MakeCode Arcade — Toolbox Filter Reference

ARCADE · Toolbox Filter Reference categories & block IDs for pxt.json > toolboxFilter

Find the right namespace and block ID

Every toolbox category and block in MakeCode Arcade, pulled from microsoft/pxt-common-packages and microsoft/pxt-arcade, plus the built-in categories from microsoft/pxt. Click any namespace or block ID to copy it, then drop it into your toolboxFilter.

13Core categories

589Block IDs

27Extensions

Core game categories — shown in a default Arcade project

Sprites

Core32 blocks

Block ID	Block
	array of sprites of kind %kind=spritekind
	clear effects on %anchor=variables_get(mySprite)
	set %sprite(myEnemy) follow %target=variables_get(mySprite) with speed %speed
	set $this unfollow
	change %sprite(mySprite) scale by $value anchor $anchor
	set %sprite(mySprite) scale to $value anchor $anchor
	destroy %sprite(mySprite) with %effect effect for %duration ms
	destroy $sprite with $effect effect for $duration ms
	%sprite(mySprite) kind
	%sprite(mySprite) image
	$kind
	%sprite(mySprite) overlaps with %other=variables_get(otherSprite)
	destroy all sprites of kind $kind with $effect effect for $duration ms
	%sprite(mySprite) say %text for %millis ms
	$this say $text for $timeOnScreen ms with animation $animated
	sprite %img=screen_image_picker of kind %kind=spritekind
	sprite %img=screen_image_picker of kind %kind=spritekind
	projectile %img=screen_image_picker vx %vx vy %vy of kind %kind=spritekind from sprite %sprite=variables_get(mySprite)
	projectile %img=screen_image_picker from side with vx %vx vy %vy
	projectile %img=screen_image_picker from %sprite=variables_get(mySprite) with vx %vx vy %vy
	set %sprite(mySprite) image to %img=screen_image_picker
	set %sprite(mySprite) kind to %kind
	set %sprite(mySprite) position to x %x y %y
	set %sprite(mySprite) bounce on wall %on=toggleOnOff
	set %sprite(mySprite) %flag %on=toggleOnOff
	set %sprite(mySprite) stay in screen %on=toggleOnOff
	set %sprite(mySprite) velocity to vx %vx vy %vy
	on created $sprite of kind $kind=spritekind
	on destroyed $sprite of kind $kind=spritekind
	on $sprite of kind $kind=spritekind overlaps $otherSprite of kind $otherKind=spritekind
	$kind
	%sprite(mySprite) start %effect effect for %duration=timePicker ms

Controller

Core22 blocks

Block ID	Block
	crank position
	set crank pinA $pinA pin B $pinB
	start light animation %animation=light_animation_picker for %duration=timePicker ms
	acceleration (mg) %NAME
	%controller dx (left-right buttons) scaled by %step
	%controller dy (up-down buttons) scaled by %step
	%controller move $sprite=variables_get(mySprite) with buttons vx $vx vy $vy
	is %controller %button button pressed
	light level
	start light pulse %rgb=colorNumberPicker for %duration=timePicker ms
	on %controller %button button %event
	on %controller %event
	on %NAME
	on light %condition
	temperature in %unit
	vibrate $millis ms
	move $sprite=variables_get(mySprite) with buttons vx $vx vy $vy
	dx (left-right buttons) scaled by %step
	dy (up-down buttons) scaled by %step
	is %button button pressed
	on %button button %event
	set button repeat delay $delay ms interval $interval ms

Game

Core18 blocks

Block ID	Block
	reset game
	time since start (ms)
	game over %win=toggleWinLose with %effect effect
	game over $win
	splash %title %subtitle
	set dialog cursor to %frame=screen_image_picker
	set dialog frame to %frame=dialog_image_picker
	set dialog text color to %color=colorindexpicker
	use effect $effect for $win
	use message $message for $win
	use $sound looping $looping for $win
	use $type as best score
	show long text %str %layout
	ask %title %subtitle
	ask for number $message and max length $answerLength use on-screen keyboard $useOnScreenKeyboard
	ask for string $message and max length $answerLength use on-screen keyboard $useOnScreenKeyboard
	on game update every %period=timePicker ms
	on game update

Scene

Core43 blocks

Block ID	Block
	camera follow sprite %sprite=variables_get(mySprite)
	camera left
	center camera at x %x y %y
	camera $property
	camera shake by %amplitude pixels for %duration ms
	camera top
	background color
	background image
	tile col %col row %row
	array of all %index=colorindexpicker tiles
	place %sprite=variables_get(mySprite) on top of random $color tile
	on top of %tile(myTile) place %sprite=variables_get(mySprite)
	set background color to %color=colorindexpicker
	set background image to %img=background_image_picker
	set tile %index=colorindexpicker to %img=tile_image_picker with wall %wall=toggleOnOff
	set %tile=gamegettile to %index=colorindexpicker
	set tile map to %map=tilemap_image_picker with %scale pixel tiles
	on top of %tile=variables_get(myTile) place %sprite=variables_get(mySprite)
	%sprite=variables_get(mySprite) wall hit on %direction
	tilemap col $col row $row
	array of all $tile locations
	tile at $location is $tile
	place $sprite=variables_get(mySprite) on top of random $tile
	place $sprite=variables_get(mySprite) on top of $loc
	set $tile at $loc=mapgettile
	set wall $on at $loc
	end screen %effect effect
	start screen %effect effect for %duration ms
	screen height
	screen width
	set tilemap to $tilemap
	is %sprite(mySprite) hitting wall %direction
	%sprite(mySprite) wall hit on %direction
	on $sprite of kind $kind=spritekind overlaps $tile at $location
	on $sprite of kind $kind=spritekind hits wall at $location
	on $sprite of kind $kind=spritekind hits wall $tile=colorindexpicker
	tile to $direction of $this(mySprite) is $tile
	set tilemap to $tilemap
	tile image at $location
	tilemap location of $this
	tile at $location is wall
	tilemap $tilemap
	%tile

Info

Core22 blocks

Block ID	Block
	change countdown by $seconds (s)
	start countdown %duration (s)
	on countdown end
	countdown
	on life zero
	on score $score
	stop countdown
	high score
	change life by %value
	change score by %value
	life
	score
	set life to %value
	set score to %value
	change %player life by %value
	change %player score by %value
	%player has life
	%player score
	set %player life to %value
	set %player score to %value
	on %player life zero
	on $this score $score

Music

Core29 blocks

Block ID	Block
	%fraction beat
	change tempo by %value (bpm)
	%note
	set tempo to %value (bpm)
	tempo (bpm)
	$melody
	loop sound %sound
	play tone at %note=device_note for %duration=device_beat
	play sound %sound
	play sound %sound until done
	stop sound %sound
	sound $melody
	play tone at %note=device_note for %duration=device_beat
	play sound %sound=music_sounds
	play sound %sound=music_sounds until done
	play $toPlay $playbackMode
	rest for %duration=device_beat
	ring tone at %note=device_note
	set tone %buffer
	song $song
	%name
	stop all sounds
	melody $melody at tempo $tempo (bpm)
	tone $note for $duration
	play melody $melody at tempo $tempo (bpm)
	$waveShape start frequency $startFrequency end frequency $endFrequency duration $duration start volume $startVolume end volume $endVolume effect $effect interpolation $interpolation
	randomize $sound
	play sound $sound $mode
	set volume %volume

Animation

Core10 blocks

Block ID	Block
	%arg
	add frame $frame=screen_image_picker to $this=variables_get(anim)
	%frames
	path %pathString
	attach animation $set=variables_get(anim) to sprite $sprite=variables_get(mySprite)
	create animation of $action=action_enum_shim with interval $interval ms
	animate $sprite=variables_get(mySprite) frames $frames=animation_editor interval (ms) $frameInterval=timePicker loop $loop=toggleOnOff
	animate $sprite=variables_get(mySprite) with $pathString=animation_path for (ms) $duration=timePicker loop $loop=toggleOnOff
	activate animation $action=action_enum_shim on $sprite=variables_get(mySprite)
	stop %type animations on %sprite=variables_get(mySprite)

Multiplayer

Core21 blocks

Block ID	Block
	array of all players
	change $player $state by $delta
	game over $player wins
	player at $index
	player $number
	$sprite player
	$player $prop
	$player sprite
	$player $state
	is $player $button button pressed
	$player connected
	move $player with buttons vx $vx vy $vy
	$kind
	on $button button $event for $player
	on $player $event
	on life zero for $player
	on score $score for $player
	player $number
	set player indicators $visible
	set $player sprite to $sprite
	set $player $state to $value

Images

CoreAdvanced11 blocks

Block ID	Block
	%img
	%index
	%img
	$this draw $from at x $x y $y
	$picture $dimension
	$image
	screen
	%index
	%img
	%img
	%img

Control

CoreAdvanced17 blocks

Block ID	Block
	assert %cond with value %code
	device dal version
	device long serial number
	device serial number
	on event from %src with value %value
	panic %code
	raise event from %src with value %value
	reset
	run in background
	run in parallel
	millis (ms)
	wait for event from %src with value %value
	wait (µs)%micros
	%timer millis
	%timer pause until (ms) %ms
	%timer reset
	%timer seconds

Console

CoreAdvanced2 blocks

Block ID	Block
	console log $value
	console log value %name = %value

Tiles

Core1 blocks

Block ID	Block
	tilemap location $direction of $this

Color

CoreAdvanced4 blocks

Block ID	Block
	%color
	fade %color=neopixel_colors by %brightness
	hue %hue sat %sat val %val
	red %red green %green blue %blue

Built-in categories — from microsoft/pxt core

Loops

Built-in6 blocks

Block ID	Block
	repeat _ times
	while _
	for index 0 to _
	for element of _
	for index 0 to _ (alt)
	for element of _ (alt)

Logic

Built-in5 blocks

Block ID	Block
	if / else if / else
	_ = _ comparison
	_ and/or _
	not _
	true / false

Math

Built-in12 blocks

Block ID	Block
	numeric literal (shadow)
	_ + _
	remainder of _ / _
	min/max of _ and _
	absolute value of _
	sqrt/sin/cos/…
	round/ceil/floor/trunc
	constrain %value between %low and %high
	map %value from low %fromLow high %fromHigh to low %toLow high %toHigh
	%percentage % chance
	pick random %min to %limit
	pick random %min to %limit

Variables

Built-in4 blocks

Block ID	Block
	variable (get)
	reporter get
	set _ to _
	change _ by _

Arrays

Built-inAdvanced17 blocks

Block ID	Block
	create array with…
	array get at index
	array set at index
	length of array
	%list add value %value to end
	get and remove last value from %list
	reverse %list
	get and remove first value from %list
	%list insert %value at beginning
	%list get and remove value at %index
	%list insert at %index value %value
	%list find index of %value
	get random value from %list
	%list insert %value at beginning
	remove last value from %list
	remove first value from %list
	%list remove value at %index

Text

Built-inAdvanced15 blocks

Block ID	Block
	string literal (shadow)
	join strings
	length of string
	string_concat
	char from %this=text at %pos
	char code from $this=text at $index
	compare %this=text to %that
	substring of $this from $start of length $length
	%this=text is empty
	%this=text find index of %searchValue
	%this=text includes %searchValue
	split %this=text at %separator
	substring of %this=text from %start of length %length
	parse to number %text
	text from char code %code

Functions

Built-inAdvanced3 blocks

Block ID	Block
	define function
	call function
	return value

Optional extensions — only appear after the extension is added to the project

These categories aren’t in a blank project. A filter entry for them only matters once the matching extension is added — but the namespace/block IDs work the same way when it is.

Browser Events

Extension11 blocks

Block ID	Block
	is $this key pressed
	on $this key $event
	pause until $this key is $event
	is $this mouse button pressed
	on $this mouse button $event $x $y
	pause until $this mouse button is $event
	on browser event $event
	on mouse move $x $y
	on mouse wheel $dx $dy $dz
	set cursor visible $visible
	set keyboard repeat delay $delay ms interval $interval ms

Corgio

Extension8 blocks

Block ID	Block
	teach %corgio(myCorg) the word %input
	make %corgio(myCorg) bark!
	%corgio(myCorg) sprite
	corgi of kind %kind=spritekind at x %x y %y
	make camera follow %corgio(myCorg) left and right %on=toggleOnOff
	make %corgio(myCorg) move left and right with arrow keys %on=toggleOnOff
	change image when %corgio(myCorg) is moving %on=toggleOnOff
	make %corgio(myCorg) jump if up arrow key is pressed %on=toggleOnOff

Darts

Extension7 blocks

Block ID	Block
	control %dart(myDart) with arrow keys %on=toggleOnOff
	%dart(myDart) sprite
	dart %img=screen_image_picker of kind %kind=spritekind at x %x y %y
	trace %dart(myDart) path estimate %on=toggleOnOff
	stop %dart(myDart)
	throw %dart(myDart)
	change %dart(myDart) background to image %img=background_image_picker

Data Logger

Extension6 blocks

Block ID	Block
	data logger add row
	data logger add %name =%value
	data logger to console $enabled
	data logger $enabled
	data logger set separator $separator
	set data logger sampling interval to $millis (ms)

Display

Extension7 blocks

Block ID	Block
	clear display
	show console
	show image %image=image_picker
	show number %name at line %line
	show string %text at line %line
	show value %name : %text at line %line
	graph %value

Rotary Encoder

Extension2 blocks

Block ID	Block
	on %this changed
	%this position

Gamepad

Extension4 blocks

Block ID	Block
	gamepad %index move by x %x y %y
	gamepad set throttle %index to %value
	gamepad button %index=joystickStandardButton %down=toggleDownUp
	%button

Input

Extension24 blocks

Block ID	Block
	on %button %event
	%button is pressed
	%button was pressed
	acceleration (mg) %NAME
	on %NAME
	light level
	rotation (°) %NAME
	sound level
	on switch moved %direction
	set accelerometer range %range
	switch right
	temperature in %unit
	on light %condition
	on loud sound
	on temperature %condition at %temperature %unit
	set loud sound threshold %value
	set %condition light threshold to %value
	distance
	light $range spectrum
	light color
	button %button calibrate
	button %button set threshold %threshold
	button %button threshold
	button %button value

Keyboard

Extension6 blocks

Block ID	Block
	keyboard clear all
	keyboard function %key %event
	keyboard media %key %event
	keyboard modifier %key %event
	keyboard key %key %event
	keyboard type $text with $modifiers

LCD

Extension7 blocks

Block ID	Block
	lcd clear
	lcd set blink %enabled
	lcd set curcor %enabled
	lcd set display %enabled
	lcd show number %value at line %line
	lcd show string %text at line %line
	lcd show value %name: %text at line %line

Light

ExtensionAdvanced76 blocks

Block ID	Block
	photon set position %index
	photon forward by %steps
	photon flip
	photon set pen hue %hue=colorWheelHsvPicker
	photon %mode
	clear
	pixel color at %pixeloffset
	set brightness %brightness
	set pixel color at %pixeloffset to %rgb=colorNumberPicker
	set all pixels to %rgb=colorNumberPicker
	show animation %animation=light_animation_picker for %duration=timePicker ms
	show frame of %animation=light_animation_picker animation
	graph %value up to %high
	stop all animations
	set gradient from %startRgb=colorNumberPicker to %endRgb=colorNumberPicker
	%pixels
	%kind
	%animation
	%strip clear
	create APA102 strip data %data clock %clk with %numleds pixels
	%strip brightness
	%strip pixel color at %pixeloffset
	%strip length
	%strip %kind=MoveKind by %offset
	%strip photon forward by %steps
	%strip photon flip
	%strip=variables_get photon set pen color %color=colorNumberPicker
	%strip=variables_get photon set pen hue %hue=colorWheelHsvPicker
	%strip photon %mode
	%strip photon set position %index
	%strip range from %start with %length pixels
	set %strip brightness %brightness
	set %strip buffered %on
	set %strip length to %length pixels
	set %strip mode to %mode
	set %strip pixel color at %pixeloffset to %rgb=colorNumberPicker
	set %strip pixel white LED at %pixeloffset to %white
	set %strip all pixels to %rgb=colorNumberPicker
	%strip show
	%strip show animation %animation=light_animation_picker for %duration=timePicker ms
	%strip show frame of %animation=light_animation_picker animation
	%strip graph %value up to %high
	%strip stop all animations
	set pixels length to %numleds pixels
	set default strip mode to %mode
	set %strip gradient from %startColor=colorNumberPicker to %endColor=colorNumberPicker
	range from %start with %length pixels
	photon forward by %steps
	photon flip
	photon set pen color %color
	photon %mode
	clear
	%color
	create WS2812 strip pin %pin with %numleds pixels
	create WS2812 strip on %pin with %numleds pixels
	default strip
	fade %color=neopixel_colors by %brightness
	brightness
	pixel color at %pixeloffset
	hue %hue sat %sat val %val
	length
	%kind=MoveKind by %offset
	onboard strip
	range from %start with %length pixels
	red %red green %green blue %blue
	set brightness %brightness
	set buffered %on
	set mode %mode
	set pixel color at %pixeloffset to %rgb=colorNumberPicker
	set pixel white LED at %pixeloffset to %white
	set all pixels to %rgb=colorNumberPicker
	show
	show %animation=light_animation animation for %duration=timePicker ms
	show animation frame %animation=light_animation
	graph %value up to %high
	stop all animations

LoRa

Extension20 blocks

Block ID	Block
	lora available
	lora is ready
	lora idle
	lora packet RSSI
	lora packet SNR
	lora parse packet %size
	lora peek
	lora read
	lora read buffer
	lora read string
	lora send buffer $buffer
	lora send string $text
	lora set crc $on
	lora set frequency to $frequency
	set signal bandwidth to $value
	lora set spreading factor $factor
	lora set tx power to $level dBm
	signal bandwidth
	lora sleep
	lora spreading factor

Matrix Keypad

Extension4 blocks

Block ID	Block
	columns
	is keypad %keypad button pressed at x %x y %y
	on keypad %keypad button at x %x y %y %ev
	rows

Mouse

Extension4 blocks

Block ID	Block
	mouse click button $button
	mouse move x %x y %y
	mouse button %index %down=toggleDownUp
	mouse turn wheel %w

Net

ExtensionAdvanced3 blocks

Block ID	Block
	get json $url
	get string $url
	net ping $dest

Network

Extension6 blocks

Block ID	Block
	on cable received
	cable send number %value
	on infrared received
	on infrared received
	infrared send number %value
	on cable received

Pins

ExtensionAdvanced20 blocks

Block ID	Block
	analog read pin %name
	digital read pin %name
	analog set period pin %pin to (µs)%period
	analog write pin %name to %value
	digital write pin %name to %value=toggleHighLow
	set pull pin %pin to %pull
	servo write pin %name to %value=protractorPicker
	servo set pulse pin %value to (µs) %duration
	i2c read register at address $address at register $register
	i2c write number at address %address with value %value of format %format repeated %repeated
	i2c write register at address $address at register $register value $value
	i2c read number at address %address of format %format repeated %repeated
	on pin %pin pulsed %pulse
	pulse duration (µs)
	pulse in (µs) pin %name pulsed %high timeout %maxDuration (µs)
	on pin %pin %event
	spi frequency %frequency
	spi mode %mode
	spi transfer %command into %response
	spi write %value

Pixel

Extension6 blocks

Block ID	Block
	%color
	fade %color=pixel_colors by %brightness
	hue %hue sat %sat val %val
	red %red green %green blue %blue
	set brightness %brightness
	set pixel color %rgb=colorNumberPicker

Power

ExtensionAdvanced4 blocks

Block ID	Block
	power check deep sleep
	power deep sleep
	power poke
	power set deep sleep timeout to %seconds s

Radio

Extension18 blocks

Block ID	Block
	radio send $msg
	$msg
	on radio $msg received
	radio raise event from source %src=control_event_source_id with value %value=control_event_value_id
	radio on data received
	radio send number %value
	radio send string %msg
	radio send value %name = %value
	on radio received
	on radio received
	on radio received
	on radio received
	%note
	received packet %type=radio_packet_property
	radio set frequency band %band
	radio set group %ID
	radio set transmit power %power
	radio set transmit serial number %transmit

Sprite Scaling

Extension4 blocks

Block ID	Block
	change $sprite=variables_get(mySprite) scale by $value percent $direction anchor $anchor
	change $sprite=variables_get(mySprite) scale by $value pixels $direction anchor $anchor proportional $proportional
	set $sprite=variables_get(mySprite) scale to $value percent $direction anchor $anchor
	set $sprite=variables_get(mySprite) scale to $value pixels $direction anchor $anchor proportional $proportional

Serial

ExtensionAdvanced17 blocks

Block ID	Block
	%del
	serial on delimiter $delimiter received
	serial on %event
	serial read buffer
	serial read line
	serial read string
	serial read until %delimiter=serial_delimiter_conv
	serial redirect to TX %tx RX %rx at rate %rate
	serial set baud rate %rate
	serial write buffer %buffer
	serial write line %text
	serial write number %value
	serial write string %text
	serial write value %name = %value
	serial attach to console
	serial set rx buffer size to $size
	serial set tx buffer size to $size

Servos

Extension6 blocks

Block ID	Block
	continuous %servo run at %speed=speedPicker %
	set %servo angle to %degrees=protractorPicker °
	set %servo pulse to %micros μs
	stop %servo
	set %servo range from %minAngle to %maxAngle
	set %servo stop on neutral %enabled

7-Segment

Extension7 blocks

Block ID	Block
	seven segment digit of %thickness with value %value
	counter of %thickness segments at %scale size with %numDigits digits
	set %sevenseg(myDigit) display value to %alphaChar
	set %sevenseg(myDigit) display color to %color=colorindexpicker
	set %sevenseg(myCounter) display color to %color=colorindexpicker
	set %sevenseg(myDigit) to %scale size
	set display radix of %sevenseg(myDigit) to %radix

Storage

ExtensionAdvanced7 blocks

Block ID	Block
	append file $filename with $data
	append file $filename with line $data
	file $filename exists
	overwrite file $filename with $data
	read file $filename
	remove file $filename
	size of file $filename

Storyboard

Extension5 blocks

Block ID	Block
	storyboard pop frame
	storyboard push scene $name
	storyboard register %boot boot sequence
	storyboard replace scene $name
	storyboard start at $name

Text to Speech

Extension6 blocks

Block ID	Block
	cancel speech
	is speech paused
	on word spoken from $fullText at $offset with $nextWord
	pause speech
	resume speech
	speak $text with volume $volume pitch $pitch rate $rate language $language

No blocks match that search.

Using these in `pxt.json`

Add a toolboxFilter object to your project’s pxt.json. It reads two keys — namespaces (whole categories) and blocks (individual block IDs).

"visible"
Shown normally.

"hidden"
Removed from the toolbox.

"disabled"
Shown but greyed-out.

"toolboxFilter": {
  "namespaces": {
    "scene": "hidden",
    "info": "hidden",
    "music": "hidden"
  },
  "blocks": {
    "spritescreate": "visible",
    "gamecontrolleronevent": "hidden"
  }
}

Good to know

• A block-level setting overrides the category default for that one block; hiding a namespace removes the whole category.
• An unrecognized value (a typo like "hiden") is silently ignored, leaving the block visible.
• There is no defaultState in pxt.json — list what you want hidden explicitly rather than allow-listing.
• Save it as valid JSON: no // comments and no trailing commas, or the file may fail to parse.
• Optional-extension categories only render once that extension is in the project; the filter applies whenever they’re present.

Copied

MakeCode Arcade BlockIDs

Find the right namespace and block ID

Sprites

Controller

Game

Scene

Info

Music

Animation

Multiplayer

Images

Control

Console

Tiles

Color

Loops

Logic

Math

Variables

Arrays

Text

Functions

Browser Events

Corgio

Darts

Data Logger

Display

Rotary Encoder

Gamepad

Input

Keyboard

LCD

Light

LoRa

Matrix Keypad

Mouse

Net

Network

Pins

Pixel

Power

Radio

Sprite Scaling

Serial

Servos

7-Segment

Storage

Storyboard

Text to Speech

Using these in pxt.json

Good to know

Using these in `pxt.json`