Enable Replace Mode Before You Paste

Litematica's Replace mode lets you swap out existing blocks for new ones when you paste a schematic. Instead of placing blocks on top of what's already there, Replace mode overwrites the blocks in place. You turn this on in the Litematica menu before you paste, not after.

Open your Litematica menu by pressing the key you bound to it (usually M by default). Look for the Placement section in the menu. Inside Placement, find the toggle labeled Replace or Replace mode. Click it to turn it on—it will show as enabled when the toggle switches to the "on" position.

Once Replace mode is active, any schematic you paste will replace the blocks that are already in the world. This is useful when you're rebuilding a structure that already has partial blocks in place, or when you want to swap materials without leaving the old blocks behind.

Key Takeaways

  • Replace mode is found in the Litematica menu under Placement, and you must turn it on before pasting your schematic.
  • When Replace mode is active, pasting will overwrite existing blocks instead of placing new blocks on top of them.
  • You can toggle Replace mode on and off at any time, so you can switch between normal paste and replace paste for different parts of your build.
  • Replace mode works with all block types, including air, so you can use it to clear blocks as well as place them.
  • If you paste with Replace mode on and then undo, the original blocks will return to their previous state.

Check Your Placement Settings Before Pasting

Before you paste, make sure your placement position is correct. In the Litematica menu, go to Placement and check the coordinates shown for where your schematic will be placed. These coordinates tell you the corner or anchor point where the paste will start. If the coordinates are wrong, your schematic will replace blocks in the wrong location.

You can adjust the placement position by typing in new coordinates directly in the menu, or by using the positioning tools in Litematica to move the preview. The preview shows you exactly which blocks will be replaced before you confirm the paste, so use it to double-check that you're replacing the right area.

Paste Your Schematic with Replace Mode Active

Once Replace mode is on and your coordinates are set, you can paste. Press the key you bound to paste (usually the same menu key, then select Paste, or a separate hotkey if you set one). Litematica will replace all the blocks in the schematic area with the blocks from your schematic file.

The paste happens when ready. If you made a mistake, you can undo it by pressing Ctrl+Z or using your world's undo function if you have one. Litematica does not have its own undo—it relies on your game's native undo or on you reloading a backup.

Understand What Replace Mode Does with Air Blocks

Replace mode treats air as a block type just like any other. If your schematic contains air blocks and you paste with Replace mode on, those air blocks will replace whatever was in the world—including solid blocks. This means you can use Replace mode to carve out spaces or remove blocks from an existing structure.

If you want to paste only the solid blocks and leave existing blocks alone in empty spaces, turn off Replace mode and paste normally instead. Normal paste mode will only place blocks where there is already air, leaving existing blocks untouched.

Switch Between Replace and Normal Paste for Different Areas

You do not have to commit to Replace mode for your entire build. You can toggle it on and off as you work, pasting some sections with Replace mode active and others with it off. This is useful when part of your schematic should overwrite existing blocks and another part should only fill in empty spaces.

For example, you might paste the walls of a building with Replace mode on to swap out old materials, then toggle Replace mode off and paste the interior details so they only fill in the empty rooms without touching the walls you just replaced.

Common Mistakes When Using Replace Mode

The most common mistake is forgetting to turn Replace mode off after you finish. If you paste another schematic by accident with Replace mode still active, you may replace blocks you did not intend to change. Always check the Placement menu to see whether Replace mode is currently on before you paste.

Another mistake is not checking your placement coordinates before pasting. Replace mode will overwrite blocks silently and when ready, so if your coordinates are off by even a few blocks, you may replace the wrong section of your build. Use the preview to verify the placement area before you confirm the paste.

A third mistake is forgetting that Replace mode includes air blocks. If your schematic has large empty spaces and you paste with Replace mode on, those spaces will clear out any blocks that were there, which may not be what you intended. Check your schematic for air blocks before pasting if you are unsure.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I undo a paste if I used Replace mode by mistake?

Yes. Press Ctrl+Z to undo the paste, or use your world's native undo function. Litematica does not have its own undo system, so it relies on your game version's undo. If you do not have undo enabled, reload from a backup save.

Does Replace mode work with schematics that have partial blocks like stairs or slabs?

Yes. Replace mode replaces any block type, including stairs, slabs, and other partial blocks. The schematic's block state (rotation, orientation, half-slab position) will be pasted exactly as it was saved in the schematic file.

What happens if I paste with Replace mode on in an area that has no blocks?

Litematica will place all the blocks from your schematic, just as it would in normal paste mode. Replace mode does not require existing blocks to work—it straightforward overwrites whatever is there, whether that is air or solid blocks.

Can I replace only certain block types and leave others alone?

Litematica's Replace mode replaces all blocks in the schematic area. If you need to replace only specific block types, you would need to create a separate schematic that contains only those blocks, or use a different tool like WorldEdit that has block-type filtering.