How to Tame a Fox in Minecraft

Considered one of the most popular games ever made, Minecraft has seen many iterations since it debuted its alpha version in 2009. A popular feature that has seen a lot of changes over the years is the ability to tame animals in the game, such as the ever-popular fox.

If you’ve been thinking of getting one of these cute critters as a buddy while exploring the world of Minecraft, then read on and we’ll show you how.

How to Tame a Fox in Minecraft Java Edition

The original version of Minecraft, which has seen the most updates, is now known as the Java Edition. This version of the game runs on desktop computers, whether the system used is Windows, Linux, or macOS. Foxes were introduced to the game with its 1.14 update.

If you want to tame foxes, you’ll need to follow these steps:

1. First, if you want to tame a fox, you’ll need to know where it spawns. There are two types of foxes in the game, the snow fox with white fur, and the red fox with red coats. The snow fox roams wild on snowy taiga biomes, while its red cousin can be found either in taiga or giant tree taiga biomes.
   If you’re new to the game and aren’t familiar with biome types, you’ll recognize taigas by their abundance of spruce trees and mountainous terrain. Giant tree taigas are essentially the same except the trees are much larger than normal. Snowy taigas are its snow-covered version.
   
2. Naturally spawned foxes will distrust the player, so you’ll need taming items before you proceed. Foxes are fond of sweet berries, and fortunately, they grow rather commonly in all taiga biomes. You can recognize a sweet berry bush by its telltale red markings. Collect as much as you can because you’ll be needing them. About 70 or so will be enough.
   
   While you’re at it, collect other resources such as wood, soil, or stone, which you can use to build a wall with. You’ll also need a lead, as foxes won’t automatically follow you as wolf pets do. To create a lead, you’ll need four strings and a slimeball. String can be obtained from spiders, striders, cats, or from breaking cobwebs. Slimeballs can be obtained from slimes or from sneezing baby pandas.
   A lead is made by combining the items in the crafting grid. Place the slimeball in the center, then place the strings in the 1, 2, 4, and 9 positions. This combination will create two leads that you can use.
3. Taming foxes requires that you find more than one of them. They spawn in groups of two to four, so if you spot one, it’s likely there’s another one around too. Foxes are very skittish and will run away from players that they detect. To approach a fox, you’ll have to sneak so that it doesn’t just take off running.
   
   Once you locate a group of at least two foxes, go into sneak mode and then approach them slowly. Try to find two foxes that are close together, then proceed to wall them in. Foxes can jump two blocks up so make sure that your wall is at least two blocks in height so they don’t escape. It’s easier to wall in one fox, then proceed to wall in the next. Afterward, you can connect the walled areas together, then slowly drive them close to each other while penning them in. You’ll need them both to be close to each other for the next step.
   
4. With the foxes now near each other, proceed to feed them a sweet berry each. You’ll have to feed it to the foxes one at a time. To feed a fox when you’re on a desktop computer, right-click on a fox while you’re holding a sweet berry in your hand.
   
5. If two foxes that are near each other have sweet berries, they will proceed to breed. You’ll know that this is happening when you see heart icons appear above their heads. After a few seconds, a baby fox will appear between them. This baby fox will fully trust the player, though they will still follow adult foxes.
   
6. Feed the baby fox as many sweet berries as you can. This will speed up its growth a bit. You’ll need to do this so that they stop following the adult foxes, which will still be quite afraid of you. Once you’ve fed the baby fox your sweet berries, wait a while for it to grow into its adult form.
7. Once the baby fox transforms into an adult, take out your lead and use it on your newly tamed fox. You can now lead your new pet to your base, or have it follow you around while you explore the world. Alternatively, you can repeat the process and have a pair of tame foxes, which you can now use to produce more babies.
   

How to Tame a Fox in Minecraft Bedrock

Foxes were in the Bedrock Edition of Minecraft since the beta version, and pretty much behave the same way as their Java Edition counterparts do. If you have the Bedrock edition, the steps you need to tame them is also similar. Refer to the instructions given above to tame a fox in Minecraft Bedrock.

How to Tame a Fox in Minecraft Education Edition

The Education Edition of Minecraft is based upon the Bedrock version, so they have rather similar steps. The only change is that players who don’t have worldbuilder permissions may be limited in what they’re allowed to do.

The steps given in the Java version of the game need to be followed in the Education Edition if you want to tame a fox. This would present a problem for players that have been locked in an area without a taiga biome, or have an immutable world as they can’t break blocks to gather resources. If enemies are also turned off, then collecting strings and slimeballs may prove to be rather difficult.

Taming foxes in Education Edition is fully possible using the steps given above, but this requires the cooperation of the educator in order to gather the necessary materials.

How to Tame a Fox in Minecraft Mobile

Before consolidation into Bedrock, Minecraft Mobile was known as the Pocket Edition and ran on Windows phones. Although the Pocket Edition still technically exists, as it was also the basis of the Windows 10 version, it’s mostly just Bedrock Edition with a different name.

All the steps required to tame foxes as detailed in the Java version is the same for the mobile app. The only real difference is that instead of right-clicking when feeding berries, you tap on the fox instead. Also, the sneak button is the diamond in the center of your movement controls, on the lower left side of your screen.

How to Tame a Fox in Minecraft on iOS

The iOS version of Minecraft is also based on the Bedrock Edition. As such, all the steps for taming foxes, as already detailed above, also apply to iOS.

How to Tame a Fox in Minecraft on Android

As with the iOS version, the Android version of Minecraft share the same features. Refer to the Java Version’s steps to tame foxes as they’re also the same.

How to Tame a Fox in Minecraft Creative Mode

Creative Mode is a game mode in Minecraft that allows players to access all the blocks, gives you the ability to fly, and turns off dying and mobs in the game. This actually makes it easier to tame foxes, as you have access to sweet berries and leads without having to scavenge or create them.

All the steps are pretty much the same, except you can skip the part about collecting resources. Just find some foxes, pen them in, then proceed to feed them sweet berries from your inventory.

How to Tame a Fox in Minecraft with Commands

If you’re not in the mood to scour the world to find taiga biomes, you can summon foxes instead. They will still be wild, and you’ll need two of them to breed a tame fox, but this reduces the time you need to find them. However, before you can enter the commands, you’ll need to have cheats enabled for your world. To do this, follow these steps:

Java Edition – New World

1. On the world selection screen, click on Create New World.
   
2. Before entering the world name, click on More World Options.
   
3. Click on Allow Cheats to turn it on.
   
4. Proceed to create the new world.

Java Edition – Existing World

1. When you’re logged into your world, pause the game.
2. In the game menu, click on Open to LAN.
   
3. Click on Allow Cheats to turn it on.
   
4. Proceed with the game. Do note that when you exit the game and open the map again, cheats will once again be turned off.
   

Bedrock Edition

1. On the home screen, click on the Cheats toggle to turn cheats on.
2. Note that achievements are locked when cheats are on.

Once you have cheats turned on, enter the following commands in the chat window. Chat is accessed by clicking on T on your keyboard on the Java Edition, and clicking or tapping on the chat icon on the top of your screen in the Bedrock Edition. Once the chat window appears, type in the following:

1. To summon a red fox:
   /summon Minecraft:fox ~ ~ ~ {Type:red}
2. To summon a snow fox:
   /summon Minecraft:fox ~ ~ ~ {Type:snow}
3. To summon a random fox:
   /summon Minecraft:fox ~ ~ ~

Once you’ve summoned a couple of foxes, proceed to breed them as per the instructions given above.

How to Get a Loyal Fox in Minecraft

Baby foxes that are a result of you breeding two adult wild ones will always be loyal to you and will attack enemies that hurt you. Do remember though that while they’re in baby-form, they will still follow their parents, and if they somehow get away, the baby will go with them. Feed the baby fox with a lot of sweet berries to speed up its growth.

Additional FAQ

Do Tamed Foxes Follow You in Minecraft?

No. Unlike tame wolves, tame foxes won’t follow you unless you have food in your hand. If you want to bring a tamed fox to your base, put a lead on it, or have a sweet berry on you so that it’ll follow.

How Do Foxes Behave in Minecraft?

Foxes are passive, and will not attack players directly. They will run away from any player that isn’t sneaking, so you’ll have to be careful if you want to get close to one. They’re active at night and will attack rabbits, chickens, fish, and baby turtles. If they’re near a village, they will attack it at night, harassing any tame chickens in the area.

What Can You Do with a Fox in Minecraft?

Other than having a cute pet, breeding foxes do count in the ‘The Parrots and the Bats’ and ‘Two by Two’ advancement. They also have a chance to drop feathers, leather, wheat, eggs, rabbit hides, rabbit feet, or emeralds. However, there are better and more convenient sources for these materials.

A New Level of Enjoyment

Pets add another level of enjoyment to the already rich gameplay that Minecraft provides. Taming foxes may not be simple, but having a cute pet around makes the endeavor worthwhile. Do you know of other ways regarding how to tame a fox in Minecraft? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.