You'll need a Microsoft account to download Minecraft but that's no sweat to do. Choosing between the two versions, Java and ...

Players who have not played Minecraft for a while, but have the game downloaded, can simply update the game to get the latest version (1.16) through the Minecraft Java Edition Launcher.

Methods to download and install mods on Minecraft Java and Bedrock Edition How to install mods in Minecraft Java Edition Since Java Edition is the older version of the game, it has support for mods.

Minecraft: Java Edition is the original version of the game for computers, while Bedrock is a newer version available on nearly every device.

Somewhat confusingly, there was an old launcher called 'Minecraft Unified Launcher', which was specifically for Windows 7 and 8 and only launched Java Edition and Minecraft Dungeons.

Minecraft Java Edition players can only cross-play with people on the same version, which is relegated to PC, Mac, and Linux.

Microsoft’s free Minecraft for Windows 10 giveaway ends at midnight for Java players Legacy Minecraft: Java Edition players can still snag free codes to the Windows 10 Edition until midnight.