Compass icon PNG

Minecraft compass: where it points and the lodestone

The compass is an item that points toward the Overworld's world spawn, not toward your bed. It is crafted from 4 iron ingots and one redstone dust. The needle points the same whether it is in your hand, your inventory or an item frame, always relative to whoever is looking at it.

It only works in the Overworld. In the Nether and the End, since its target is in another dimension, the needle spins nonstop. If someone moves the world spawn with a command, the compass starts pointing at the new one.

To make it point where you want, use it on a lodestone. It becomes a lodestone compass, which glints as if enchanted and points at that lodestone's position. That way you can mark your base, a portal or any spot. It works in the same dimension as the lodestone, so with one in the Nether you get a compass that is useful there.

If the lodestone is broken, the compass disconnects and starts spinning. It does not reconnect on its own: you have to use it on a lodestone again. Lodestone compasses only stack if they point at the same one.

Sources: minecraft.wiki/Compass