Crawling


Crawling is a mechanic[1][2] that prevents the player from suffocating when inside small gaps. Crawling covers a pose that occurs when the player is in an area less than 1.5 blocks high.
Entering crawling
A player cannot crawl when there is no risk of suffocation. Crawling is initiated automatically in any situation that would cause the player's head to intersect a block in such a way that the area underneath the block is less than 1.5 blocks. For example:
- Closing a trapdoor on the player
- Closing a fence gate when it is at the same altitude as the player's head
- Using a piston to push a block into the player
- Exiting swimming mode in a one-block-high space
- Exiting elytra mode in a one-block-high space
- Having a tree grow over a player
- Throwing an ender pearl into a one block space
- Having a shulker box push the player down
- This normally makes the player sneak instead of crawl, but when it is above a slab or a not-full block, then the player crawls.
- Getting off a pig with a saddle if it's under a one-block-high space
- Having a boat land on the player's head
- Waking up from a bed placed in a two-block-high space, with no space to the side of the bed
In these circumstances, the player automatically switches to a crawling state. When enough space opens up above the player's head, the player automatically exits this state and begins standing again. In the crawling form, the player is reduced to 0.625 blocks tall, or 5⁄8 of a block, meaning that they can crawl over blocks 0.375 blocks tall, or 3⁄8 blocks tall, the height of a daylight detector.
When crawling, the player travels at sneaking speed. The speed of crawling can be increased with the Swift Sneak enchantment. The speed can also be increased by sprinting before entering the crawling state. This raises the speed by 30%.
Crawling players can still produce footstep sounds[3] and alert sculk sensors; both of these effects can be eliminated by pressing the sneak key while crawling.
History
| Java Edition | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.9 | 16w04a | When players glide into 1 block tall spaces with an elytra, they now keep their smaller hitbox, allowing them to crawl although their pose behaves as if they are walking.[4] | |||||
| 1.13 | 18w07a | Actual swimming is added, which allows the player to access this position easier. The animation is still glitched. | |||||
| 18w20a | Fixed the animation under opaque solid blocks. The player still visually stands up underneath transparent blocks, though.[5] | ||||||
| 18w22a | Fixed the animation under transparent blocks.[6] | ||||||
| pre5 | The animation is broken again. | ||||||
| pre6 | Fixed the animation again.[6] | ||||||
| 1.13.1 | 18w30a | The animation is broken. | |||||
| 1.14 | 19w14a | Crawling is now fixed. Originally an accidental side-effect resulting from swimming, crawling is now an integral feature in the game.[1] | |||||
| The player now automatically enters crawling mode when they intersect a block. | |||||||
| 19w14b | Only the top half of the player is checked for the collision to enter crawling, rather than the whole body. | ||||||
| Pre-Release 4 | Crawling speed has been reduced. | ||||||
| It is no longer possible to sprint while crawling. | |||||||
| Bedrock Edition | |||||||
| 1.12.0 | ? | A glitch in this version where exiting swimming position in a one block results the player still in swimming position that is similar to crawling. | |||||
| This position also allows the player to float when the position is done mid-air.[7] | |||||||
| 1.14.0 | ? | It is no longer possible to start swimming in 1-block deep water, which makes accessing the position a bit harder than before. | |||||
| 1.17.10 | beta 1.17.10.21 | The player no longer floats with this position mid-air. | |||||
| 1.20.10 Experiment | Preview 1.20.10.20 | Added proper crawling behind the "Short Sneaking and Crawling" experimental toggle. | |||||
| Created new player crawling animation. | |||||||
| Players now begin crawling when in a 1 block gap, similar to sneaking. | |||||||
| Crawling now has the same speed as sneaking. | |||||||
| 1.20.10 Experiment | Preview 1.20.10.23 | Crawling is now behind the "Crawling" experimental toggle. | |||||
| Players can now be forced into crawl state while flying. | |||||||
| 1.20.30 Experiment | Preview 1.20.20.20 | The player now gets forced out of crawl state when riding. | |||||
| 1.20.30 | Preview 1.20.20.22 | The crawling ability is no longer behind the "Crawling" experimental toggle. | |||||
| Preview 1.20.30.21 | Players can now toggle flying when crawling in Creative mode. | ||||||
| Legacy Console Edition | |||||||
| Xbox 360 | Xbox One | PS3 | PS4 | PS Vita | Wii U | Switch | |
| TU46 | CU36 | 1.38 | 1.38 | 1.38 | Patch 15 | 1.0.1 | With the advent of elytra, a position similar to crawling becomes possible. When players glide into 1 block tall spaces with an elytra, they keep their smaller hitbox, allowing them to crawl although their pose behaves as if they are walking. |
| TU69 | 1.76 | 1.76 | 1.76 | Patch 38 | Actual swimming is added, which allows the player to access this position easier. The animation is still glitched. | ||
Issues
Issues relating to "Crawling" are maintained on the bug tracker. Issues should be reported and viewed there.
Gallery
Renders
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Alex with wide arms -

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Ari with slim arms -

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Efe with wide arms -

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Kai with slim arms -

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Makena with wide arms -

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Noor with wide arms -

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Steve with slim arms -

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Sunny with slim arms -

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Zuri with slim arms
Screenshots
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Efe crawls out of a hill. -
Steve crawling out of a window in a desert village. -
Zuri crawling into a hidden base.
References
- ↑ a b "How Crawling Came to Minecraft" by Henrik Kniberg – Minecraft.net, July 21, 2020.
- ↑ "I'm sorry Steve. It's for science!" – @henrikkniberg on X (formerly Twitter), April 2, 2019
- ↑ MC-248309 — Crawling players can produce footstep sounds — resolved as "Works As Intended".
- ↑ MC-90594
- ↑ MC-128472
- ↑ a b MC-129863
- ↑ MCPE-48958
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