Elytra Slot — Guide

How It Works

A new slot appears in your inventory screen, next to your existing armor and equipment slots. This slot accepts only an elytra; ordinary armor, tools, and other items cannot be placed in it.

When an elytra sits in this slot, the game treats it as a worn elytra:

it deploys when you jump off a height and start gliding,
it takes durability while you glide, just like a normally-worn elytra,
it stops working (and you fall) when its durability runs out,
your chest armor slot is completely independent, so a chestplate there gives full protection at all times.

There is no key to press and no toggle to learn - if an elytra is in the slot, you can glide; if it is not, you cannot.

Equipping an Elytra

Open your inventory.
Locate the elytra slot beside your armor slots.
Place an elytra into that slot (drag-and-drop, or use the quick-equip action the same way you would for armor).
Put a chestplate in your normal chest armor slot for protection.

You now have armor and wings equipped together. To glide, jump from a high point and hold jump as usual; to stop using the wings, simply remove the elytra from the slot.

Gliding

Gliding behaves exactly as it does with a normally-worn elytra:

Start by jumping off a ledge or while falling, then pressing jump to begin gliding.
Steer by looking around - pitch down to gain speed, level out to extend your glide.
Boost with a firework rocket for sustained, powered flight.
Land by gliding low and touching the ground, or by simply stopping.

Because your chest slot now holds real armor, you keep your defensive stats throughout the entire flight.

Durability & Repair

An elytra in the dedicated slot wears down while gliding, the same way a worn elytra does. Watch its durability bar and repair it before it breaks.

Ways to repair an elytra:

Anvil + phantom membrane - combine the elytra with phantom membranes on an anvil to restore durability.
Mending - an elytra with the Mending enchantment repairs itself as you collect experience while it is equipped.
Grindstone / crafting combine - combining two damaged elytra restores durability (but removes enchantments).

If an elytra runs out of durability mid-flight you will stop gliding and fall, so keep a repaired backup or use Mending for long trips.

Tips

Always carry armor now. Since the chest slot is free, equip a strong chestplate - you no longer trade protection for flight.
Enchant the elytra with Mending and Unbreaking so it lasts through long gliding sessions without constant anvil repairs.
Keep firework rockets on your hotbar for powered flight and quick altitude gains.
Carry a spare elytra for very long expeditions in case one wears out far from base.
Combine with elytra-friendly armor enchantments (such as Protection on the chestplate) for a build that is both armored and highly mobile.