The F3 debug overlay in Minecraft Java Edition can be customized through a built-in options screen opened by pressing F3 + F6.
The standard F3 debug screen in Minecraft Java Edition throws a dozen data points at you at once — coordinates, biome, FPS, light levels, chunk data, and more. That’s useful when you need it all, but most players only want two or three of those readings. Recent Java Edition updates added an official way to edit what appears and how it displays, so you can strip the clutter and keep only the information you actually use. The ability to edit a F3 menu in Minecraft is built right into the game — no mods or resource packs required.
How Do You Open The Debug Options Screen?
The customization menu lives behind a simple keyboard shortcut. Hold down F3 and tap F6 to bring up the debug options screen. From there you can pick which items appear on the debug overlay and in what mode they show.
On some laptops and compact keyboards, the function-row keys default to media or brightness controls. If pressing F3 + F6 does nothing, hold Fn while pressing F3, then tap F6 — or check whether your keyboard has an Fn Lock toggle. This feature is available in Minecraft Java Edition starting around update 1.21 and later snapshots; it is not available in Minecraft Bedrock Edition.
What You Can Customize In The Debug Menu
Once the options screen is open, you’ll see a list of every data category the debug overlay can display. The main categories you can toggle or reposition include:
- Biome — shows the biome name your player is currently standing in.
- Coordinates / Player Position — your exact X, Y, and Z location in the world.
- FPS — frames per second, useful for performance tuning.
- Light Levels — sky light and block light values at your position.
- Chunk Data — the chunk coordinates and whether the chunk is loaded.
- Game Version — the current Minecraft version and release identifier.
- Tags — block and entity tags attached to what you’re looking at.
Each item can be assigned to one of three display modes, which control when and where the information appears on screen.
Customizing Your F3 Debug Screen: The Display Modes
Every debug item you select can be set to one of three display modes. The table below explains what each mode does and when you would use it.
| Display Mode | What It Does | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Overlay | Shows the data only while you are holding F3 | Quick checks when you need coordinates or light levels momentarily |
| Always Displayed | Keeps the information visible on screen at all times, even without holding F3 | Monitoring FPS during building sessions or watching biome changes while exploring |
| Hide / Off | Completely removes the item from the debug view | Decluttering when you only need one or two readings |
To assign a mode, select the item in the options list and choose the display mode from the sub-menu. Changes are saved automatically and persist across game sessions, so you only set this up once.
Common Mistakes When Customizing The F3 Menu
A few pitfalls trip up players who are new to this feature. The most common is using the wrong shortcut. Some old snapshot videos and community discussions reference F3 + F5 to open the customization screen, but that was a development-only key — the release build uses F3 + F6. If F3 + F5 opens the camera perspective toggle instead, you pressed the right key for the wrong feature.
Another frequent error is assuming the feature works in Bedrock Edition. The debug options screen described here is Java Edition only. Bedrock players who want similar functionality will need to use add-ons or third-party tools. And on the clutter front: enabling every item to “Always Displayed” can spam the screen with information — start with just coordinates and FPS, then add more only if you need them.
Other F3 Shortcuts Worth Knowing
The debug overlay has a handful of other handy shortcuts that work alongside the new customization options. These are not part of the F3 + F6 menu but remain useful during gameplay.
| Shortcut | Function |
|---|---|
| F3 + A | Reloads all chunks — helpful when terrain fails to load |
| F3 + B | Toggles entity hitbox visibility |
| F3 + C | Copies your current coordinates and rotation as a /tp command to the clipboard |
| F3 + G | Toggles chunk border outlines so you can see exact chunk boundaries |
| F3 + Q | Shows an in-game help list of all available F3 combinations |
These shortcuts work independently of the debug options screen and can be used together with your customized layout.
How To Reset The Debug Menu To Default
If you change too many items and want to start fresh, the customization screen includes a Default Profile option. Selecting it restores the original F3 overlay layout — everything visible in its default mode — so you don’t have to change each item back one at a time. The reset applies immediately, and you can begin customizing again from there.
Quick Reference: Editing Your F3 Menu
- Press F3 + F6 to open the debug options screen (add Fn on laptops if needed).
- Pick a data category — biome, coordinates, FPS, light levels, chunk data, or game version.
- Assign it to Overlay, Always Displayed, or Hide.
- Use the Default Profile option to undo all changes at once.
- This feature is available in Minecraft Java Edition only, starting from update 1.21.
References & Sources
- Minecraft Wiki. “Debug Screen.” Comprehensive reference for F3 shortcuts and the standard debug overlay in Java Edition.