How to Download Minecraft Java Edition on PC (2026 Guide)

Want to download Minecraft and start playing today? This guide shows the official way to get Minecraft: Java Edition on Windows, a Mac or Linux, what it costs, how to install it, and how to make it run smoothly even on a modest computer. It takes about ten minutes.

What you need to play Minecraft Java

• A Microsoft account (free to create at account.microsoft.com).
• A copy of Minecraft: Java & Bedrock Edition for PC, bought once on minecraft.net.
• A computer with Windows 10 or 11, macOS or Linux. Most PCs from the last ten years can run it; see our Minecraft Java system requirements.
• About 1 GB of free space for the game itself, plus room for your worlds.

You do not need to install Java separately: the launcher brings the right Java version for each Minecraft version.

Step 1: Buy Minecraft: Java & Bedrock Edition

1. Go to the official store at minecraft.net.
2. Choose Minecraft: Java & Bedrock Edition for PC. One purchase gives you both editions on PC.
3. Sign in with your Microsoft account (or create one) and pay.

The price is around US$29.99, and it changes by country and currency. It is a one-time purchase: updates are free forever.

Step 2: Download a Minecraft launcher

The launcher is the program that downloads the game files, keeps them updated and starts the game. You have two good options.

Option A: the official Minecraft Launcher

1. On minecraft.net, open Download and choose your system (Windows, macOS or Linux).
2. Install it and sign in with the same Microsoft account.
3. Select Minecraft: Java Edition on the left and press Play. The first start downloads the game.

Option B: Hexa Client (free, with performance mods)

Hexa Client is a free launcher and client for Minecraft: Java Edition. It installs the game from Mojang's official servers, picks the right Java, and adds performance mods like Sodium so you get more FPS out of the box. It also includes PvP mods (keystrokes, CPS, toggle sprint), a minimap, zoom and a friends list.

1. Download Hexa Client for Windows, macOS or Linux.
2. Open the installer and press Install.
3. Sign in with your Microsoft account. Hexa never sees your password: Microsoft's own page handles it.
4. Pick a Minecraft version, from 1.8.9 for PvP to the newest release, and press Play.

Step 3: Start your first world

1. On the title screen, choose Singleplayer → Create New World.
2. Pick Survival to gather resources and survive the night, or Creative to build freely with every block.
3. Press Create New World and wait a few seconds while the world generates.

New to the game? On your first day, punch a tree for wood, make a crafting table, then a wooden pickaxe, and build a small shelter before night falls. When you are ready for more, read where to find diamonds and how to make a Nether portal.

Java Edition or Bedrock Edition?

Minecraft comes in two editions. On PC you get both, so it is worth knowing the difference:

If you want mods, the biggest servers and the best PvP, play Java Edition.

Can you download Minecraft for free?

There are a few legal ways to try it without paying:

• The demo: sign in to the official launcher with a Microsoft account that does not own the game and you can play a time-limited demo world.
• Minecraft Classic: the 2009 version of the game, free in your web browser at classic.minecraft.net.
• PC Game Pass: includes Minecraft Java & Bedrock while you are subscribed.

"Cracked" downloads are a bad deal: they cannot join most servers, never update safely, and are a common way to spread viruses and steal accounts.

Make it run better

Once the game works, a few settings make a big difference: lower the render distance to 8–12 chunks, turn off clouds and fancy leaves, and use a performance mod. Our guide on how to get more FPS in Minecraft explains every option, and if your computer is old, read Minecraft on a low-end PC.