Minecraft: Here’s How To Get Out of a Boat

Minecraft flaunts a colossal selection of landscapes for players to explore, ranging from tall majestic mountains to deep underwater areas – and even some incredibly dark, spooky caves housing mysterious treasures. Players have the option of exploring Minecraft’s overworld by various means, including by boat, but many players still wonder how to get out of a boat in Minecraft.

Boats are a vital form of transformation in Minecraft

Boats in Minecraft are extremely handy for just about any player, as it definitely takes some time and solid grinding before players can get their hands on the best Minecraft enchantments – many of which can be used for crossing large bodies of water. Swimming across bodies of water in Minecraft simply doesn’t cut it in most cases, as the process is really slow and tedious, not to mention the risk of encountering hostile mobs along the way.

They come in various colors and materials and are pretty simple to craft as well, as seen below; thanks to the Minecraft Wiki, players can even get their hands on a boat that matches their Minecraft survival base. In Minecraft Java Edition, players only need wood planks to create a boat, while in Minecraft Bedrock or Education Edition players would need wood planks and a wooden shovel as well.

Players love using boats throughout the earlier stages of their Minecraft playthrough, as boats provide a much faster means of travel without having to worry about drowning and most other risks. However, using a boat is not as simple as it may seem for many Minecraft players, and even getting into a boat can be tricky.

Boats can hold two passengers at a time in Minecraft, and entering a boat is only possible if the player is within a distance of one or two blocks from the boat. Below are the different keys for getting into a boat in Minecraft, depending on the chosen device or platform:

For the most part, the game does not necessarily specify how players can get out of their boat once they have finished using it (similar to not explaining exactly how to get off a horse in Minecraft). Much like cases with other mounts in Minecraft, the game simply tells players to press a certain key to “Sneak” in order to “dismount.”

Specifically, the game says that players should press “Left Shift” or “LShift” to get out of the boat, but this could be different depending on numerous factors. In some cases, it may simply say “Leave Boat,” which typically requires a tap.

In theory, all players would need to do is press Left Shift in order to get out of their boat in Minecraft. However, this key has not worked for various players on different devices and platforms, which has led to a variety of issues.

How to Get Out of a Boat (Step-by-Step Guide for All Platforms)

With that being said, this key may not actually be the same key for every player – understandably annoying and frustrating for many Minecraft fans. To top it off, the controls for using boats in Minecraft were changed from the original controls in late 2015 into early 2016 as well (after which they changed it back with the release of version 1.9).

Players will need to press their relevant “Sneak” key to get out of the boat in most cases, but some cases involve variants of the relevant “Jump” key as well. Below are the exact step-by-step guides for getting out of a boat in Minecraft on different platforms and devices:

PC

The steps below refer to all Minecraft players on PC, which can comprise numerous versions or editions of Minecraft, such as Minecraft Java Edition (vanilla), Minecraft Education Edition, or Minecraft Windows 10 Edition. This includes all PC devices compatible with Minecraft, such as Windows or Mac devices.

1. Face your Minecraft character in the direction that you’d like to land after leaving the boat using your movement keys.
2. Press the “Left Shift” key while facing the desired direction.
3. Drag your mouse in an upward direction immediately after pressing the key.
4. Your Minecraft character should land outside of the boat.

Xbox & PlayStation

The steps below apply to all Minecraft players enjoying the game on a console, specifically Xbox or PlayStation, which applies to all models of Xbox and PlayStation compatible with Minecraft.

1. Face your Minecraft character in the direction that you’d like to land after leaving the boat using the analog stick.
2. Press the “Right Stick (RS)” analog while facing the desired direction.
3. Roll your left analog in an upward direction immediately after pressing the control.
4. Your Minecraft character should land outside of the boat.

Mobile

Getting out of a boat on mobile (whether it be Android or iOS) is completely different from all other platforms, as is the case with many controls for Minecraft Pocket Edition. Players will need to focus on tapping the correct buttons and areas in order to successfully get out of their boat.

1. Face your Minecraft character in the direction that you’d like to land after leaving the boat using the analog sticks on your screen.
2. Press the “Leave Boat” button that appears while facing the desired direction.
3. Tilt the camera view in an upward direction immediately after pressing the provided button.
4. Your Minecraft character should land outside of the boat.

Nintendo Switch

A special note about getting out of a boat on Nintendo Switch is to make sure your Minecraft character keeps a slight distance between the boat and the shore. This seems to be quite important for successfully getting out of a boat when playing Minecraft on this device.

1. Face your Minecraft character in the direction that you’d like to land after leaving the boat using the analog stick.
2. Press the “ZL/ R3/ RS” key while facing the desired direction.
3. Roll your left analog in an upward direction immediately after pressing the key.
4. Your Minecraft character should land outside of the boat.

In any case, players will need to make sure that the distance between the boat and the land is fair enough for dismounting. Players will always be placed on land where possible – wherever the player is facing from the dismounting position.

The humble boat in Minecraft may be one of the very first things players build in their playthrough, but the game does not specifically say how to get out once you’ve reached the desired destination. Fortunately, getting out of a boat in Minecraft is far simpler than it may seem – all it takes is knowing the right keys for your chosen Minecraft device or platform.

Have something to add? Let us know in the comments below!