ping. |
easyPlaceProtocolVersion | Generic | Auto | How block orientation is sent. Auto, Version 2 (Carpet Extra), Version 3 (Litemoretica), Slabs Only, None. |
easyPlaceSinglePlayerHandling | Generic, on/off | on | Accurate placement in single player. |
easyPlaceUseKey | Hotkey | right mouse button | Key that places blocks. |
easyPlaceToggle | Hotkey | none | Key that turns Easy Place on and off. |
Paste and Edit Schematic settings
Pasting needs Creative mode, and on servers permission for /setblock and /fill.
| Option | What it does |
|---|---|
pasteReplaceBehavior | None: only into air. With non-air: schematic blocks replace world blocks, air skipped. All: everything replaced. Ctrl + M cycles it. |
pasteUseFillCommand | Use /fill for runs of identical blocks (on by default, much faster). |
commandUseWorldEdit | Use WorldEdit //pos1, //pos2 and //set instead of vanilla commands. Slower and ignores the replace behavior. |
pasteIgnoreEntities | Do not paste entities. |
pasteIgnoreInventories | Do not restore chest and container contents. |
pasteNbtRestoreBehavior | Place & Data Modify restores block data on servers (slow; enable only when needed). |
pasteToMcFunctionFiles | Write the paste commands to .mcfunction files instead of running them. |
commandLimitPerTick | Commands sent per paste step on servers. |
commandTaskInterval | Game ticks between paste steps. |
executeRequireHoldingTool | Require holding the tool item to run operations. |
Edit Schematic hotkeys
| Hotkey | How to use it |
|---|---|
schematicEditReplaceAll | Hold and right-click with a block: replace every identical block state. |
schematicEditReplaceBlock | Hold and right-click: change the block type but keep its states (1.18+). |
schematicEditBreakAllExcept | Hold and punch: remove everything except the punched block type. |
schematicEditReplaceDirection | Hold and right-click: replace a straight line of identical blocks. |
schematicEditBreakPlaceDirection | Hold and punch or place: remove or add a straight line. |
schematicEditBreakPlaceAll | Hold and punch: remove every identical block. Hold and place: fill all air touching it. |
Files, loaders and versions
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Schematics folder | .minecraft/schematics/ (or the schematics folder of your launcher instance) |
| Mods folder | .minecraft/mods/ for both Litematica and malilib |
| File types | .litematic; recent versions also load vanilla .nbt structures, Schematica .schematic and Sponge .schem files |
| Loaders | Fabric for 1.14 and newer; Forge 1.12.2 only (newer Forge and NeoForge use third-party ports) |
| Edition | Minecraft Java Edition only, client side |
Questions and answers
Does Litematica need malilib?
Yes. Install the malilib build for the same Minecraft version in the same mods folder, otherwise the game will not start or Litematica will not load.
Where do I put .litematic files?
In the schematics folder of the game instance you run, usually .minecraft/schematics. Then press M and choose Load Schematics.
How do I open the Litematica menu?
Press M for the main menu and M + C for settings. On AZERTY or other layouts the keys can differ; change them in the Hotkeys tab.
Why is my hologram not showing?
Check that a placement exists and is enabled, rendering is on (M + R and M + G), and the render layers are set to All. Shaders on 1.21.3 and newer can hide schematic rendering.
How do I move or rotate a schematic?
Select the placement, press Numpad minus or open Schematic Placements and Configure. Change the position, rotation or mirror there, or nudge it with Alt + scroll while holding the tool.
How do I build one layer at a time?
Use M + Page Up/Down to choose Single Layer or All Below mode, then Page Up and Page Down to move through the layers.
How does the Material List work?
Open it with M + L for the selected placement. It counts every block needed and can show only what is still missing in the world.
What does the Schematic Verifier check?
It compares the world with the schematic and lists missing blocks, extra blocks, wrong blocks and wrong states such as stairs facing the wrong way.
Is Easy Place allowed on servers?
It depends on the server rules. Easy Place clicks on air positions, which some anti-cheat plugins flag. Ask the server first. Rotated blocks only place correctly when the server runs Carpet Extra or Litemoretica.
Can I paste a schematic in Survival?
No. Pasting is a Creative-mode feature and on servers needs permission for /setblock and /fill (or WorldEdit). In Survival you build by following the hologram.
Why are chests empty in schematics saved on a server?
Servers do not send container contents to the client. Save in single player, or use server-side helpers, to keep inventories.
How do I save my own build as a schematic?
Switch the tool to Area Selection, mark two corners, open the Area Editor (Numpad *) and save. Walk around if it reports missing chunks.
Does Litematica work on Forge or NeoForge?
The official mod uses Fabric for 1.14 and newer and Forge only for 1.12.2. Newer Forge and NeoForge versions rely on third-party ports such as Forgematica.
Can I use a .litematic with WorldEdit?
Not directly. Convert it to Sponge .schem, for example with the free Schematic Studio converter, then use //schem load.
Is Litematica a printer?
No. Easy Place helps place the block you aim at, but the official mod does not build automatically. Printer features come from separate forks.
Sources and next steps
Checked against the official documentation on 2026-10-18. Defaults can change between versions, so the in-game help is always authoritative. This is an independent guide, not affiliated with the Litematica author, Mojang or Microsoft.
Official Litematica wiki ↗Litematica downloads ↗malilib downloads ↗