Bedrock /give Command: Syntax and Examples

Basic Syntax

The /give command in Bedrock Edition places items directly into a player's inventory. The basic syntax is:

/give <player> <itemName> [amount] [data] [components]

Parameters:

• <player> - Target selector or player name (required)
• <itemName> - The item identifier (required)
• [amount] - Number of items, 1 to 64 depending on stack size (optional, defaults to 1)
• [data] - Data value for item variants (optional, defaults to 0)
• [components] - Item components in JSON format (optional)

Differences from Java Edition

The Bedrock /give command differs from Java in several ways:

• Bedrock uses data values for item variants (like wood types) while Java uses separate item IDs for each variant.
• Bedrock does not support NBT tags in /give. You cannot directly give enchanted items or items with custom attributes through the command alone.
• Item IDs in Bedrock may differ from Java. For example, Bedrock uses planks with data values while Java uses oak_planks, spruce_planks, etc.
• Bedrock item components use a JSON-based syntax introduced in recent versions to replace some data value functionality.

Common Examples

Here are practical examples of the /give command:

Basic Items

/give @s diamond 64
/give @s iron_ingot 32
/give @s golden_apple 5
/give @a arrow 64

Tools and Weapons

/give @s diamond_sword 1
/give @s netherite_pickaxe 1
/give @s bow 1
/give @s crossbow 1
/give @s trident 1

Blocks

/give @s grass_block 64
/give @s stone 64
/give @s oak_log 64
/give @s glass 64

Special Items

/give @s command_block 1
/give @s barrier 1
/give @s structure_block 1
/give @s spawn_egg 1
/give @s elytra 1
/give @s totem_of_undying 1

Giving to Specific Players

/give @p diamond_sword 1            # Nearest player
/give @r golden_apple 1              # Random player
/give @a[tag=winners] diamond 10     # All players tagged "winners"
/give "PlayerName" iron_ingot 64     # Specific player by name

Data Values

Some items use data values to specify variants. While Bedrock has been moving toward separate item IDs for variants, some data values remain:

/give @s dye 1 0      # Ink Sac (data value 0)
/give @s dye 1 4      # Lapis Lazuli (data value 4)
/give @s dye 1 15     # Bone Meal (data value 15)

In newer versions of Bedrock, many previously data-value-based items have been split into individual IDs. Always check the current version documentation for your specific Bedrock version.

Item Components (Newer Syntax)

Recent Bedrock versions introduced item components using JSON-like syntax for specifying item properties:

/give @s diamond_sword 1 0 {"minecraft:can_destroy":{"blocks":["stone","iron_ore"]}}

This gives a diamond sword that can break stone and iron ore in adventure mode. Item components provide functionality that was previously only possible through NBT in Java Edition.

Troubleshooting

• If you get "Unknown item," check the item ID spelling. Bedrock uses underscores and lowercase.
• If the command does nothing, make sure cheats are enabled in world settings.
• If giving to another player fails, ensure they are online and the name is spelled correctly.
• Some items like spawn eggs require additional data to specify the mob type.