How do I give myself a player head in Minecraft?
Use /give with a player head and the player's name. Since 1.20.5 that is /give @p minecraft:player_head[minecraft:profile={name:"Notch"}]; in 1.8.9 it is /give @p skull 1 3 {SkullOwner:"Notch"}. This page writes the right one for your version.
Why is my /give command too long for chat?
Chat takes 256 characters (100 in 1.8.9). A head that keeps one exact skin carries that skin's texture code, which is longer. Paste it into a command block instead, or use the data pack and type /function player_heads:all.
Do players drop their heads when they die?
Not in vanilla Java. The data pack fills the player's own loot table, so a player drops their head when another player kills them, when a charged creeper blows them up, or on every death — whichever you turn on. It works for everyone on the server, with their own skin.
Do charged creepers drop player heads?
No. A charged creeper drops the heads of zombies, skeletons, wither skeletons, creepers and piglins, but not players — the game never runs that drop for a player. The data pack adds it.
Can the wandering trader sell player heads?
Yes, with the data pack. Every wandering trader offers the heads in your list, for the price and currency you choose, next to its usual trades. In 26.2 and newer the heads join its buying trades, so a trader there also buys all six of its usual items instead of two.
Can I make a head from a skin I made myself?
In Java 1.21.9 and newer, yes: the head points at your skin in a resource pack, and everyone who should see it needs that pack. In older versions a head can only show a skin that is on a Minecraft account, so wear it at minecraft.net first and add it by name.
Does this work in Bedrock Edition?
Not as real player heads. Bedrock's player head always shows Steve and no command can give it another skin; heads with skins on Bedrock are add-on blocks made to look like heads. Real player heads, with the owner's skin, are a Java Edition feature.
