All Tablet Locations in Subnautica (Purple, Orange, and Blue)

Subnautica Alien Tablets are special keys which were left by the Precursors. They unlock hidden doors, power terminals, and rooms with locked doors that have essential pieces of the story. Alien Tablets can be found in three types — Purple, Orange, and Blue — corresponding to different regions of the map.

Although some are fairly simple to find, others demand serious preparation with such vehicles as the Seamoth, Cyclops, or Prawn Suit. In this article, we shall break down each Tablet and describe where to locate it, how to survive traveling there, and a few tips to get you surviving at all.

Purple Tablet Locations

Purple Tablets are the most common. You can find them used throughout the Quarantine Enforcement Platform, Mountain Island, and a few other Precursor areas. Though nine doors use them, you will only need two to finish the story. But if you want to open all of them, you will either need to pick more up or craft them from two Diamonds and one Ion Cube.

Before venturing out, stock up with at least a large capacity O₂ tank, a Seaglide for speed, and perhaps a Propulsion Cannon to take out Cave Crawlers. Keeping that in mind, here’s where to look.

Cave by the Beach (320, -90, 850)

Land on the Mountain Island and proceed through the entrance of the cave just to the right of the beach. Proceed inside until you reach a circular pit — the Tablet is at the bottom.

Underwater Pipe Cave (388, -119, 1150)

Swim from the beach to the Quarantine Enforcement Platform. To the left of the huge underwater pipe, there is a cave. The Tablet is just inside the cave.

Quarantine Enforcement Platform Interior (418, -81, 1113)

Enter the moonpool and climb up the ramps. With an Ion Cube, there will be a second Purple Tablet. Or, if you don’t want to swim back out, you can take an elevator here with a Tablet and shortcut.

Mountain Path (382, 20, 1087)

If you climb the mountain path, you will be at a lamplit alcove containing a second Tablet.

Deeper Mountain Caves (363, 56, 1015)

Deeper inside the mountain, you’ll find another pipe-like tunnel. Continue left until you see the Tablet concealed in a corner.

Floating Island through Warp Gate (-755, 16, -1107)

Mountain Island also possesses a Precursor Warp Gate that opens onto the Floating Island. Once you’ve activated it with an Ion Cube, proceed through and walk down the lagoon path until you reach the old Degasi base. There is a Purple Tablet inside.

Final Mountain Cave (292, 33, 850)

Once you’ve obtained the Tablet from the Floating Island, go back through the Warp Gate. Avoid going outside, but rather follow another cave entrance further into the mountain. Continue through the right-hand corridors until you finally emerge outdoors, where you’ll find yet another Tablet.

Tip: Outside of the Quarantine Platform, you’ll also notice a broken Purple Tablet fragment (369, 7, 1117). Scanning it gives you the blueprint to create more whenever you want.

Orange Tablet Location

The Orange Tablet is rarer and tied directly to Degasi lore. You’ll need the Seamoth with a depth upgrade to survive long enough to claim it, since it’s hidden far below in the Deep Grand Reef.

To get there, swim to the Floating Island from your Lifepod. Before you reach the island itself, dive down into the Deep Grand Reef, where blue glowing bulb plants mark the biome. Further in, beware of Crabsquids that will shut down your Seamoth with EMP blasts and Warper patrols.

Eventually, you’ll come across the Degasi Seabase perched on the seafloor. Inside the central module, you’ll find PDAs, lore items, and the Orange Tablet sitting on a table.

Blue Tablet Location

The Blue Tablet is locked deep within the game’s endgame zones, so don’t expect to grab it early. You’ll need the Cyclops submarine, the Prawn Suit, and at least one Purple Tablet to access it.

Your objective is the Inactive Lava Zone where the Lava Castle is. There is a Sea Dragon Leviathan here patrolling, so walk carefully. Locate one of the side corridors going into the Lava Castle, and move cautiously through aggressive wildlife until you arrive at the Alien Thermal Plant.

When you go inside, ascend until you come to a sealed force field. Insert a Purple Tablet in the terminal to allow the room to be opened. It awaits you in there with the Blue Tablet.

Alien Tablets aren’t just flashy keys — they’re stepping stones that take you deeper into Subnautica’s lore. The Purple Tablets guide you through the initial secrets, the Orange Tablet is linked to Degasi’s fate, and the Blue Tablet is your ticket into the most secretive Precursor buildings. Collect them all, and you won’t only find new paths but will also uncover the planet’s alien architects’ secrets.