How to Use Daylight Sensors in Minecraft

Co-authored by Zac Churchill

Last Updated: May 23, 2022

Daylight sensors are used to detect time of day in Minecraft by measuring the level of daylight, then emitting a redstone current equal to the strength of the light. With some clever redstone, they can also be turned into night sensors. This means that they can be used to make time bombs, automatic lights, alarm clocks, and many more inventions.

Method 1

Method 1 of 4:

The Basic Alarm Clock

1
Place a daylight sensor under no or only clear blocks.
2
Make a trail of redstone leading to a machine activated by redstone.

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3
When daylight hits the daylight sensor, the machine will activate.

Method 2

Method 2 of 4:

Time Bomb

1
Place a block of TNT.
2
Hide it well.
3
Place a daylight sensor on top of it.
4
Watch the TNT blow when the sun comes up.

Method 3

Method 3 of 4:

Night Sensor

1
Place a daylight sensor.
2
When near the daylight sensor, press the 'Use' command.
3
The Daylight sensor will turn blue. It's now a Night Time sensor and will only activate at night!

Method 4

Method 4 of 4:

Automatic Lights

1
Place a daylight sensor on your roof.
2
With the 'Use' command, turn it into a Night Time sensor.
3
Lead redstone trails to where you want lamps to be.
4
Place your lamps over a hole in your ceiling.
5
Watch the lights turn on when the sun goes down.
6
Watch the lights turn off when the sun comes up.
- You can download Optifine as a mod. It improves the video settings of the game on a computer.^{[1]
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- It offers new actions and cosmetic features that give Minecraft a cleaner look.^{[2]
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- It gives players access to a various texture packs with special features. They can change the look of the world.^{[3]
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Community Q&A

Question

Will the lamps turn on when it's dark in the room or only when day/night time?

Banana Head

Top Answerer

If you fully encase the sensor (no windows/holes in the room), then it will turn on. If the sensor is out in the open, or there are windows in your room, then it will wait until night.
Question

How do you use it to make a house?

Banana Head

Top Answerer

Unless you have this connected to a command block, it won't build a house for you.
Question

Is there any other way to make a night sensor?

Banana Head

Top Answerer

You can make a not gate, like putting the daylight sensor next to block, with a torch on the side. When the daylight sensor powers, the torch will be put out, and you can lead redstone to a door or redstone lamp. When it is night, the sensor goes off, the torch goes on, and your lights come on. Use not gates to make many redstone mechanics with the daylight sensor.