Repair a Tool Before It Becomes Locked

Proactive Tool Maintenance

The best way to avoid being stuck with a locked tool is to repair it before durability drops below the guard threshold. This requires planning and awareness during your adventures.

Repair Process

1. Monitor your tool's durability bar in your inventory or hotbar

2. When durability reaches approximately 25-30% (or your configured threshold), stop using the tool

3. Travel to an anvil or crafting station

4. Place your tool in the anvil along with appropriate repair material (iron ingots for iron tools, diamonds for diamond tools, etc.)

5. Combine them to restore durability

6. Return to your activity with a refreshed tool

Prevention Tips

• Carry multiple tools of the same type when mining or exploring
• Bring repair materials in your inventory
• Set up an anvil near your main base for quick repairs
• Use tools with durability-extending enchantments like Unbreaking to reduce repair frequency
• Keep a mental note of which tools are approaching their threshold, especially high-value enchanted ones