Redstone Torch

A redstone torch is a non-solid block that produces a full-strength redstone signal on all sides adjacent to it, except for its attached block, and can power the block directly above it. It deactivates while the block it is attached to is powered.

Obtaining

In Java Edition, the inactive redstone torch cannot be obtained as an item without commands. In Bedrock Edition, it can be obtained via inventory editing.^[1]

Breaking

A redstone torch can be broken instantly using any tool, or without a tool, and drops itself as an item.

A redstone torch is removed and drops as an item if:

• its attachment block is moved, removed, or destroyed
• water or lava flows into its space
• a piston pushes it or moves a block into its space

Natural generation

A single redstone torch is found inside each igloo. In ancient cities, multiple redstone torches can be found integrated into circuitry.

Crafting

Ingredients	Crafting recipe
Redstone Dust + Stick

Usage

Light

Redstone torches give off a light level of 7.

When the Render Dragon Features for Creators experiment is enabled in Minecraft Preview, the top part of restone torches emits colored point lighting with
 #FF0000. This causes the bottom part of the torch to render a small square shadow, and the surrounding texture to render diagonal lines of shadow in all directions.

Crafting ingredient

Redstone torches can be used to craft activator rails, redstone comparators, and redstone repeaters.

Name	Ingredients	Crafting recipe
Activator Rail	Iron Ingot + Stick + Redstone Torch	6
Redstone Comparator	Redstone Torch + Nether Quartz + Stone
Redstone Repeater	Redstone Torch + Redstone Dust + Stone

Redstone component

Redstone torches can be used to power blocks and transmission components such as redstone dust, activate mechanism components such as pistons, or invert redstone signals like a NOT Gate.

Placement

The placement conditions of a redstone torch are identical to the ones of a normal torch, it can be attached to (some exceptions might apply):

• the top or sides of any conductive block (examples: stone, soul sand, slime blocks, dispensers, etc.)
• the top of a non-conductive block that is at least 16 pixels tall and has a 2x2 pixels surface under where the redstone torch would be positioned (examples: glass panes, vertical chains, fences, etc.)
• the full side surfaces of a non-conductive block (examples: glass, stairs, open trapdoors, etc.)

Redstone torches cannot be attached to the bottoms of any blocks.

Attempting to attach a redstone torch to an invalid surface can cause it to "snap" to a valid surface adjacent to the same space. For example, if a fence is on the ground, attempting to attach a redstone torch to the side of the fence causes the redstone torch to be attached to the top of the ground next to the fence instead.

Activation

A redstone torch is active unless the block it is attached to is strongly powered; in Bedrock Edition, however, a redstone torch placed on the back or sides of a (sticky) piston will turn off when the piston is extended and turn on when the piston is retracted: this mechanic is known by the community as "soft inversion".^[2] Effectively, a redstone torch inverts the signal applied to its attachment block: power level 0 is changed to 15 and power levels 1 to 15 are changed to 0 (for an alternative that produces a greater range of output power levels, consider a redstone comparator in subtraction mode).

Walls, fences, glass, slabs, hoppers,^{[note 1]} and stairs are non-conductive, so redstone torches attached to them cannot be deactivated.

A redstone torch takes 2 game ticks (0.1 seconds barring lag) to change state. In Java Edition, redstone torches do not respond to all 2 game tick pulses.

Behavior

A lit redstone torch strongly powers the block above itself and weakly powers its other direct neighbor blocks, excluding the one it is attached to. It also produces the same particles as redstone dust.

A redstone torch experiences "burn-out" when it is forced to turn off (by powering and de-powering the block it is attached to) more than eight times in 60 game ticks (3 seconds). After burning out, a redstone torch produces a "smoke" particle and a hiss similar to an extinguished fire, deactivates, and then ignores attempts to change its state until the number of state changes in the last 60 game ticks drops to fewer than eight.

In Java Edition, a redstone torch might or might not attempt to turn itself back on after 160 ticks (8 seconds) depending on the update chain that caused it to burn out.^[3] The torch will be unresponsive to neighbor updates during this time frame.

In Bedrock Edition, each redstone torch can only burn itself out; the redstone torch needs to be in a circuit that causes it to power itself with no delay, otherwise it will not burn out.

A burnt-out redstone torch will turn back on after receiving a block update. There is no limit on how often a single redstone torch can burn out.

Sounds

Generic

Java Edition:

v t e wood sound type
Sound	Subtitles	Source	Description	Resource location	Translation key	Volume	Pitch	Attenuation distance
	​Block broken	Blocks	Once the block has broken	block.wood.break	subtitles.block.generic.break​	1.0	0.8	16
	​Block placed	Blocks	When the block is placed	block.wood.place	subtitles.block.generic.place​	1.0	0.8	16
	​Block breaking	Blocks	While the block is in the process of being broken	block.wood.hit	subtitles.block.generic.hit​	0.25	0.5	16
	​Something falls on a block	Entity-Dependent	Falling on the block with fall damage	block.wood.fall	subtitles.block.generic.fall​	0.5	0.75	16
	​Footsteps	Entity-Dependent	Walking on the block	block.wood.step	subtitles.block.generic.footsteps​	0.15	1.0	16

Bedrock Edition:

v t e wood sound type
Sound	Source	Description	Resource location	Volume	Pitch
	Blocks	Once the block has broken	dig.wood	1.0	0.8-1.0
	Blocks	When the block is placed	dig.wood	1.0	0.8
	Blocks	While the block is in the process of being broken	hit.wood	0.23	0.5
	Players	Falling on the block with fall damage	fall.wood	0.4	1.0
	Players	Walking on the block	step.wood	0.3	1.0
	Blocks	Jumping from the block	jump.wood	0.12	1.0
	Blocks	Falling on the block without fall damage	land.wood	0.18	1.0

Unique

Java Edition

Sounds
Sound	Subtitles	Source	Description	Resource location	Translation key	Volume	Pitch	Attenuation distance
	​Torch fizzes	Blocks	When a redstone torch burns out	block.redstone_torch.burnout	subtitles.block.redstone_torch.burnout​	0.5	1.8-3.4	16

Bedrock Edition:

Sounds
Sound	Source	Description	Resource location	Volume	Pitch
	Blocks	When a redstone torch burns out	random.fizz	1.0 [verify]	2.0 [verify]

Data values

ID

Java Edition:

Name	Identifier	Form	Block tags	Translation key
Redstone Torch	redstone_torch	Block & Item	wall_post_override	block.minecraft.redstone_torch
Redstone Wall Torch	redstone_wall_torch	Block	None	block.minecraft.redstone_wall_torch

Bedrock Edition:

Name	Identifier	Numeric ID	Form	Item ID[i 1]	Translation key
Redstone Torch	redstone_torch	76	Block & Giveable Item[i 2]	Identical[i 3]	tile.redstone_torch.name
Unlit Redstone Torch	unlit_redstone_torch	75	Block & Ungiveable Item[i 4]	Identical[i 3]	tile.unlit_redstone_torch.name

Block states

Java Edition:
Floor:

Name	Default value	Allowed values	Description
lit	true	false true	If the torch is lit.

Wall:

Name	Default value	Allowed values	Description
facing	north	east north south west	The direction the top of the torch is facing.
lit	true	false true	If the torch is lit.

Bedrock Edition:

Name	Metadata Bits	Default value	Allowed values	Values for Metadata Bits	Description
torch_facing_direction	0x1 0x2 0x4	west	west east north south top	1 2 3 4 5	The face of the block that the torch is attached to. If the torch is a wall torch, the top of the torch faces opposite to this direction.[4]
			unknown	0	Unused

Video

History

Java Edition

Java Edition Alpha
v1.0.1							Added redstone torches.
							Redstone torches currently emit flame particles when lit.
v1.0.2_01							Redstone torches now strongly power only the block above them.[5]
							Redstone torches now emit redstone dust particles when lit.
v1.1.0							Redstone torches can no longer be placed on leaves when the graphics are set to Fancy.
v1.2.0_02							Redstone torches no longer duplicate in multiplayer.
Java Edition Beta
1.3							Redstone torches are now used to craft redstone repeaters.
1.6			Test Build 3				Torches can no longer be placed on leaves in fast graphics.
1.6.6							Redstone torches can now be placed on glowstone.
1.7							Redstone torches can now be placed on the top of fences.
1.7.3							A redstone torch duplication bug when using pistons has now been corrected.
							Redstone torches no longer produce both redstone torch particles and uncolorized (white) redstone dust particles when broken.
Java Edition
1.2.1			1.2				The requirement for redstone torches to burn out has been changed from being turned off 8 times in the span of 100 game ticks to being turned off 8 times in the span of 60 game ticks. Because of this change, clocks that include three redstone torches powering each other in a loop can now be used reliably.
			12w07a				Redstone torches can now be placed on the top of glass.
1.3.1			12w25a				Redstone torches can now be placed on upside-down slabs and stairs.
1.4.4			1.4.3				Redstone torches now have a bottom texture, visible on wall torches or torches placed on top of glass.[6]
1.5			13w01a				The way redstone torches update has been changed. As a result, burn-out clocks that use only two redstone torches are now reliable.
							Redstone torches can now be used to craft redstone comparators and activator rails.
1.8			14w07a				Redstone torches placed on walls are now rotated cuboids rather than a parallelpiped. Their top texture now also rotates accordingly.
			14w25a				Burnt-out redstone torches no longer randomly fix themselves.
							Redstone torches are now incorrectly affected by directional shading.
			14w33c				Redstone torches are no longer affected by ambient occlusion.
1.9			15w43a				A redstone torch now generates as part of igloos.
1.12			pre4				Torches can no longer be placed on top of jack o'lanterns.[7]
1.13			17w48a				Redstone torches can now be placed on the top of jack o'lanterns once again.
1.14			18w43a				The texture of redstone torches has now been changed.
			19w12b				Redstone torches can now be placed on ice, glowstone and sea lanterns.
1.19			22w13a				Redstone torches now generate in ancient cities.
1.21.2			24w33a				The item texture and models for redstone torches have changed.

Bedrock Edition

Pocket Edition Alpha
v0.13.0			build 1				Added redstone torches.
Pocket Edition
1.0.0			alpha 0.17.0.1				A redstone torch now generates as part of igloos.
Bedrock Edition
1.2.13			beta 1.2.13.5				The back faces of redstone torches now render.
1.10.0			beta 1.10.0.3				The texture of redstone torches has now been changed.

Legacy Console Edition

Legacy Console Edition
Xbox 360	Xbox One	PS3	PS4	PS Vita	Wii U	Switch
TU1	CU1	1.00	1.00	1.00	Patch 1	1.0.1	Added redstone torches.
TU19	CU7	1.12	1.12	1.12			Redstone torches can now be used to craft redstone comparators and activator rails.
TU43	CU33	1.36	1.36	1.36	Patch 13		A redstone torch now generates as part of igloos.
			1.90				The texture of redstone torches has now been changed.[verify]

New Nintendo 3DS Edition

New Nintendo 3DS Edition
0.1.0							[verify] Added redstone torches.

Data history

Java Edition
?							At one point, the translation key for Redstone torches were tile.notGate.name.
1.8			14w06a				Restone torches now have dedicated model json files; previously the geometry was defined in the game code itself.
1.13			17w47a				The different block IDs have been split up and merged into redstone_torch for on the ground, and redstone_wall_torch for on a wall.
							A lit block state has been added for redstone torches.
							Prior to The Flattening, these blocks' numeral IDs were 75 and 76.

Trivia

• In Minecraft Earth, the icon in the inventory shows an unlit redstone torch.

Issues

Issues relating to "Redstone Torch" are maintained on the bug tracker. Issues should be reported and viewed there.

Gallery

Renders

Java Edition

• 
  Redstone torch
• 
  Unlit redstone torch
• 
  Redstone wall torch
• 
  Unlit redstone wall torch

Bedrock Edition

• 
  Redstone torch
• 
  Unlit redstone torch
• 
  Redstone wall torch
• 
  Unlit redstone wall torch

In other media

• 
  Noor catching a redstone torch
• 
  Several characters carrying redstone torches in Introducing New Default Skins!
• 
  Action figure of Steve holding a redstone torch
• 
• 
  Official replica of a redstone torch.
• 
  ThinkGeek produced redstone torch
• 
  Charger shaped like a redstone torch.
• 
  Redstone torches in A Minecraft Movie.

Notes

References

Navigation

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v t e Blocks
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Utility Interactable Anvil Chipped Damaged Barrel Beacon Brewing Stand Cartography Table Chest Ender Copper Crafting Table Enchanting Table Furnace Blast Smoker Grindstone Lectern Loom Shulker Box Dyed Sign Hanging Smithing Table Stonecutter Utilizable Banners Ominous Beehive Beds Bell Bookshelf Cake with Candle Campfire Soul Cauldron Chiseled Bookshelf Composter Conduit Copper Golem Statue Decorated Pot End Gateway End Portal End Portal Frame Farmland Fletching Table Flower Pot Frosted Ice Heads Skeleton Wither Skeleton Zombie Creeper Piglin Dragon Heavy Core Jukebox Ladder Lodestone Monster Spawner Nether Portal Respawn Anchor Scaffolding Shelf Sponge Wet Suspicious Gravel Suspicious Sand TNT Trial Spawner Ominous Vault Ominous Redstone/ Mechanical Buttons Wooden Stone Polished Blackstone Copper Bulb Crafter Daylight Detector Dispenser Dropper Doors Copper Iron Wooden Honey Block Hopper Lever Lightning Rod Note Block Observer Piston Sticky Pressure Plates Wooden Stone Polished Blackstone Heavy Weighted Light Weighted Rail Activator Detector Powered Redstone Lamp Redstone Wire Comparator Repeater Torch Slime Block Target Trapped Chest Trapdoors Copper Iron Wooden Fence Gates Tripwire Hook Tripwire BE & edu only Allow Border Chalkboard Compound Creator Deny Element Constructor Heat Block Item Frame Glow Lab Table Material Reducer Underwater TNT Underwater Torch
Creative or commands only All editions Barrier Command Block Chain Repeating Jigsaw Block Light Petrified Oak Slab Player Head Structure Block Void Java Edition only Test Block Test Instance Block China Edition only mod_ore micro_block
Removed All editions Grassless Dirt Seamless Stone Slab Java Edition only Cloth Dead Coral Block Gear Lava Spawner Locked chest Rose Potted Shrub Water Spawner Bedrock Edition only Blue Rose grass_carried leaves_carried Fern Fern Smooth Stone Bricks Structure Air mysterious_frame_slot MinecraftEdu only Big Sign Border block Build allow block Build disallow block Foundation block Home Block Information block Information Sign Number Block Spawn Block Teleport Block Minecraft 4k only XOR Block
Unused Bedrock Edition only Chalkboard BE & edu only Camera Block Chiseled Purpur tile.client_request_placeholder_block.name Deprecated Anvil tile.deprecated_purpur_block_2.name Glowing Obsidian tile.info_update.name tile.info_update2.name Nether Reactor Core tile.reserved6.name Stonecutter (old) Unknown
Unimplemented All editions Blue Berries Branches Copper Button Colored Planks Coral Slab Dead Dirt Slab Empty Barrel Fish Barrel Furniture Paeonia Sand Layer Sculk Jaw Spike Block Wax Block
Joke April Fools 2013 Block of Coal Etho Slab Tinted Glass Torch (Burnt-out) April Fools 2016 USB Charger Block April Fools 2020 An Ant Box of Infinite Books Cursor Funky Portal Leftover Swaggiest stairs ever April Fools 2022 How did we get here? April Fools 2023 Cheese Copper Sink Filled Copper Spleaves Golden Chest Other Portal Packed Air Pickaxe Block Place Block April Fools 2024 Baked Potato Bricks Expired Charred Big Brain Block of Amber Block of Potato Peels Corrupted Floatater Floatato Frying Table Gravtater Pedestal Peelgrass Block Corrupted Poison Farmland Poison Path Poisonous Mashed Potato Poisonous Potato Block Compressed Double Compressed Triple Compressed Quadruple Compressed Poisonous Potato Cutter Poisonous Potato Head Block Poisonous Potato Headpiece Poisonous Potato Ore Deepslate Potato Battery Potato Bud Potato flower Potato Fruit Potato Leaves Potato Pedicule Potato Portal Potato Refinery Potato Sprouts Potato Stem Planks Slab Stairs Door Trapdoor Button Pressure Plate Sign Hanging Sign Fence Fence Gate Potone Copper Ore Diamond Ore Gold Ore Iron Ore Lapis Lazuli Ore Redstone Ore Resin Ore Powerful Potato Strong Roots Taterstone Terre de Pomme Vicious Potato Weak Roots April Fools 2025 Dimension Control Mine Travelling Block Mine Revisitor Mine Crafter Mob Trophy Shimmering Door Sky Trophy
Extreme metadata variants All editions Directionless Hopper Seamless Stone Slab Six-sided Hay Bale Six-sided Piston Java Edition only Faceless Furnace Faceless Jack o'Lantern Green Shrub Potted Invisible stairs Misaligned torch Redstone Nether portal post Overripe Melon Stem Attached Overripe Pumpkin Stem Attached Overgrown Cocoa Overeaten Cake Overgrown Wheat Crops Potted non-flower block Snowy Dirt Coarse Strange buttons Others Bedrock Edition only Bell Stand Diorite Bell Granite Bell Polished Six-sided Bone Block Six-sided Purpur Pillar Six-sided Quartz Pillar Smokeless Campfire