Minecraft Ice Bricks Now Carry Redstone and Stop Mobs From Burning

Highlights

Minecraft Preview 26.70.23 rolled out on November 1-3, 2026 for Bedrock Edition.
Packed Ice Bricks and Chiseled Packed Ice now conduct redstone.
Brittle Ice, Packed Ice Bricks, Chiseled Packed Ice and Snow Bricks now block light, so mobs under them no longer burn in daylight.
Regular Ice and Frosted Ice now reduce light by 1 instead of 3.
Being on fire now stops Freezing from building up.

If you build with the new winter blocks on Bedrock Edition, a zombie hiding under your snowy roof may now survive the morning sun. Minecraft Preview 26.70.23 changes how several ice and snow blocks handle light and redstone.

Mojang released Preview 26.70.23 on iOS and iPadOS on November 1, 2026, and on Windows, Xbox, PlayStation, ChromeOS and Android on November 3. It is a test build for the ice-themed drop that Java players are trying in the 26.4 snapshots.

The changes look small in the notes, but they affect mob farms, base safety and redstone builds. Here is what changed and how to use it. Preview features can still change, so test them in a copied world.

Quick answer: In Minecraft Bedrock Preview 26.70.23, Packed Ice Bricks and Chiseled Packed Ice now conduct redstone signals. Brittle Ice, Packed Ice Bricks, Chiseled Packed Ice and Snow Bricks now block light correctly, so undead mobs standing under them no longer burn in daylight. Plain Ice and Frosted Ice now reduce light by 1 instead of 3.

What Changed in Preview 26.70.23

The preview notes list several fixes for the new blocks. The key lines are about light and redstone, and they all apply to Bedrock Edition.

Block	Change in Preview 26.70.23
Packed Ice Bricks, Chiseled Packed Ice	Now conduct redstone signals
Packed Ice Bricks, Chiseled Packed Ice	Now block light, so mobs underneath no longer burn in daylight
Snow Bricks	Now block light, so mobs underneath no longer burn in daylight
Brittle Ice	Now blocks light correctly; mobs underneath no longer burn in daylight
Brittle Ice	Now respects the mobGriefing game rule when a mob steps on it
Ice, Frosted Ice	Now reduce light by 1 instead of 3
Packed Ice Brick set	Plays the correct sounds; missing stonecutter variants restored

Source: Minecraft Bedrock Edition Preview 26.70.23 changelog.

Why Mobs No Longer Burn Under Snow and Ice Bricks

Zombies, skeletons and other undead catch fire when they stand in direct sunlight. Before this preview, some of the new winter blocks let too much light pass through, so an undead mob standing under a Snow Brick roof could still burn. Now those blocks shade the mob like any solid roof.

That has two sides. If you rely on sunlight to clean up mobs around your base, a snowy overhang can now shelter them through the day. On the other hand, if you are building a mob farm or a holding pen in a cold biome, Snow Bricks and Packed Ice Bricks finally work as a proper roof.

Keep the spawning rule in mind too. Hostile mobs in the Overworld spawn only at block light level 0. A large room roofed with Snow Bricks and no torches will be dark enough for mobs to spawn inside, even at noon. Place lanterns, torches or Sea Lanterns if you do not want visitors.

Regular Ice Now Lets More Light Through

The preview also changes plain Ice and Frosted Ice in the opposite direction. They now reduce light by only 1 level instead of 3. Light passes through ice windows and frozen ponds more easily, so rooms behind ice glass will be brighter than before.

This also matters for melting. Regular Ice melts when nearby block light is too high, so a torch placed behind an ice wall may now push light further than you expect. If an ice decoration starts to disappear, move the light source back or swap the block for Packed Ice Bricks, which do not melt.

How to Use Packed Ice Bricks in Redstone

Packed Ice Bricks and Chiseled Packed Ice now carry redstone power like other solid blocks. A lever, button or redstone torch attached to one will power the block, and redstone dust on top or beside it can pass the signal on. That means you can hide wiring inside an ice wall without breaking the look of the build.

Try this small test circuit to see it working:

Place a Packed Ice Brick block on the ground.
Attach a lever to one side of the block.
Place a redstone lamp or a piston against the opposite side.
Flip the lever. The block becomes powered and the lamp lights or the piston fires.
Swap the block for regular Ice and repeat. Plain Ice is transparent and will not pass the signal.

Good uses include a hidden door behind a Chiseled Packed Ice frame, a lit entrance hall that switches on with a pressure plate, or a throne room with a secret button. Remember that Packed Ice Bricks are not slippery, unlike regular Packed Ice, so they will not help with item or mob transport on their own.

Fire Now Counters Freezing

The preview also adjusts the Freezing effect from Frostbites. Being on fire now stops Freezing from building up until the fire goes out. Java players saw a similar rule in Snapshot 7.

Leather armor still protects you from freezing in cold places, but against Frostbites the best plan is to keep your distance and avoid their thrown Ice Balls.

FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)

1. Do Packed Ice Bricks conduct redstone in Minecraft?

Yes, in Bedrock Preview 26.70.23. Packed Ice Bricks and Chiseled Packed Ice now conduct redstone signals.

2. Why don't zombies burn under my Snow Brick roof?

Since Preview 26.70.23, Snow Bricks, Packed Ice Bricks, Chiseled Packed Ice and Brittle Ice block light correctly, so mobs under them are shaded from daylight.

3. Does regular Ice block light?

Only a little. Ice and Frosted Ice now reduce light by 1 level instead of 3.

4. Can mobs spawn under Snow Bricks?

Yes, if the space is dark. Hostile Overworld mobs spawn at block light level 0, so add torches or lanterns inside snow-roofed rooms.

5. Is this in the full version of Minecraft yet?

Not yet. Preview 26.70.23 is a Bedrock test build, and the changes should arrive with the full release of the ice drop.

Conclusion

Preview 26.70.23 turns the new winter blocks from pure decoration into working parts of a base. Ice bricks can now hide redstone, and snow and ice roofs actually shade mobs.

Before you redesign your mob defenses or farms, test the changes in a copy of your world. Light up any snow-roofed rooms, and use Packed Ice Bricks when you want ice that both looks good and carries power.