Load a .nbt with a structure block
A structure block is Minecraft’s built-in way to save and load small builds, and its file is a .nbt. It is a different tool from Litematica and WorldEdit. This page covers loading a .nbt file in Java Edition, and how to turn a .litematic into one.
- Get a .nbt structure file. From a .litematic, export it as Vanilla Structure in the Litematica Schematic Manager.
- Put the file in the world’s generated folder, inside a namespace folder and then a folder named structure, for example generated/minecraft/structure/house.nbt.
- In Creative with operator rights, place a structure block and set it to Load mode.
- Type the structure name (house, or a namespace like mypack:house) and click Load once to preview, again to place.
- Set rotation, mirror, and offset if needed, then load it where you want it.
Make the .nbt from a .litematic
Open Litematica’s Schematic Manager and select the file. In the Export as list, choose Vanilla Structure and click it. The mod writes a vanilla structure file. Details of the other export types are on the Schematic Manager page. Because a structure block is limited to 48 blocks per side, a larger build will not fit in one structure. The generator’s Pro limit is also 48 per side; the free limit is 20. See size limits.
Load it with a structure block
- Give yourself a structure block:
/give @s structure_block. The GUI opens only in Creative and with permission level 2 or higher. - Place it and use it. Set the mode to Load and type the structure name. If the name has no namespace, the game uses minecraft.
- Click Load once. The game shows an outline preview. Adjust the offset, rotation (0, 90, 180, 270), and mirror, then click Load again to place the blocks.
- Turn on Include entities if the file has them. It is off by default. Strict Placement, added in 1.21.5, stops the loaded blocks from sending block updates.
The game looks for the name in memory, then in the world’s generated folder, then in data packs, then in the built-in structures. A structure with the same name as a built-in one can be shadowed by a file earlier in that list.
Other ways to place a .nbt
Structure files can also be placed with the /place template command, which takes the template name. That is handy in a function or a command block, where a structure block is awkward. For a server paste with WorldEdit, a .schem is the better format; see importing a schematic with WorldEdit, and .litematic vs .schem for how the formats differ.
For Bedrock, see Java vs Bedrock schematics. To generate a starter build, use the generator.
FAQ
Does this site give me a .nbt file?
No. Downloads here are .litematic and WorldEdit .schem. To get a .nbt from a .litematic, open it in Litematica and use the Schematic Manager’s Export as option, choosing Vanilla Structure. See the Schematic Manager guide.
How big can a structure block structure be?
48×48×48 blocks in Java Edition, which is the maximum size the block accepts on each axis. The offset of the origin can be at most 48 blocks from the block. A larger build has to be split into several structures.
Where do I put the .nbt file?
In the world folder under generated, then the namespace, then structure. With no namespace the game uses minecraft, so the path is saves/WORLD/generated/minecraft/structure/NAME.nbt. Data packs can also hold structures in data/NAMESPACE/structure. On older versions, the folder is named structures.
The structure block GUI will not open.
The block’s screen opens only in Creative mode with permission level 2 or higher. In a survival world, enable cheats or switch your game mode, or ask a server admin.
Can a structure block load the file on Bedrock?
No. Bedrock cannot load a vanilla NBT structure file in a structure block. It uses .mcstructure files instead. See the Java vs Bedrock page.
Questions: hello@minecraftschematicgenerator.com
Reviewed 2026-10-02. Not affiliated with Mojang or Microsoft.