How to download Minecraft on every platform

Here's how you can download and play Minecraft on different platforms

| Nov 3, 2023

Although Minecraft was released way back in 2009, the sandbox game remains popular to this day. One of the main reasons for its ever-growing player base is the game's availability on multiple platforms. In this guide, we will be covering the most popular ones, which include mobile, Nintendo Switch, PC, Steam Deck, PlayStation, and Xbox.

List of all the Minecraft Games

Before we get into the guide on downloading and installing the game, let’s take a quick look at different Minecraft games released over the years -

Minecraft
Minecraft Dungeons
Minecraft Legends
Minecraft Education

In this guide, we will be talking about the original Minecraft game - the one that was released in 2009.

Bedrock vs Java Edition

You will notice that Minecraft used to have two editions - Java and Bedrock. While the difference between the two variants is huge, we won’t be getting into technical details and sticking to the basics.

The main difference here is that the Java Edition is the original 2009 version, which is only available for PC (Windows, MacOS, and Linux). This is the edition where players can mod and design their own experience.

Meanwhile, the Bedrock edition is the cross-platform version of the game - so it’s available on multiple platforms, including PC.

However, a while ago, both versions were merged, so now you have only one Minecraft - the one we will be discussing in this guide.

How to download Minecraft on Mobile

For mobile phones, Minecraft is available on Android as well as iOS devices.

Android Phones and Tablets

To download the game on your Android phone or tablet, you will

Head over to the Google Play Store
Search for Minecraft
Click on the button that displays the price
Choose your preferred payment option
Tap on ‘Buy’ to complete the purchase
Install the game

It should be noted that the Minecraft Chrome OS version has to be purchased separately.

iPhone and iPads

Just like Android users, Apple users, too, will have to buy Minecraft on their iPhones and iPads.

Head over to the App Store
Search for Minecraft
Click on the button with the price
Confirm your purchase
Install the game

Minecraft is also available on Apple TV if you prefer playing on a bigger screen.

Read More: Top 8 breathtaking Minecraft cities

How to download Minecraft on Nintendo Switch

If you want to download Minecraft on your Nintendo Switch, Switch Lite, or Switch OLED, here’s how to do it -

Go to the Nintendo eShop
Search for Minecraft
Select the game you want to buy
Pay with your preferred payment method or you can redeem a gift card or coins
Install the game

On Switch, you can download and play Minecraft, Minecraft: Bedrock Edition, Minecraft Legends, and Minecraft Story Mode.

How to download Minecraft on PC

As mentioned earlier, you can get both Java and Bedrock editions for PC. If you prefer modding, then you can go for the Java version. But if you want cross-platform play, then you need to get the Bedrock edition.

Regardless of the variant you choose, here’s a general rundown of how to get Minecraft on PC -

Windows

This is the download process for Windows 10 and 11 PCs and laptops -

Go to the Microsoft Store
Search for Minecraft
Click on the “Minecraft Java & Bedrock Edition”
Pick your preferred payment method
Once the payment is done, the game as well as Minecraft Launcher will be installed
After installation, open the Launcher
Sign in with your Microsoft Account (the same one that was used to purchase the game)
You should be able to see both the variants - Java and Bedrock
Check if both versions are installed. If not, you can download them and start playing

You can also choose to buy Minecraft through the official Minecraft website.

Mac

To download Minecraft for Mac, you will have to first create a Microsoft account if you don’t have one.

Once you confirm that you have a Microsoft account, head over to the official Minecraft website
Click on ‘Get Minecraft’ and select ‘Computer’
Choose the Deluxe Edition
If you haven’t logged into your Microsoft account, you will be asked to log in here
Select your preferred payment method
Confirm the payment
Download and install Minecraft to start playing

Read More: Minecraft: Best desert seeds

How to download Minecraft on PlayStation 4

To get Minecraft on your PS4, you need to follow these steps -

Head to the PlayStation Store and search for Minecraft
Add the game to the cart
Select your preferred payment method and make the payment
Download the game and start playing

For PS5, Minecraft is not officially available yet. And even though the console is backwards compatible, you won’t be able to see the game when you try to buy it. However, if you have already bought the game on PS4, you should be able to install it on PS5.

How to download Minecraft on Xbox

If you want to download Minecraft on your Xbox Series S, Xbox Series X, or Xbox One, then here’s a rundown of how to do it:

Head over to the Microsoft Store and search for Minecraft
Purchase the game
Select and pay with your preferred payment method
Download and play

If you have a Game Pass, you will be able to download Minecraft without having to buy it.

This guide covers only the popular devices. In addition to the platforms mentioned here, Minecraft is available on Steam Deck, Rasberry Pi, FireOS, Wii U, tvOS, and a few more platforms.

Read more: Top 10 mobile mining games

Next Up :
Rainbow Six Mobile release date and everything else we know