Item Frame

An item frame is an entity‌^{[JE only]} or block entity‌^{[BE only]} that displays the item or block that is inside it.

A glow item frame keeps itself and the item inside it illuminated, even in the dark.

Obtaining

Breaking

In Java Edition, an empty item frame can be broken simply by punching it. If the item frame contains an item, punching it drops the item, leaving the frame on the wall.

Because item frames are entities in Java Edition, they can be broken in Adventure mode. They will also be targeted by commands using the @e selector.‌^{[Java Edition only]}

Natural generation

An item frame containing a pair of elytra generates in each end ship.

Crafting

Trading

Expert-level cartographer villagers have a chance to sell an item frame for 7 emeralds.

Usage

Item display

Item frames can be placed on the sides of cactus blocks, pressure plates, fences, trees, slabs, cobblestone walls, chests, doors, and all solid blocks. They can also be placed on the top and bottom of these blocks. To place on chests and doors, the player needs to be sneaking. As item frames are an entity, multiple item frames can occupy the same block, although on different faces. It also allows non-solid blocks to occupy the same space.‌^{[Java Edition only]}

Players can place items in the frame by using the item. If a map is placed in an item frame, it enlarges to show the map in the size of a full block, with the item frame's location displayed as a green pointer on the map, pointing in the direction the item frame is facing. If this is done in the Nether, the green cursor spins around similar to the white cursor (players). If an item in an item frame has been renamed using an anvil, it displays its custom name when the cursor is over the item frame. If the player places a block inside the frame, it is displayed in miniature half in, half out of the block. This can be most notably seen on stairs or slabs.

Pick block may be used on item frames by players in creative mode only, the control has no effect for players in Survival or Adventure mode. When the item frame is displaying an item, pick block picks the displayed item instead of the item frame.

Item frames can be placed on the lid of a shulker box that is positioned horizontally, but pop off when the lid is opened.‌^{[Java Edition only]}

Rotation

The displayed item can then be rotated by right-clicking the frame. Items displayed in the item frame can turn 45° diagonally, with a total of 8 possibilities (90° and 4 possibilities if it is a map), and the frame outputs a redstone signal depending on the rotation phase that can be interpreted by a redstone comparator (note that this rotation value is separate from the clock or compass rotation). As long as the frame remains placed, it remembers the orientation of the last item it held, and uses it for the next item it holds.‌^{[Java Edition only]}

Glow item frames

When an item is placed inside a glow item frame, it appears to glow, even though it does not emit any light level.

Sounds

Item frames and glow item frames share the same sounds.

Generic

Bedrock Edition:

Unique

Java Edition:

Bedrock Edition:

Achievements

Data values

ID

Java Edition:

Bedrock Edition:

Block states

Bedrock Edition
Item Frame:

Glow Item Frame:

Item data

Java Edition:

Entity data

In Java Edition, item frames have entity data that define various properties of the entity.

Block data

In Bedrock Edition, an item frame has a block entity associated with it that holds additional data about the block.

See Bedrock Edition level format/Block entity format.

Video

History

Java Edition
August 15, 2012					Dinnerbone showed the first image of item frames.
August 15, 2012					Dinnerbone showed item frame in item form.
August 15, 2012					Jeb showed the item frames with new model.
August 16, 2012					Dinnerbone showed the item frame in item form with new texture.
1.4.2		12w34a			Added item frames.
					There is currently a bug where attempting to place an item frame in multiplayer causes an internal server error, as well as other bugs.
		12w34b			The multiplayer item frame bug has been fixed.
		12w38a			Item frames no longer despawn when the player moves 20 blocks away.
1.7.2		13w36a			Items renamed using an anvil now display their name when looked at up close.
		13w38a			Maps placed in an item frame now cover the whole block face, allowing seamless tiling of adjacent maps. This makes undiscovered areas of maps invisible.
		13w43a			Incomplete maps placed in item frames now display the item frame texture underneath.
1.8		14w04a			Items and blocks displayed in the item frame now rotate 45 degrees when rotated instead of 90 degrees, and a comparator outputs a redstone signal depending on the rotation phase.
		14w10a			Multiple item frames can no longer be placed on the same block face.
1.9		15w41a			An item frame now generates in the treasure room of end ships, above the shulker that guards the treasure. It holds elytra.
		15w49a			Item frames are no longer destroyed by lightning bolts.
		15w50a			Added sounds to item frames: entity.itemframe.add_item, entity.itemframe.break, entity.itemframe.place, entity.itemframe.remove_item, and entity.itemframe.rotate_item.
1.11		16w32a			The entity ID of item frames has been changed from ItemFrame to item_frame.
1.13		17w47a			Prior to The Flattening, this item's numeral ID was 389.
		17w50a			Item frames can now be put on floors and ceilings.
1.14		18w43a			The textures of item frames have been changed.
		19w11a			Item frames are now sold by cartographer villagers.
1.15		19w38a			Item frames now appear dark, same as suffocating mobs.[1]
		19w39a			Item frames are now colored correctly.
1.16		20w10a			The NBT Invisible and Fixed have been added to item frames.
1.17		21w03a			Added glow item frames.
		21w10a			Added new subtitles for glow item frames.
1.18		21w41a			The textures of item frames and glow item frames as item have been changed.
1.19		22w15a			Item frames now adjusts its hitbox to account for the larger size of a framed map.
		Pre-release 3			Reverted the change in 22w15a.
Pocket Edition Alpha
v0.14.0		build 1			Added item frames.
					Item frames are considered as a block entity instead of an entity.[2]
Pocket Edition
1.0.0		alpha 0.17.0.1			An item frame containing elytra now generates in end city ships.
Bedrock Edition
1.10.0		beta 1.10.0.3			The textures of item frames have been changed.
1.11.0		beta 1.11.0.4			Item frames can now be bought from cartographer villagers.
1.13.0		beta 1.13.0.9			Item frames can now be placed on the top and bottom of blocks.
1.16.0		beta 1.16.0.57			Trading has been changed, item frames are now offered by expert-level cartographer villager.
Caves & Cliffs (experimental)		beta 1.16.210.59			Added glow item frames.
					Has the default item frame block texture.
		beta 1.16.210.60			Temporarily removed glow item frames due to a crash.
		beta 1.16.220.50			Re-added glow item frames.
		beta 1.16.220.52			Glow Item Frame block texture uses update block texture due to a bug.
1.17.0		beta 1.16.230.52			The glow item frame block textures have been reverted back to the previous one.
		beta 1.17.0.50			The textures of glow item frames have been changed to match Java Edition.
					Now produces redstone signals.
		beta 1.17.0.52			Maps now glow in glow item frames.
					Glow Item Frames are no longer available only through Experimental Gameplay.
1.18.10		beta 1.18.10.20			The textures of item frames and glow item frames as item have been changed.
Legacy Console Edition
TU9	CU1	1.0	Patch 1	1.0.1	Added item frames.
TU11					The limit for item frames in a world has been increased. A message is now displayed when the maximum number of item frames are reached.
TU12					The entity texture of item frames has been changed.
TU31	CU19	1.22	Patch 3		Items and blocks displayed in the item frame now rotate 45 degrees when rotated instead of 90 degrees, and a comparator now outputs a redstone signal depending on the rotation phase.
TU43	CU33	1.36	Patch 13		Added sounds for item frames.
TU56	CU47	1.55	Patch 26	1.0.6	If the item in the item frame has a name (from an anvil) it now shows as if there is a name tag on the item frame.
		1.90			The textures of item frames have been changed.
New Nintendo 3DS Edition
0.1.0					Added item frames.

Issues

Issues relating to "Item Frame" are maintained on the bug tracker. Report issues there.

Trivia

• The item frame is based upon a suggestion on Reddit, like the ender chest and flower pot.^[3]
• The item frame is the only entity to reference a block model.‌^{[JE only]} Because of this, the texture of the frame border is the same as the birch planks texture.
• Item frame is the only placeable item that can interfere with other non-full block entities.
• Due to the way layer textures are displayed in Minecraft, maps float on item frames, similar to how icons float on the map itself.

Gallery

Renders

• 
  Item Frame
• 
  Map Item Frame
• 
  Glow Item Frame
• 
  Map Glow Item Frame
• 
  With item
• 
  With rotated item
• 
  With block
• 
  With rotated block

Screenshots

• 
  An item frame on the side of a slab.
• 
  Four item frames in a one-block space.‌^{[Java Edition only]}
• 
  The frame itself uses the texture of birch planks.
• 
  The rotation of an item in an item frame.
• 
  The front and back of an item frame are the same.
• 
  A glow item frame inside a glow item frame.
• 
  An image of a fireplace retweeted by Dinnerbone.
• 
  11 in an item frame.

Development images

• 
  Original Reddit image suggesting item frames and flower pots.
• 
  Dinnerbone's first screenshot showing armor and weapons.
• 
  Dinnerbone's second screenshot showing a map, a compass, and two diamond swords.
• 
  Dinnerbone's third screenshot showing a golden sword in all directions, the item frame item itself, and a working clock.
• 
  Jeb's screenshot of the item frame.
• 
  Snapshot showing plant pots and item frames.
• 
  Snapshot image of an ender pearl in an item frame.
• 
  An image tweeted by Dinnerbone showing how hovering over an item frame containing a renamed item shows a name tag.
• 
  First image of item frames in Bedrock Edition.

See also

• Painting

References