Download Minecraft: How to download Minecraft for PC

Minecraft is a hugely popular sandbox-type video game that offers users the ability to build buildings and tools of any kind. There is no shortage of adventure components, with monsters that attack the player when night falls and an important multiplayer component that makes the game almost endless.

It is a very popular title and, in fact, after hearing so much about it from all your friends, you have finally made up your mind: it is your intention to download Minecraft for PC. Well, it sounds like a really good idea, I can’t tell you more. However, if you are here now and are reading this guide, it is evidently because you do not have the faintest idea of ​​how to do it and would therefore like to receive some tips to find out how to proceed. I’m wrong? No, indeed!

Well, given the situation, I am happy to inform you that you have come to the right place (indeed, on the right guide!), At the right time. In the following lines, I will in fact indicate to you, in detail, everything that needs to be done to be able to download Minecraft for PC. You just have to take five minutes of free time and put into practice the instructions I am about to give you. I wish you a good reading and, above all, a good time!

Index

• Preliminary information
• Minecraft requirements
• How to download Minecraft for PC
  • How to download Minecraft for Windows 10
  • How to download Minecraft Java Edition
  • How to download Minecraft on PC for free

Preliminary information

Before going ahead and explaining, in practice,  how to download Minecraft for PC, let me give you some more information about the versions of the game currently in existence.

There are four popular versions of Minecraft for computers: Minecraft Java Edition,  Minecraft Windows 10 Edition (Bedrock),  Minecraft Education Edition, and Minecraft: Dungeons. All provide the gameplay experience characteristic of the popular Mojang title, now owned by Microsoft (explore, collect and build), but with some differences. Below I indicate the characteristics of each of them.

Minecraft Java Edition

Minecraft Java Edition is the “classic” version of Minecraft for computers, compatible with Windows, macOS and Linux, after installing the Java environment. It supports mods and allows you to carry out multiplayer sessions on Realms servers (for a fee) or personal server, even in LAN or Wi-Fi, but only between users running the same version of Minecraft (therefore it is not possible to play with players connected through the ‘application for smartphone, tablet or Windows 10).

Currently, Minecraft Java Edition is available at a price of € 23.95 (but can be tried for free, as a demo version, for about 5 days in-game, i.e. 100 minutes in the real world).

Minecraft Windows 10 Edition

Minecraft Windows 10 Edition (Bedrock) is the version of the game dedicated to those who use the Windows 10 operating system (also available for smartphones, tablets and consoles). The substantial difference with the Java version is the possibility of playing cross-play games not only with those who play the same edition of the game on the computer (therefore not with the owners of the Java Edition), but also with those who run the title from console, smartphone. and tablet.

Minecraft for Windows 10 also supports mods, albeit to a lesser extent than for Java Edition, and allows you to create personal servers, play multiplayer sessions on Reamls servers (an Xbox Live account is required ) or on a LAN or Wi-Fi.

This edition of the game is available in three variants: Minecraft for Windows 10

Minecraft Education Edition

Minecraft Education Edition is an interactive and free version of the game that follows most of the characteristic aspects of the traditional title but is structured to facilitate teaching.

Using the tools made available by the software, in fact, teachers can create customized lessons (or play those already shared on the Web), in the form of a video game, dedicated to learning subjects such as mathematics, science, art, history and programming.

Minecraft: Dungeons

Minecraft: Dungeons is a variant of the Mojang title focused on the exploration game mode: the maps are progressively generated by an algorithm, in a completely random way, and can be explored both in single and multiplayer mode up to 4 players.

As it is easy to guess, the creation mode is completely missing. As for the PC, Minecraft: Dungeons is available only for the Windows operating system (versions 7, 8.1 and 10), in three different variants.

• Minecraft Dungeons Essentials for Windows 7 and later– this is the version of the game compatible with Windows 7, Windows 8.1 and Windows 10 which, at the time of writing this guide, costs € 19.99.
• Minecraft Dungeons Essentials for Windows 10– is the version of the title available only for Windows 10 branded PCs. It costs € 19.99 and is included in Xbox Game Pass for PC.
• Minecraft Dungeons Hero Edition for Windows 10– in addition to the base game, includes a hero cape, two DLC packs (coming soon), two player skins and a chicken. It costs € 29.99.

Minecraft requirements

To be able to download Minecraft for PC and, consequently, to be able to play this very popular video game, it is not necessary to have a particularly powerful computer. However, it is essential that the PC on which you are going to download the game has some minimum requirements. Let’s see immediately which ones.

Java Edition

If you are interested in running the Java-based version of the game, you must have a computer with at least the following requirements (or more powerful versions of the suggested hardware).

• CPU: Intel i3-3210 3.2 GHz, AMD A8-7600 or equivalent.
• RAM: 2 GB.
• Integrated video card: Intel HD Graphics 4000 or AMD Radeon R5, with support for OpenGL 4.4.
• Discrete video card: Nvidia GeForce 400, or AMD Radeon HD 7000, with support for OpenGL 4.4.
• HDD: at least 1 GB of free space.

For an optimal gaming experience, however, it is recommended that you have a computer with the following requirements (or more powerful versions of the suggested hardware).

• CPU: Intel i5-4690 3.5GHz, AMD A10-7800 or equivalent.
• RAM: 4 GB.
• Video card: NVIDIA GeForce 700, or AMD Radeon Rx 200, with support for OpenGL 4.5.
• HDD: 4 GB (better if SSD).

As for the operating systems, the software ensures compatibility with all the most popular versions of Windows, macOS  and the main Linux distros.

Regardless of the operating system on which you intend to run Minecraft Java Edition, it is still essential that the Java Runtime Environment is installed on it, otherwise, the game will not work. If you have not already done so, connected to the Java website, click on the Free Java Download and  Accept buttons and start the free download and wait for the environment installation file to be downloaded to your computer.

When the download is complete, if you are using  Windows, launch the .exe package obtained above and click on the Yes,  Install,  OK and Close buttons to complete the setup.

If, on the other hand, what you are using is a  Mac, double-click on the .dmg package obtained and repeat the operation on the Java icon located on the screen that opens; to finish, type in the  Mac password, press the Enter key on the keyboard and click on the Install,  OK and  Close buttons to complete the setup. If any of the steps are not clear to you, please take a look at the Java download guide

Windows 10 Edition

In order to download Minecraft Windows 10 Edition, it is essential that the computer in your possession clearly runs a copy of Windows 10 and that it meets the following minimum requirements.

• CPU: Intel i5-4690, AMD A10-7800 or equivalent.
• RAM: 4 GB.
• Integrated video card: Intel HD Graphics 4000 or AMD Radeon R5.
• Disk space:6 GB
• Operating system: Windows 10 version 14393.0 or later.

For an optimal gaming experience, however, the following requirements are recommended.

• CPU: Intel i7-6500U, AMD A8-6600K or equivalent.
• RAM: 4 GB.
• Discrete video card: NVIDIA GeForce 940M or AMD Radeon HD 8570D.
• Disk space:6 GB
• Operating system: Windows 10 version 14393.0 or later.

Minecraft: Dungeons

Here are the minimum requirements to be able to play Minecraft: Dungeons.

• CPU: Intel i5 2.8 GHz or equivalent.
• RAM: 8 GB.
• Discrete video card: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 660 or AMD Radeon HD 7870 or equivalent.
• Operating system: Windows 10 November 2019 Update or later, updated Windows 8.1 or Windows 7 (some features are not supported on the latter operating system).
• Other: For Minecraft: Dungeons for Windows 7 and later, Java must be installed on your computer.

How to download Minecraft for PC

Having clarified the differences between the various versions of the game and made an overview of the requirements necessary to be able to access it without problems, the time has come to explain how to download Minecraft for PC through the official channels of the software: Microsoft Store (for Minecraft for Windows 10 and Minecraft Dungeon Edition) and Minecraft Store (for Minecraft Java Edition).

How to download Minecraft for Windows 10

In order to download Minecraft for Windows 10, you must first choose the edition of the game you prefer and connect to the website dedicated to it: Minecraft for Windows 10, Minecraft Windows 10 Starter Collection or Minecraft Windows 10 Master Collection. Once on the page of your interest, click on the Buy button and, when prompted, log in with your  Microsoft account, entering your username and password in the appropriate text fields (if you do not have one, you can create it quickly by following the instructions that I provided you in this tutorial ).

Once logged in, click on the Next button and indicate the payment method to use for the purchase of the game: credit/debit card,  PayPal or redeeming a gift voucher. Once you have made your choice, enter the information required to complete the payment ( card details, PayPal account or gift voucher code), click on the Save button and confirm your willingness to proceed with the purchase by pressing the appropriate button.

Once the transaction is complete, click on the Install button, then on  Open Microsoft Store and, once the latter program is started, press the Get and  Install buttons to start the download and installation of Minecraft, which could take several minutes.

To start the game, click on the Play button located on the Microsoft Store screen or use the Minecraft icon that should have been added to the Windows Start menu. If you have never played before and would like some more information on how to get started on Minecraft, take a look at the thematic study I have dedicated to the game.

Remember that, following the purchase and installation of Minecraft for Windows 10, the game will remain linked to your account and can be reinstalled in the future, without having to make the purchase again.

How to download Minecraft Java Edition

If, on the other hand, you prefer to purchase  Minecraft Java Edition, you must proceed via the game’s official website. So, after connecting to its home page via the link I previously provided, click first on the Get Minecraft button, then on  Computer and, then, click on the logo of the operating system in your possession; if you have chosen Windows, click on the Minecraft: Java Edition poster to be taken to the game download page.

From now on, the procedures are the same for all operating systems: click on the green Buy Minecraft button and then on the Continue button to move on to the next step, which consists in registering on the Mojang platform.

Then type in your email address, a personal password and your date of birth, click on the Continue button and verify the data by entering, in the appropriate field, the verification code that you should have received by email in the meantime.

Once logged in, you should be presented with the payment method selection screen: you can choose to pay by credit card,  PayPal,  PaySafeCard,  JBC, code/gift voucher,  Diners, UnionPay and  Discover (the last three methods can be selected by clicking on the item  Other payment methods ).

Having made your choice, enter the requested information (eg credit card details, PayPal account or redemption code), click on the  Buy for [price] button and, after checking the data entered, press the button of confirmation, to make the transaction and buy Minecraft.

If everything went smoothly, you will be automatically taken to the game download page: click, therefore, on the Download button and wait for the Minecraft installation file to be downloaded to your computer. Now, launch the file obtained and, if you have a computer animated by Windows, complete the installation of the game by clicking in sequence on the Next buttons for two consecutive times,  Install and  Finish. If, on the other hand, you are using a Mac, drag the Minecraft icon to the Applications folder of macOS and start the game by double-clicking on the icon you just copied.

Upon launch, the game will automatically check for new updates and, if available, will download and install them. Once this step is also completed, log in to your Mojang account by entering the email address and password specified above, then click on the Login button, then on the version of Minecraft purchased (located in the left sidebar) and, finally, on the Play button.

If you need some advice, know that I have dedicated an entire section of my site

How to download Minecraft: Dungeons

To download and purchase Minecraft: Dungeons in all its variants, you need to have a Microsoft account through which to complete the transaction: if you don’t have one yet, you can quickly create one by following the instructions provided in this tutorial.

Once you have everything you need, connected to the official page of the game, click on the Buy Now and Windows buttons and put the checkmark next to the version of the title you are interested in:  Windows 7 and later versions,  Windows 10 or  Hero Edition for Windows 10. Once you have made your choice, click on the Buy button and follow the instructions best suited to the edition you have selected.

• Windows 7 and later versions– click on the Add to cart button, press the cart icon located at the top right and then on the Go to checkout button. Then, log into your  Microsoft account, select your preferred payment method, enter your information in the form below and, when you’re ready, click the  Buy for [price] button to proceed. After verifying the accuracy of the data, click on the confirm button to complete the transaction and then on the Download button, in order to download the game installation file. When the download is complete, proceed with the installation of Minecraft, clicking in sequence on the Next buttons for two consecutive times,  Install and  Finish.
• Windows 10and  Hero Edition – click on the Buy button, log in with your Microsoft account, press the Next button  and, after selecting the payment method you prefer and having specified the necessary information, click on the Buy button to bring to end the transaction. Finally, hit the Get / Install button to install the game on Windows 10.

Note: As mentioned above, Minecraft: Dungeons Essentials is free for all owners of an Xbox Game Pass for PC subscription. To redeem it, simply log in using the Microsoft account associated with the aforementioned service.

How to download Minecraft on PC for free

How do you say? Would you like to download Minecraft on PC for free because, even before spending money, would you like to know if the game actually suits your tastes? If that’s the case, I think I have good news for you: both Minecraft for Windows 10 and Minecraft Java Edition allow you to download a free, fully-functional version of the game for 100 minutes or 5 days in-game.

To get the free version of Minecraft for Windows 10, connected to this website, click on the Free Trial Version button and, after logging in with your Microsoft account, put the checkmark next to the computer on which to install the program and click on the Install Now button to proceed.

Alternatively, start the  Microsoft Store by recalling it from the Start menu, click on the Search button at the top right, type the word  Minecraft in the bar that appears and, after selecting the most relevant result, proceed following the same instructions seen above.

If, on the other hand, you intend to get a free copy of Minecraft Java Edition, first proceed with creating a Mojang account (you will need it to play) by visiting this website and following the information I gave you in the previous chapter. After verifying the e-mail address, click on the  Return to Minecraft.net item to avoid adding a payment method.

Now, visit this website, click on the link downloading the Minecraft launcher, press the Download button located on the next page and wait for the software installation file to be downloaded to your computer. To install the program and log in to the game for the first time, please refer to the instructions I gave you earlier.