Minecraft Glowing Commands: Item Glint and Mob Outlines

Updated: 30 October 2026

Make an item shimmer (no enchantments)

/give @p minecraft:nether_star[enchantment_glint_override=true]

On Java 1.20.5+, add the glint without any enchantment, which suits tickets and prize items. With a name too: [enchantment_glint_override=true,custom_name="Special Ticket"] (see custom items).

/give @p minecraft:diamond_sword[enchantments={sharpness:5},enchantment_glint_override=false]

Set it to false to hide the glint on an enchanted item.

On 1.20.4 and older, the usual trick was an empty enchantment list: {Enchantments:[{}]}.

Outline mobs and players (Glowing)

/effect give @e[type=minecraft:cow,distance=..20] minecraft:glowing 30 0 true

The Glowing effect draws a white outline that shows through walls, for 30 seconds here. Use infinite to keep it on.

/data merge entity @e[type=minecraft:cow,limit=1,sort=nearest] {Glowing:1b}

For mobs you can also set the Glowing:1b tag. Unlike the effect, it never wears off until you set Glowing:0b. Player data cannot be changed with /data, so use the effect for players (see the data command).

Change the outline color

/team add red
/team modify red color red
/team join red @e[type=minecraft:cow,limit=1,sort=nearest]

The outline takes the color of the target's team. Color teams red and blue and players can tell friend from foe through walls (see the team command).

Ideas

Hide and seek: give hiders Glowing for the last 30 seconds.
Boss fights: outline the boss so players can find it (see boss mobs).
Prizes: hand out shimmering special items.

Turn it off

/effect clear @a minecraft:glowing
/data merge entity @e[type=minecraft:cow,limit=1,sort=nearest] {Glowing:0b}

Bedrock Edition

Bedrock has neither the Glowing effect nor a glint-only option. To make an item shimmer, give it a real enchantment with /enchant.

Common problems

No glint: on 1.20.4 or older, [ ] component syntax does not work.
Glowing tag does nothing: check the b in 1b and that the selector picks one entity.
Color does not change: set the team color before joining, and check the target actually joined.

Common questions

Does Invisibility hide a glowing player? No. The outline stays visible; clear Glowing too.
Can blocks glow? Blocks cannot get an outline. For light, use light sources or the invisible light block.
Is it unfair in PvP? It reveals positions through walls, so use it as a rule, such as only at the end of hide and seek.

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Glowing commands: item glint and outlines