Minecraft how to tame a donkey

This Minecraft tutorial explains how to tame and ride a donkey with screenshots and step-by-step instructions.

After you have tamed a donkey in Minecraft, you can put a saddle on it and ride the donkey. The saddle allows you to control the movements of the donkey. Let's explore how to do this.

Required Materials to Ride a Donkey

In Minecraft, these are the materials you can use to ride a donkey:

Steps to Tame and Ride a Donkey

1. Find a Donkey

In Minecraft when you find a donkey, you can tame it.

Minecraft how to tame a donkey

Donkeys are usually found in the Plains biome.

Minecraft how to tame a donkey

If you are having trouble finding a donkey, you can always summon a donkey using a cheat or you can use a spawn egg.

2. Tame the Donkey

First, select an empty slot in your hotbar (because you must use your hand to tame the donkey). You will tame a donkey by repeatedly trying to mount the donkey and getting bucked off.

The game control to tame the donkey depends on the version of Minecraft:

  • For Java Edition (PC/Mac), right click on the donkey.
  • For Pocket Edition (PE), you move your pointer over the donkey and press the Mount button.
  • For Xbox 360 and Xbox One, press the LT button on the Xbox controller.
  • For PS3 and PS4, press the L2 button on the PS controller.
  • For Wii U, press the ZL button on the gamepad.
  • For Nintendo Switch, press the ZL button on the controller.
  • For Windows 10 Edition, right click on the donkey.
  • For Education Edition, right click on the donkey.

Minecraft how to tame a donkey

The donkey will buck you off. Each time you are knocked off, try to mount the donkey again. After every attempt, the donkey will let you sit on it a bit longer before it bucks you off.

When the donkey is tamed, you should see red hearts appear all around the donkey and the donkey will no longer buck you off.

Minecraft how to tame a donkey

Now at this point, you can sit on the donkey but you can not control the movement of the donkey until you put a saddle on the donkey.

3. Put a Saddle on the Donkey

To put a saddle on a donkey, open the Mule's menu. The game control depends on the version of Minecraft:

  • For Java Edition (PC/Mac), press E for inventory.
  • For Pocket Edition (PE), tap on the button with 3 dots to open your inventory.
  • For Xbox 360 and Xbox One, press the Y button to open your inventory.
  • For PS3 and PS4, press the
    Minecraft how to tame a donkey
    Triangle button to open your inventory.
  • For Wii U, press the X button to open your inventory.
  • For Nintendo Switch, press the X button to open your inventory.
  • For Windows 10 Edition, press E for inventory.
  • For Education Edition, press E for inventory.

A window should open displaying the items that your donkey is wearing.

Move the saddle from the hotbar to the saddle box on the left side of the donkey picture.

Minecraft how to tame a donkey

After you move the saddle to the saddle box, you will see your donkey's appearance change as the saddle is worn.

Minecraft how to tame a donkey

Now that you have tamed and put a saddle on a donkey, you can ride it and control its movements using the same controls that you use to move yourself.

Minecraft how to tame a donkey

Change the camera angle if you want to see yourself riding the donkey.

4. Dismount the Donkey

The game control to dismount the donkey depends on the version of Minecraft:

  • For Java Edition (PC/Mac), press the left shift key.
  • For Pocket Edition (PE), press the Center button (ie: crouch/sneak button) twice.
  • For Xbox 360 and Xbox One, press the Right Stick (RS) on the Xbox controller.
  • For PS3 and PS4, press the Right Stick (RS) on the PS controller.
  • For Wii U, press the Right Stick (RS) on the gamepad.
  • For Nintendo Switch, press the Right Stick (RS) on the controller.
  • Windows 10 Edition, press the left shift key.
  • For Education Edition, press the left shift key.

Congratulations, you have just learned how to tame and ride a donkey in Minecraft!

Things to Do with Donkeys

Here are some activities that you can do with donkeys in Minecraft:

Donkey Generators

Here are some of our other tools to automatically generate donkey commands in Minecraft:

Other Advanced Tutorials

What food do you need to tame a donkey in Minecraft?

Horses/Donkeys (Tamed): golden apples and golden carrots. Llamas (Tamed): hay bales. Sheep, Cows, and Mooshrooms: wheat. Pigs: carrots, potatoes, and beetroot.

Why can't I tame a donkey in Minecraft?

Taming. Taming a donkey is done in the same manner that a horse would be: a player needs to simply have a free hand (no items in it) and right click on the donkey to mount. This will lead to the donkey walking around for a bit and possibly bucking off a player.

How do you tame donkey?

Talk soothingly while providing food and water. Walk several feet from the food and stand or sit, talking gently, until the donkey approaches the food. Repeat the process twice a day for several days, remaining closer to the food each time until the donkey eats with you within 5 feet of the bucket.