How To Get A Player Head In Minecraft 1.21 (No Commands Needed!)

2. How to get a player head in Minecraft (with commands)

In Minecraft Java Edition 1.21.4, obtaining a Minecraft player head typically requires commands, which means you must be in Creative Mode or have cheats enabled in Minecraft Survival Mode. Here’s how to get a player head in Minecraft using commands:

1. 1. Open Minecraft and load a world (new or existing). Ensure you’re in Creative Mode or have cheats enabled (open to LAN and toggle “Allow Cheats” if in single-player).
   2. Press the chat key (default: T) to open the command bar.
   3. Enter the following command:

/give @p minecraft:player_head[minecraft:profile={name:"PlayerNameHere"}] 1

Replace PlayerNameHere with the exact username of the player whose head you want (e.g., Notch). Note: The username is case-sensitive.

1. Press Enter. The Minecraft player head will appear in your inventory, displaying the skin of the specified player.

Important Notes:

• This command works in Minecraft Java Edition 1.21.4 and later. For versions before 1.20.5, use /give @p minecraft:player_head{SkullOwner:"PlayerNameHere"} instead.
• If the command doesn’t work (e.g., you get a Steve or Alex head), ensure you’re online, as player head textures require an internet connection to load the player’s skin.
• For older versions (pre-1.13), you need a command block with the command /give @p minecraft:skull 1 3 {SkullOwner:"PlayerNameHere"}, activated by a redstone signal (e.g., a button).

Minecraft Custom Heads

You can also obtain Minecraft custom heads via websites like Minecraft-Heads.com, which provide commands for unique head designs. These often require command blocks due to their complex data tags.

3. How to get player heads in Minecraft without commands

In vanilla Minecraft Survival Mode, player head drops cannot occur without commands unless you use Minecraft data packs or play on a server with specific plugins. Below is the accurate method to enable player head drops without commands in Minecraft Java Edition:

Using Data Packs in Java Edition 1.21.4

Minecraft data packs can modify game mechanics to allow player head drops when a player is killed, typically by a Charged Creeper in Minecraft or another player. Here’s how to set it up using the Vanilla Tweaks data pack:

1. Download a Data Pack:
   • Visit Vanilla Tweaks and navigate to the “Data Packs” section.
   • Select the “Player Head Drops” Vanilla Tweaks data pack under the “Drops” category. This pack makes it so that when a player is killed by another player (in PvP) or a Charged Creeper in Minecraft, their head drops.
   • Download the data pack as a .zip file.
2. Install the Data Pack:
   • Open your Minecraft folder:
     • Windows: AppData\Roaming\.minecraft
     • macOS: ~/Library/Application Support/minecraft
     • Linux: ~/.minecraft
   • Navigate to the saves folder, then open the folder for the world you want to modify (e.g., saves/YourWorldName).
   • Inside the world folder, find or create a datapacks folder.
   • Extract the downloaded .zip file and place the data pack folder (not the .zip) into the datapacks folder.
3. Activate the Data Pack:
   • Launch Minecraft and open the modified world.
   • Run the command /datapack list to verify the Vanilla Tweaks data pack is installed. If it’s not enabled, use /datapack enable "file/[datapack_name]" (replace [datapack_name] with the folder name).
   • Alternatively, the data pack should automatically load when you enter the world.
4. Obtaining the Head:
   • With the “Player Head Drops” Vanilla Tweaks data pack active, kill a player (in multiplayer) or have yourself killed by another player or a Charged Creeper in Minecraft.
   • When a player dies to another player or a Charged Creeper, their Minecraft player head will drop as an item, reflecting their current skin.
   • Note: You cannot drop your own head by killing yourself (e.g., with a bow and arrow or by other means). You need another player or a Charged Creeper to trigger the drop.
5. Tips for Charged Creepers:
   • To create a Charged Creeper in Minecraft, lure a Creeper to an open area and wait for lightning to strike it (you can use a trident with the Channeling enchantment during a thunderstorm to strike the Creeper).
   • Lead the Charged Creeper to the player you want to kill. When it explodes and kills the player, their player head may drop (the drop is not guaranteed but has a chance).
   • Be cautious, as explosions can destroy dropped items.

Important Notes:

• The “Player Head Drops” Vanilla Tweaks data pack only works in Minecraft Java Edition. Bedrock Edition does not support custom player head drops in the same way, as it lacks equivalent data pack functionality.
• You must be in Minecraft Survival Mode for the data pack to function as intended, as Creative Mode deaths don’t trigger drops.
• The player head will retain the player’s skin at the time of death. If they change their skin later, the head’s appearance won’t update.

Using Server Plugins (Multiplayer)

If you’re playing on a multiplayer server running Minecraft Java Edition 1.21.4, some plugins (e.g., Head Database plugin or similar) can enable player head drops without commands. These require server operator permissions to install and configure:

• Install the plugin via the server’s plugin manager (e.g., Spigot or Paper).
• Configure the plugin to allow Minecraft player heads to drop upon death (settings vary by plugin).
• Once set up, killing a player in Minecraft Survival Mode will drop their player head, similar to the data pack method.

Limitations

• Vanilla Survival (No Mods/Data Packs): Without Minecraft data packs or plugins, player head drops are unobtainable in Minecraft Survival Mode without commands. The game’s default mechanics prevent player head drops to avoid encouraging harmful behavior.
• Bedrock Edition: There is no reliable way to get Minecraft custom heads or player heads in Bedrock Edition without commands, as it lacks data pack support and has limited NBT editing capabilities.
• No Self-Drop: You cannot obtain your own player head by dying in vanilla Survival, even with data packs, unless another player or a Charged Creeper kills you.

Trivia

• Minecraft player heads can be oriented in 16 directions when placed on top of a block and 4 directions on the sides, like signs.
• They don’t require a supporting block and can be placed freely for player head decoration.
• In Creative Mode, the inventory includes default Steve and Alex heads under the “Decoration Blocks” tab, but Minecraft custom heads require commands or data packs.
• Websites like Minecraft-Heads.com offer thousands of Minecraft custom heads for decorative designs, but most require command blocks to spawn due to complex data tags.