How to play Minecraft without downloading it

Your friends are always talking to you about Minecraft and how fun it is to play this hugely popular title. So you decided to check it out too but, before you download and buy it, you would like to try it out. Possibly without wasting time and without downloading software to your PC. This is how things are, am I right? In that case, you don’t have to worry, because I can help you with your intent.

In today’s guide, in fact, I will show you how to play Minecraft without downloading it using its version that can be used directly from a web browser, albeit very limited. Since this version doesn’t exactly match what you’ve heard about Minecraft, it might still be a good place to start. Alternatively, I’ll give you some tips on how to download the trial version and test most of its features, even if only for a short time.

I bet you can’t wait to get started, right? So what are you waiting for? We start immediately without wasting any more precious time. What you need to do is sit comfortably and pay attention to the tips you will find in the next chapters. I’m sure that, at the end of the reading, you will have all the information you need to be able to play Minecraft and decide, therefore, whether to buy it or not. All that remains for me is to wish you a good read and, above all, good fun.

Index

• Play Minecraft Classic from a web browser
• Other methods of playing Minecraft
  • Play Minecraft on PC
  • Play Minecraft on smartphones and tablets
  • Play Minecraft on console

Play Minecraft Classic from a web browser

If you want to play Minecraft without downloading it, what I recommend is to try Minecraft Classic, a version of Minecraft that can be used directly from your PC web browser, which does not require the use of any additional software.

What you need to play Minecraft Classic is any web browser, such as Microsoft Edge on Windows 10, Safari on macOS or download Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox, just to name a few.

I warn you that Minecraft Classic is a very old and outdated version of the Minecraft edition available today on PCs, smartphones and tablets and game consoles. You must, in fact, know that the developer company, Mojang, has released this version on the occasion of the tenth anniversary of Minecraft for the nostalgics who have supported this video game from the beginning.

This means that the gaming experience on Minecraft Classic does not reflect that of the current version of this famous video game, although it shares some essential elements, such as the ability to destroy and build the game world.

Also, you should know that thanks to the WebRTC support of web browsers, it is possible to invite up to nine players in the same game session. This feature is interesting, because it allows you to play Minecraft Classic together with your friends, having fun even if on a very old version of this video game.

To start playing, all you have to do is reach this link that leads to the Minecraft Classic web page. After the main screen has started, press the Copy button, if you intend to copy the session URL to share with your friends later. Once this is done, type your fancy nickname in the appropriate text box and then press the Start button to start playing Minecraft Classic.

Other methods of playing Minecraft

If Minecraft Classic is not what you are looking for, as you want to play the latest version, then you are forced to download the trial version or make the purchase directly on the device you have, topics that I will talk about in the next chapters.

Play Minecraft on PC

If you are planning to play Minecraft from PC, you have the option to try two editions of Minecraft: Minecraft Java Edition and Minecraft Windows 10 Edition. They are not two versions completely alike, but they differ in some features, which I will tell you about in the next lines.

Minecraft Java Edition is the historical version of Minecraft that has evolved over time, available on both Windows, macOS and Linux. It costs 23.95 euros and can only be purchased from the official website. Through this version, it is also possible to play together with other users, even if they use an operating system on a PC different from yours. The essential requirement to play this edition is to have the latest version of Java installed on your computer.

Minecraft Windows 10 Edition is, on the other hand, a version of Minecraft that supports cross-play with the other devices on which Minecraft is available. Through this edition, in fact, you can play together with users of Android and iOS and of game consoles (Xbox One and Nintendo Switch). Generally, all versions of Minecraft that support this cross-play feature are referred to as the Bedrock Edition.

The cost is slightly higher than the Java version, which is around 26.99 euros, with the possibility of purchasing more expensive packages, with additional digital content. You must, in fact, know that on Windows 10 Edition it is possible to carry out microtransactions, not mandatory, to unlock some paid contents, which add functionality and aesthetic effects, a feature absent on the Java Edition, fully supported by the mods.

That said, if you want to download the trial version for Minecraft Java Edition, you must first create a Mojang account on the official website and, at that point, decide whether to buy this edition or test the game. In both cases, you will download a .exe file on Windows or .dmg on macOS to install the game. As for Minecraft Windows 10 Edition, however, you must have a Microsoft account to download the trial version from the Microsoft Store of Windows 10.

Whatever edition you want to try or buy, what I recommend is to consult this guide of mine, in which I explain in detail how to create an account to play Minecraft and how to install both the trial and the full version, as well as to give you useful tips on how to take your first steps on this famous video game.

Play Minecraft on smartphones and tablets

Minecraft is also available on smartphones and tablets with Android and iOS operating systems. Unfortunately, however, it is not possible to try this video game on these platforms, as an evaluation version is no longer available.

When the game was still called Pocket Edition, in fact, for a period of time a limited demo was available which, although it was later removed, it was possible to download in APK format for Android on third-party sites, such as APKMirror.

To date, Minecraft can only be purchased on smartphones and tablets through the Android Play Store and the iOS App Store. For Android, the cost is around 6.99 euros, while on iOS it is 7.99 euros.

If you want to know more about this topic, I suggest you consult this guide of mine, in which I explain how to buy and download Minecraft on Android and iOS and, in case you do not want to proceed in this way, I recommend some equally valid free alternatives.

Play Minecraft on console

In case you have a Play Station , Xbox or Nintendo game console, you can play Minecraft by purchasing it. An evaluation version is only available for the Play Station and Xbox game consoles, so you can test the features and decide, if necessary, to buy this video game.

Minecraft is available in Legacy Edition on Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita and Wii U. As for Xbox One and Nintendo Switch, Minecraft is available in Bedrock Edition.

The difference between the Legacy version and the Bedrock version lies in the fact that the former is no longer supported by any update, except for Play Station 4. The Bedrock edition for game consoles, on the other hand, is updated continuously, also because it supports cross-play with Android, iOS and Windows 10 devices.

In case you are interested in trying Minecraft on your game console or buying it, I suggest you read the advice I gave you in my guide on how to download Minecraft for free.