Updated October 1, 2026 · Edition-specific guide

How to Enter The Sift in Minecraft & Dungeons II

Cover: Dungeons II screenshot · Minecraft.net

The answer depends on which game you mean. Minecraft Dungeons II players can reach The Sift through rifts. The 2027 Java and Bedrock version has no announced entry method yet. Ancient City portal tutorials currently belong to community mods, not vanilla Minecraft.

DUNGEONS IIRifts are officialMojang says stepping into a rift transports you to The Sift.
JAVA & BEDROCKEntry method unknownThe dimension is announced for 2027, but no vanilla portal has been revealed.
COMMUNITY MODSPortal rules varySome mods use the Ancient City frame, but those recipes are mod-specific.
Quick Answer

How Do You Get to The Sift Right Now?

RIFT

In Minecraft Dungeons II, Mojang's official wording is direct: players who step through rifts enter The Sift. Minecraft LIVE also explains that rifts appear throughout Dungeons II's new interconnected world and can transport you into the dimension.

For Minecraft Java and Bedrock Edition, there is no official portal recipe, structure, item, command, or unlock route yet. The main-game version is planned for 2027, and Mojang says it is not ready to explain how access will work.

Choose Your Game

How to Enter The Sift by Edition

PLAYABLE NOW

Minecraft Dungeons II

Explore the interconnected world until you encounter one of the strange rifts tied to the story and disturbances spreading across the Overworld. Entering a rift takes you into The Sift. The game is already released.

COMING 2027

Minecraft Java Edition

Mojang has confirmed The Sift for Java in 2027, but has not announced how to enter it. There is no official Java Snapshot containing a vanilla Sift portal at the time of this update.

COMING 2027

Minecraft Bedrock Edition

Bedrock is part of the same 2027 announcement. No official Preview, portal block, Ancient City activation sequence, or access item has been revealed for the vanilla dimension.

COMMUNITY CONTENT

Java Mods & Bedrock Add-Ons

Community projects can let you enter fan interpretations today. Their portal methods are not interchangeable. Always follow the instructions for the exact mod, loader, version, or add-on you installed.

Minecraft Dungeons II

Entering The Sift Through Rifts

Four Dungeons II heroes jumping into a rift
Official Dungeons II rift imagery; the future Java and Bedrock portal recipe remains unannounced. Minecraft.net.

Mojang first revealed the route in the August gameplay trailer: mysterious rifts had been appearing in different locations, and the answer to what lay beyond them was The Sift. Minecraft LIVE later repeated that rifts appear throughout the interconnected Dungeons II world and transport players into the dimension.

01

Play Minecraft Dungeons II

The Sift is part of the standalone action-RPG Minecraft Dungeons II, not a menu option inside regular Java or Bedrock Minecraft.

02

Progress through the interconnected world

Rifts are tied to the strange events affecting the Overworld. Follow the game's progression and exploration rather than looking for a vanilla-style crafted portal recipe.

03

Enter a rift

Official Minecraft copy says that stepping through a rift transports players into The Sift. Once inside, expect different environments, mobs, hazardous blocks, and shifting-tide mechanics.

Important: a Dungeons II rift is confirmed. That does not prove that Minecraft Java or Bedrock will use the same access system in 2027.
Fact Check

Does the Ancient City Portal Lead to The Sift?

Ancient City portal in Mielon's Java mod
Mielon's Java mod uses the Ancient City frame. This is community mod footage, not Mojang's vanilla entrance. Author gallery.

Not in confirmed vanilla Minecraft. Mojang has not linked the Reinforced Deepslate frame in Ancient Cities to the 2027 Sift. That idea is currently a fan theory made more confusing by community mods that deliberately use the Ancient City frame as their entrance.

For example, Mielon's The Sift mod uses an Ancient City portal sequence involving a Goat Horn, a Singer, Sonorous Deepslate, and Note Blocks. A popular Bedrock add-on also uses the Ancient City frame with its own activation method. Those are real mechanics inside those community projects, but they are not evidence of Mojang's future vanilla design.

Before following any “Sift portal” tutorial: check whether the video or article says Dungeons II, Java mod, Bedrock add-on, or vanilla Minecraft. If it does not state the edition and version, the instructions are easy to misapply.
Community Examples

Why Sift Portal Tutorials Look Different

Mielon's The SiftJava community mod. Its current CurseForge instructions use the Ancient City frame and a custom sound / Note Block sequence. This is the mod author's interpretation.
The Sift Dimension Add-OnBedrock community add-on. Its CurseForge page describes clearing the Ancient City frame and lighting the add-on's portal. Again, this is add-on behavior, not Mojang's vanilla method.
Vanilla 2027 SiftNo confirmed portal or entry sequence yet. Mojang says more information will come in future Minecraft LIVE events.
Compare Sift ModsJava mods, Bedrock add-ons, versions and portal methods. Release DateTrack Java & Bedrock timing and official announcements. Explore BiomesSee what is confirmed once you arrive in the Dungeons II version.
Search Questions

How to Enter The Sift FAQ

How do you get to The Sift in Minecraft?

In Minecraft Dungeons II, enter one of the rifts that leads to The Sift. In Java and Bedrock Minecraft, the vanilla entry method has not been announced yet.

Can I enter The Sift in Java Edition now?

Not as an official vanilla feature. The main-game dimension is planned for 2027. Community Java mods can add their own versions before then.

Can I enter The Sift in Bedrock now?

Not in vanilla Bedrock. Community add-ons exist, but they are separate from Mojang's 2027 release.

Is the Ancient City portal confirmed for The Sift?

No. Mojang has not confirmed that the Ancient City frame is the vanilla entrance. Some mods use it, which is why the idea appears often in tutorials.

What are rifts in The Sift?

Rifts are the officially described Dungeons II route into the dimension. Mojang has not confirmed that the same mechanic will be used for Java or Bedrock.

Verification

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Community

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