How Far the Locator Bar Reaches
Java players start with a 60,000,000-block transmit and receive range. Icon shape changes at 179, 230, and 281 blocks. A receive range of zero shows nothing.
Current for Java Edition 1.21.6 and later.
Default range is huge: 60,000,000 blocks for both sending and receiving. You will hit the icon-size steps long before you hit the attribute cap. Set receive range to zero if you want a player who cannot see anyone.
The two attributes
| Attribute | Who it sits on | Why it exists |
|---|---|---|
waypoint_transmit_range | The player or mob being tracked | How far they broadcast a marker |
waypoint_receive_range | The player looking at the bar | How far they can see markers |
Only living entities transmit. A receive range of zero is a local mute: the bar stays on, but it is empty.
Why the icon changes first
| Distance | Sprite | Why you care |
|---|---|---|
| 0–179 | Square | They are close |
| 179–230 | Circle | Mid |
| 230–281 | Small square | Far |
| 281+ | Small circle | Still tracked, easy to miss |
These numbers are vanilla. A waypoint_style in a resource pack can replace the pictures. It does not change the attributes.
If the bar is blank
They are out of your receive range, they are hidden (see How to Hide from the Locator Bar), or the gamerule is off (Turn Off the Locator Bar in Minecraft Java). Color is unrelated to distance. Check color on the Locator Bar Color Checker.