How to edit a schematic in Litematica
Litematica can change a loaded schematic without leaving the game: swap a wood type, fill in a hole, strip one block out, then save the result as a new file. The feature is called Edit Schematic mode, and it is easy to miss because its hotkeys ship unbound.
- Load the schematic and make a placement so the hologram is in the world.
- Open the Litematica menu (M) and switch to Edit Schematic mode, or Ctrl+scroll with the tool item to the last mode.
- Bind the edit hotkey you want (for example schematicEditReplaceBlock). All of them are empty by default.
- Hold the hotkey and right-click a hologram block with the new block in your hand.
- Leave Edit Schematic mode, then use Save to file in Loaded Schematics under a new name.
What Edit Schematic mode is
In older builds the mode was called Schematic Rebuild. It was renamed because people kept using it hoping it would help them build the schematic. It does not build anything in the world; it changes the data in the hologram. While you are in the mode, punching or placing a block that overlaps the hologram edits the schematic instead of the world. That is why the wiki’s main warning is to switch out of the mode when you are done.
Common edits and the hotkey each one needs
These names come from the mod’s Hotkeys tab. In the 1.21.4 source, all of them have an empty default string, so you assign the chord yourself in M+C, Hotkeys.
| Goal | Hotkey to bind | How you use it |
|---|---|---|
| Change block type, keep facing/state | schematicEditReplaceBlock | Hold the key, right-click the block with the new block in hand |
| Swap every identical block state | schematicEditReplaceAll | Hold the key, right-click one example |
| Keep one block, delete the rest | schematicEditBreakAllExcept | Hold the key, punch the block to keep |
| Remove every copy of a block | schematicEditBreakPlaceAll | Hold the key, punch one example |
| Fill all air in the schematic | schematicEditBreakPlaceAll | Hold the key, place the new block against an existing one |
| Change a straight row of blocks | schematicEditReplaceDirection | Hold the key, right-click the first block in the row |
Without any hotkey you can still punch out a single block (like Creative) or place a block against the hologram to add one.
Getting the right block state
When you right-click to replace, the new block’s state follows vanilla placement rules based on where you click. For a bottom slab, click the lower half of a side or the top of a block. For a top slab or an upside-down stair, click the upper half or the underside. Some states cannot be reached this way: open trapdoors, waterlogged blocks, fences with particular connections. For those, place the block in the world first, then Alt+middle-click it (toolSelectModifierBlock1 plus toolSelectElements) to store its state, and edit with an empty hand. The HUD shows the stored block.
Limit the edit with render layers
Only visible blocks are touched. Use layer mode to show a single floor or a band, then run the replace. That is the safest way to change the roof of a tower without touching its walls. If you make a mistake, press Reload in Loaded Schematics to throw the changes away and re-read the file from disk.
Save the result
Edits live in memory. In recent builds, Loaded Schematics marks edited, unsaved schematics. Use Save to file and give it a new name. The mod’s own notes advise against overwriting the original file because some older versions could corrupt a schematic on reload. The new file goes in .minecraft/schematics like any other; see loading a .litematic.
After you save and reload the edited file, open the material list to see what the new version needs. To turn or shift the build rather than recolor it, use move and rotate, and for dropping the edited build into a Creative world see paste a schematic.
Start from a generated build
If you need a base to edit, the text-to-litematic generator makes a Java .litematic with a palette you choose. Edit Schematic mode is a good way to adjust one detail afterwards, such as swapping its wood or glass, instead of regenerating.
Companion note: Change the wood type of a litematic without rebuilding it (short version on Telegraph).
FAQ
How do I replace one block type with another in a litematic?
Use Edit Schematic mode with schematicEditReplaceBlock bound: hold that key, then right-click a hologram block while holding the replacement. It keeps block state properties such as facing, so oak stairs become spruce stairs in the same orientation.
Why does my edit hotkey do nothing?
On the 1.21.4 build every schematicEdit* hotkey ships empty. Open M+C, Hotkeys, and give the one you want a chord. You also need to be in Edit Schematic mode.
I edited a schematic but the file did not change. Why?
Edits only touch the copy in memory. Open Loaded Schematics and use Save to file. Saving under a new name is safer than overwriting the original, which older versions could corrupt.
Can I get an opened trapdoor or waterlogged block into the schematic?
Yes, by preparing it in the world: place the block in the right state, then Alt+middle-click it to store that state in Edit mode, and edit with an empty main hand.
Questions: hello@minecraftschematicgenerator.com
Reviewed 2026-10-02. Not affiliated with Mojang or Microsoft.