How to Get Elytra in Minecraft

Guide Java Bedrock

Quick answer: Elytra is found only in End Ships, which generate at some End Cities in the outer End islands. Defeat the Ender Dragon, throw an ender pearl through an End Gateway, find an End City with a ship, and take the elytra from its item frame.

What you need

Ender pearls (for gateways and shulker dodging)
Slow Falling potions (recommended)
Blocks for bridging
Good armor and a bow

Step by step

Kill the Ender Dragon to open the End Gateways (up to 20).
Throw an ender pearl into a gateway to teleport to the outer islands.
Explore until you find an End City - towers of purpur and end stone bricks. Only some cities have a ship floating beside them.
Board the ship: bridge or pearl across. Watch for shulkers - their levitation bullets drop you from heights.
Inside the ship's hull, take the elytra from the item frame (behind the brewing stand). The dragon head sits at the bow.
To fly: equip elytra in the chestplate slot, jump from height and press jump again mid-air to glide. Use firework rockets to boost.
Repair it with phantom membranes on an anvil, or put Mending + Unbreaking III on it - elytra cannot be crafted.

Java vs Bedrock

Identical in Java and Bedrock. Every End City has at most one ship; not every city has one - keep exploring.

Versions: Elytra since 1.9 (Combat Update).

Frequently asked questions

Can you craft elytra?

No. Elytra is only found as loot in End Ships - one per ship, in an item frame in the hull.

Do elytra break?

Yes: they lose 1 durability per second of flight (432 seconds total) and stop working at 1 durability instead of breaking. Repair with phantom membranes or Mending.

How do you fly forever with elytra?

Use firework rockets (paper + gunpowder; 3 gunpowder for the longest boost) while gliding, and gain altitude by pitching up after each boost. With Unbreaking III + Mending it never wears out.