Minecraft: Bedrock Edition Beta 1.17.20.20 fixes lots of bugs for the 'Caves and Cliffs Update'

Minecraft Caves and Cliffs Update Image
Minecraft Caves and Cliffs Update Image (Image credit: Mojang Studios)

What you need to know

  • Mojang Studios has released the latest Minecraft: Bedrock Edition beta, 1.17.20.20, for Xbox, PC, and Android devices.
  • The beta introduces a large number of bug fixes and other improvements, and will likely be included in a future patch for 1.17 'Caves and Cliffs Update' Part One.
  • There are no new features in this beta, but there are plenty of vanilla parity improvements and updates for creators.

Minecraft is all about iterative improvement leading to major changes like with the Caves and Cliffs Update. We recently got 1.17 Caves and Cliffs Update Part One, and now Mojang Studios is working on bug fixes and smaller improvements to make the update as great as possible. Minecraft: Bedrock Edition Beta 1.17.20.20 is now available, and includes plenty of fixes and changes for Minecraft.

Like with other recent betas, don't expect any new features here. Mojang Studios is focused on cleaning up 1.17 Caves and Cliffs Update Part One as much as possible before they begin earnest testing on Part Two coming later this year. Instead, this beta focuses on bug fixes, vanilla parity improvements, and technical updates.

A great way to support Minecraft is by testing these betas and submitting feedback on any issues or bugs you run into. You can also grab something from our list of best Minecraft merch, toys, and gifts.

The full changelog for Minecraft: Bedrock Edition Beta 1.17.20.20 includes:

Features & bug fixes

World settings

  • Added the "Respawn Blocks Explode" game rule, which can be used to prevent Respawn Anchors and Beds from exploding

Caves & Cliffs Update

  • Worlds with the Caves & Cliffs experimental toggle enabled are now more likely to have the same default world spawn position as worlds without the experiment using the same seed

Vanilla parity

  • Monster spawning in the Nether has been changed to more closely match Java Edition
    • There will now be a maximum of 15 to 20 mobs around the player in the Nether, instead of 30 to 40
  • Block interaction "click" sounds are now controlled by the "Blocks" volume slider
  • Swapped toggle sounds for levers so that they are now parity with Java Edition

General

  • Fixed a bug where the contents of a Shulker Box are deleted when dyeing from the recipe tab
  • Swords now break Bamboo in a single swing
  • Disabled biome tinting for Spruce and Birch Leaves
  • Using a Powder Snow Bucket on a Cauldron filled with Powder Snow no longer creates a new Powder Snow block
  • Using a Water Bucket on a fully filled Cauldron now produces the correct sound
  • Lava Buckets can now be emptied into a Cauldron filled with Lava
  • Cave Vines can now be pollinated by Bees
  • Enchantment Tables now emit light level 7
  • The falling position of Pointed Dripstone is no longer slightly offset
  • Powder Snow can now be collected with a Dispenser
  • Placing a Sign on Rooted Dirt now correctly opens the text editor
  • Target Blocks now conduct Redstone signals
  • Message / tell commands no longer fail when cheats are not activated
  • Teleporting a mob between dimensions no longer causes the mob to despawn
  • Fixed offhand Shields clipping into players' arms while in third-person perspective
  • Minecart with Chest will now copy over its chest contents when pick blocked
  • Soul Speed Boots can now be unequipped properly after losing durability
  • Baby Goats no longer have horns
  • Diamond Pickaxes found in Hoglin Stable chests are now enchanted
  • Bubble Columns are now placed properly when loaded with a Structure Block

Sounds

  • Amethyst walking sounds are now affected by the "Player" audio setting
  • Deepslate walking sounds are now affected by the "Player" audio setting
  • Moss Block walking sounds are now affected by the "Player" audio setting
  • Sounds of moving in/on Powder Snow are now affected by the "Player" audio setting
  • Jumping and landing on blocks have now their sounds affected by the "Player" audio slider
  • Dripstone drip sounds are now affected by the "Block" audio slider
  • Turtle Eggs no longer produce the Bone Meal sound when placed on Sand
  • Big Dripleaf now has a distinct tilt up sound

User interface

The Sign In dialog is no longer shown on a split-screen game to anyone other than the primary player on PlayStation 4

* A debug string is no longer shown for how to open chat

Technical updates

Fixes

  • behavior.knockback_roar now has a vertical and horizontal strength value

Data-driven items

  • Added required toggle to component item documentation, and to content error

GameTest framework

  • GameTest:
    • Added helper method spawnAtLocation(location : Location) : Entity - Spawns an entity at the given Location
    • Added helper method walkToLocation(mob : Entity, location : Location, speedModifier : number) : Commands an entity to move to the given Location
    • Added method assertCanReachLocation(mob : Entity, location : BlockLocation, bool canReach) - Asserts that the given mob can reach the target block location
  • Events:
    • Added event World.events.beforeExplosion - Fires before an explosion occurs
    • Added event World.events.explosion - Fires when an explosion occurs
    • Added event World.events.explodeBlock - Fires when a block breaks due to an explosion
    • Added event World.event.beforeActivatePiston - Fires before a piston is activated
    • Added event World.event.activatePiston - Fires when a piston is activated
  • Block:
    • Added method getDimension() : Dimension
  • BlockPistonComponent:
    • Read-only property attachedBlocks - Returns an array containing the BlockLocation of each block attached to the piston
    • Read-only property isMoving - Returns true if the piston is expanding or retracting
    • Read-only property isExpanded - Returns true if the piston is fully expanded
    • Read-only property isExpanding - Returns true if the piston is expanding
    • Read-only property isRetracting - Returns true if the piston is retracting
    • Read-only property isRetracted - Returns true if the piston is fully retracted
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Zachary Boddy
Staff Writer

Zachary Boddy (They / Them) is a Staff Writer for Windows Central, primarily focused on covering the latest news in tech and gaming, the best Xbox and PC games, and the most interesting Windows and Xbox hardware. They have been gaming and writing for most of their life starting with the original Xbox, and started out as a freelancer for Windows Central and its sister sites in 2019. Now a full-fledged Staff Writer, Zachary has expanded from only writing about all things Minecraft to covering practically everything on which Windows Central is an expert, especially when it comes to Microsoft. You can find Zachary on Twitter @BoddyZachary.