How to Use Redstone Dust in Minecraft (2022)
Redstone dust works the same way on both Minecraft Java and Bedrock editions in most cases. But some of its functionality might differ under certain circumstances. So, make sure to explore all its mechanics before testing Redstone dust in the game.
Find Redstone Dust in Minecraft
The most common way to obtain Redstone dust in Minecraft is by finding and mining Redstone ore. Though, you can also get Redstone dust through trading, chest loot, and killing witches. We already have a guide in place to help you easily find Redstone in Minecraft. You can use four different ways to collect all the Redstone you need.
How to Make Redstone in Minecraft
You can craft Redstone dust in Minecraft by putting a block of Redstone inside a crafting table. There is no crafting recipe for this process, and you can simply put the block anywhere in the crafting area. Every block of Redstone is equivalent to nine pieces of Redstone dust. Naturally, you can only find these blocks beneath the portal structure of Ancient Cities in Minecraft.
If required, you can also reverse this recipe to craft blocks of Redstone. To do that, you just have to fill up the crafting area with pieces of Redstone dust. Once you do that, you will get a block of Redstone. This recipe only works if all the spots in the crafting area are filled, so you can’t just place nine pieces of Redstone dust in a single cell.
Different Uses of Redstone Dust
Redstone dust has a variety of uses. As a crafting ingredient, you can use Redstone dust to craft the following items in Minecraft:
Block of Redstone: Powers Redstone machinesClock: Reveals if it’s day or night in the overworldCompass: Points towards the world spawn pointDetector Rail: Detects the presence of minecartsDispenser: Throws and uses different objectsDropper: Drops objects as itemsNote Block: Plays musical notes that change based on the blocks placed beneathObserver: Notices in-game changes and sends out Redstone signalsPiston: Pushes blocks, mobs, and itemsPowered Rail: Powers minecartsRedstone Lamp: Switchable light blockRedstone Repeater: Repeats Redstone circuits and Redstone signalsRedstone Torch: Activates Redstone machines and sends Redstone signalsTarget: Detects projectile and sends Redstone signals
Other than the clock and compass, the above listed items that are crafted with Redstone only work within a circuit. So, you have to put the crafted item alongside other Redstone items to extract its full potential.
How to Use Redstone Dust in Potions
Other than as a crafting ingredient, you can also use Redstone dust to brew and improve some of the best potions in Minecraft. If you put Redstone dust in a brewing stand alongside a water bottle, you will get a mundane potion, which doesn’t have any effect or power. But if you brew Redstone dust with any other time-based potion, you will end up increasing the duration of that potion’s effects.
You can use the Redstone dust with the following potions to extend their duration:
Potion of Fire Resistance Potion of InvisibilityPotion of Night VisionPotion of PoisonPotion of RegenerationPotion of SlownessPotion of StrengthPotion of SwiftnessPotion of Water BreathingPotion of WeaknessPotion of LeapingPotion of Slow Falling
If you wish to learn more everything about Minecraft potions, including the complete list of potions, ingredients required, and a brewing guide, then read the linked guide.
How to Use Redstone Dust in Circuits
In the simplest terms, you can use Redstone dust in Minecraft as a “wire” for all the Redstone machines and circuits. It doesn’t emit or detect any Redstone signals on its own. Instead, the Redstone dust carries signals from one Redstone device to another. You can place it on top of blocks and on one block tall sides of opaque blocks in-game alongside hoppers, upside-down stairs/ slabs, and glass blocks.
But Redstone dust can’t be placed in the air, under water, or in lava. When placed next to another block or component, Redstone dust takes a wire-like structure when used to connect items, as you can see in the diagram above. Otherwise, on its own, it stays like a plus sign. If you right-click on the plus-sign, it turns into a dot, which prevents it from connecting to any sides. Moreover, when Redstone dust receives power, it starts glowing in a bright red color.
How to Use Redstone Dust as Wire in Minecraft
To understand the functionality of Redstone dust as a wire in Minecraft, follow these steps and make a simple Redstone torch:
- First, place a lever on top of any solid block.
- Then, a few blocks away from that lever, place a Redstone lamp.
- After that, connect the lever to the Redstone lamp by placing Redstone dust between them. You don’t have to follow a straight line or the shortest path while placing Redstone dust, however, make sure that two rows of Redstone aren’t next to each other.
- Once you are done placing Redstone dust, turn on the lever and witness the Redstone dust carrying power over to the Redstone lamp, lighting it up. This is one of the simplest ways to use Redstone dust in Minecraft.
Can you make Redstone dust? The only way to make Redstone dust is by putting a block of Redstone on the crafting table or by smelting Redstone ore in the furnace.
Is Redstone a real mineral? In terms of properties and appearance, Cobalt(II) sulfate (CoSO4) is the closest real-world counterpart of Minecraft’s fictional Redstone.
What blocks dont conduct Redstone? Most non-opaque blocks don’t allow Redstone to conduct power. But exceptions to this include barrier blocks, hoppers, upside-down stairs/slabs, and glass blocks.
Can mobs spawn on Redstone dust? Even though it’s not its intended use, you can use Redstone to prevent mobs from spawning within a particular idea. No mob in Minecraft is allowed to naturally spawn on top of Redstone dust.
Starting Using Redstone Dust in Minecraft Today
And just like that, you are now ready to use, teach, and experiment with Redstone dust in Minecraft 1.19 or older versions. But don’t beat yourself up if you don’t get enough ideas for using this powerful component. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed by Minecraft Redstone dust and its components. That’s why we already have a guide that goes over various Minecraft farms, which usually rely on Redstone. You can also find easy-to-build tutorials for each of those farms in the same guide. With that said, how do you plan to use Redstone dust in Minecraft? Tell us in the comments below!
