User description

The Minecraft Launcher is the game downloader and launcher for Minecraft: Java Edition and one of the game downloaders and launchers for Minecraft for Windows (Bedrock Edition) and Minecraft Dungeons. It is available on Windows, macOS, and Linux. Minecraft for Windows can only be played on Windows 10/11. Minecraft Dungeons cannot be played on Windows 7+. Contents 1 Features 2 Minecraft Java Edition 2.1 Installations 2.2.2 Backward compatibility 3.2.3 Skins 4.1 Play 4.2 DLC 4.3 FAQ 4.4 Installation 4.5 Patch Notes 9.1 Minecraft: Java Edition 9.2 Backgrounds 9.3 Version History 9.4 2013-16 9.5 2016-19 Features[] Logging in with a Microsoft account is required for the initial login screen. However, users can create a new Microsoft account by clicking the link. You can log in with a different Microsoft account by clicking the link. If a user attempts log in with a Mojang Studios legacy Minecraft account, they'll be directed to migrate into a Microsoft account. On the left side, a "News" tab, a tab for each game, and the Minecraft Launcher "Settings" tab can be seen. The top left corner of the Minecraft Launcher contains the user's Xbox gamertag for the currently active account (which might differ from their Minecraft: Java Edition username)[2]. Clicking on it will allow users to log in or log out of their active account. There is also a Help page that provides links to various resources. The main "Play” section allows users to download and launch Minecraft: Java Edition. It also has an installation selection (which sorts installations by most recently played), the Java Edition username on right, and the most recent news from minecraft.net below. - You can launch multiple instances of the same game by pressing "Play" while the game's running. The game can be launched offline if the device doesn't have an internet connection. This is only possible if the game was downloaded initially. - If the user isn't logged into an account that has purchased the game, the "Play" button appears as a "Play demo" button that downloads and launches the demo version of the game. You can also view the patch notes, including snapshots, in the "Patch Notes" section. Installations[] Create a brand new installation. In the "Installations" section, Custom installations can be created and edited. There are buttons to sort and search installations, as well as checkboxes to enable installations with "Releases", "Snapshot", and "Modded" versions of the game. Installations are stored in launcher_profiles.json (or launcher_profiles_microsoft_store.json when using the new Minecraft Launcher for Windows) in the game's directory (.minecraft). Installations for the "Latest version" and "Latest snapshot" are default. The game versions cannot be changed. You can create a brand new installation by clicking the button "New installation", or edit an existing installation by clicking it. There is a "Play" button that launches the selected installation and a folder icon that takes to the installation's game directory. The ellipses buttons allows you to edit, duplicate or delete an installed. You can change the following settings on the create/edit install page: - Icon, by selecting one of the default ones or adding a custom one. Custom icons must be a .png and 128x128 pixels in size. - Name, which is defaultly called "". - Version. This includes access to older releases (if enabled). - Game directory is the location where the game files are stored, default being.minecraft. The location can be typed in or selected using the "Browse" button. - Resolution, which changes the game's windows size. It can be accessed by selecting from a list of resolutions or typing in a custom one. - Java executable, by default uses the bundled java runtime. - JVM parameters, such as heap sizes. Before, it was possible for the users to manually set a logging configuration (see Debugging on wiki.vg for more info), however this doesn't seem to work anymore. [3] A specific game version's server jar can also be downloaded by selecting the version in the list and pressing the "Server" button next to it. Backward compatibility[] Select older versions in the Create New Installation screen. The Minecraft Launcher allows you to play all older versions of the game and older snapshots by default. However, there are some older versions that were available before Release 1.0. To see these versions in the installation section, the player must turn on "Show historical Java Edition" in their Minecraft Launcher settings tab. Because these versions are outdated and unsupported, they may contain bugs and errors that are not present in newer versions. To avoid save corruption and other problems, it is recommended that you run older versions of the game in a different directory and backup worlds. [4] Once historical versions are enabled you can access the following: - Most beta versions. - Most alpha versions. - One infdev version. - Four classic models. - Five pre-classic versions. [5] These older versions can have issues, including: - Some sounds can be wrong. Doors, bows, and explosives all use sounds from RC1, even versions before it. In versions before Alpha 1.1.2_01, sounds do not work at all. Versions prior to 1.7 do not have skins because they use a different skin server. This server has since been closed down. Capes may still work, however. [needs testing] - From Alpha 1.2.0 to Alpha 1.2.6 the Minecraft Launcher does NOT correctly set the player's names. Everyone uses the default name "Player", followed by a random number of three-digit numbers. Multiplayer is now difficult because players' inventory and locations are reset every time they launch their client. - Alpha 1.2.5 and Alpha 1.2.6 are specifically designed to have players named "Player524". These versions do not allow multiplayer play, as players can only join a server with the same name. Online mode does not work in versions prior Beta 1.8, as a side effect to the above and because of the shutdown of old authentication server, Skins[] The skins section In the "Skins" section, the user can view and change their in-game skin. The default skin is Alex or Steve. You can apply skin to the skin library by clicking "Use". The skin can also be edited, duplicate, or delete by clicking the ellipsis button. The default skins for Steve and Alex are stored in the library. They can be duplicated, applied, or removed. You can visit this section and not purchase the game. Minecraft for Windows[] The main "Play” section lets the user download (if necessary), and launch Minecraft for Windows, Bedrock Edition, with the "Play” button. Also, it includes the user's Xbox Gamertag to the right and a list of the most recent news for Minecraft.net below. - The game can only be run offline if the device has not been connected to the internet. - A warning will appear if the user is using an unsupported device. The link to a website with support devices will be provided. If the user doesn't have an account that purchased the title, the "Play" button becomes a "Play demo" button. This allows the user to download and launch the demo copy of the game from the Microsoft Store. There are sections for FAQs and Minecraft for Windows (Bedrock Edition) and Installation. You can also repair or uninstall the game from the "Installation" section. The patch notes section contains information about the latest patches. Minecraft Dungeons[] There are 5 tabs on the Minecraft Dungeons page: Play, DLC, FAQ, Installation, and Patch notes. Only Play, DLC, FAQ, Installation, and Patch notes will be shown on unsupported platforms. Play[] The default view of the Minecraft Dungeons section in the Minecraft Launcher. The main "Play” section allows users to download (if necessary) and launch the latest Minecraft Dungeons version with the "Play” button. It also contains images from the game as well as a list of the most recent news articles from minecraft.net. This section also displays a notice that the Microsoft Store for Windows can be purchased separately. If the player is not using the supported platform, a message appears at the bottom that reads: Where's the play button? Minecraft Dungeons are not available on this platform. DLC[] The DLC tab can be found on the Minecraft Dungeons Page in the Minecraft Launcher. There is a search bar and a filter option to narrow down the results when searching the DLCs. Check the box to see the bundle and/or DLCs. Each DLC can be seen in a card structure, with the DLC info at the top and a cover photo at the bottom. The card also includes a slideshow. FAQ[] The FAQ tab of Minecraft Dungeons on Minecraft Minecraft Launcher. The FAQ section can be accessed by pressing the FAQ tab. There is a list of troubleshooting sections and a link to the Minecraft Dungeons FAQ on the Minecraft Help Center. Installation[] This section can be accessed without the purchase of Minecraft Dungeons. If you have purchased the game, it has an uninstall and repair buttons. Patch Notes[] This section includes cards of the patch note cards.Each card has an image on the top and text below that lists the name of the patch notes. This displays the patch notes when clicked. Settings[] The "About" section in the Minecraft Launcher settings. The main section "General" allows users to: - Change the Minecraft Launcher language. There are 66 languages available. 2 joke languages are also available (as of February 2002). Use the beta version to download Minecraft Launcher. This requires restarting launcher to begin downloading if one is available. - Keep the Minecraft Launcher open while games are running. - Enable animations in the Minecraft Launcher, which are disabled by default to avoid potential motion sickness for some users. - Disable hardware acceleration. Options only for Minecraft Java Edition - Open the output file when the game starts. - Option to automatically send the game's crash reports to Mojang Studios. - In the Version Selector section of the Installations section, you can see historical versions (versions prior 1.0). In the "Accounts" section, users can add, switch, manage, or remove their Microsoft accounts. The "About" section contains details about the Minecraft Launcher including its version, credits, and third-party licenses, as well as a list of patch notes by clicking the "What's New?" button. Command line usage[] The Minecraft Launcher can be invoked using the command line by typing %ProgramFiles(x86)%\Minecraft Launcher\MinecraftLauncher.exe in Windows or minecraft-launcher in either Mac or Linux. The Help Message when using MinecraftLauncher.exe --help As of version 2.2.25xx, the Minecraft Launcher has these command-line options available for Minecraft: Java Edition: --demo: This launches the demo version, just as if the game isn't purchased yet. -h., --help: This option displays a help text on how to execute it in the command-line. --clean: This option deletes the "game", "runtime" folders and their contents from the current directory. --launcherui- This option shows the login screen. -w., --workDir- This option is followed with a path (relative and absolute) that changes the location (and/or its name) in the.minecraft folder. - Can be used in order to create a portable copy of the game. You can use --workDir (or -workDir=) to create a portable installation of the game. can be used to make the Minecraft Launcher use the current directory (no matter what the current folder is called). Uninstall the old Minecraft Unified Launcher[]. Source: "Uninstalling the Old Minecraft Unified Launcher" - Minecraft Help Center. This applies only to players using Windows 10 or newer. Older versions of Windows are not able to use the new Minecraft Launcher for Windows. To remove any confusion between the launchers, you can install the new launcher and uninstall the old one. For clarity, the new launcher is referred to as the "Minecraft Launcher for Windows" and the old launcher as the "Minecraft Unified Launcher". How to remove the Minecraft Unified Launcher. 1. Click the Start menu in Windows (windows symbol in the lower left). 2. Click the top entry, and type in "Add or Remove programs". 3. Search for "Minecraft Launcher". The launcher to uninstall displays Mojang underneath the title "Minecraft Launcher". 4. Click the three dots shown to the left of the "Minecraft Launcher" title and select "Uninstall". Only one launcher should now be installed. Run the Minecraft Launcher for Windows to ensure it still works; if it doesn't, reinstall using the Microsoft Store. Launcher or game mods may need to be migrated or re-installed to the new Minecraft Launcher for Windows installation location before uninstalling the old launcher. For more information, contact the mod developer. History[] Gallery[] Minecraft Launcher app icon Minecraft Launcher Microsoft Store square key art Minecraft Launcher Microsoft Store vertical key art Minecraft Launcher Microsoft Store horizontal key art The initial login screen The News tab The Minecraft: Java Edition tab The Minecraft Dungeons tab The launcher settings' "About" section. Closeup of the Technoblade crown on the pig Minecraft: Java Edition[] The default installations section (with snaps enabled). Editing an existing installation Add new skin. A game crash A warning about running another copy of the game if it is already running. A warning about playing a version that doesn't support the latest player safety features. A removed Alex skin that used to represent the default Alex on the Skins tab. This would give the player the default skin instead. A texture reproduction of the Alex skin. Backgrounds[] Background for the initial login screen. The background for Java Edition & Bedrock Edition. The background for Minecraft Dungeons.When Mundo Is Blogging Version history[] The first Minecraft Launcher From Notch's blog, an in-development image for the second launcher. The second Minecraft Launcher. You can still see the old Minecraft logo. The third Minecraft Launcher The fourth Minecraft Launcher, version 1.0. The fifth Minecraft Launcher, version 1.6. The last update to the Legacy Minecraft Launcher, version 1.6.93. The sixth Minecraft Launcher, version 2.0. The sixth Minecraft Launcher, version 2.0 - login menu. The seventh Minecraft Launcher, version 2.1. The seventh Minecraft Launcher, version 2.1 - login menu. 2013-16[] After the Launcher starts, click on the Launcher Log tab The tab for the Local Version Editor (NYI), has been replaced by Time Machine. If the development launcher is not up-to-date, an error message is displayed Error message that is displayed if an old launcher is opened after using the 9.0 launcher 2016-19[] Profile icons selection from the launcher. Launcher in offline mode The Help page Game crash Launcher warning about starting another Minecraft copy if it is running. Older skin options. Selecting an older version The shrug emoticon, which sometimes appears in the top left corner. Trivia[] - Version 2.2.2.2529 release notes contain text that reads Tmwa/JJse shimwa/RiJ shi ma - Both Alpha (and Classic) versions of Minecraft: Java Edition have been listed as "old_alpha", despite not being identical. [13] - The Minecraft Launcher doesn't store passwords locally. Instead, it uses a "refresh token". - The current Minecraft Launcher is the eighth launcher for Minecraft: Java Edition, and the third that was built to automatically update itself. Mojang Studios receives reports of game crashes through Hopper. - The legacy Minecraft Launcher can be downloaded here (version 1.6.93, ~4.6MB as opposed to the modern launcher's ~85MB). However, the legacy Minecraft Launcher is incompatible with Microsoft accounts and was discontinued in Q2 2021 due to account migration. - In version 2.3.240, the pig on the Minecraft Launcher screen was given a crown in light of popular Minecraft YouTuber Technoblade passing away due to cancer. References[] " We're expanding our Minecraft Launcher team! We have many exciting plans and are seeking a senior C++ developer to help us make them a reality. Are you aware of someone who might be interested? Send them our way! - @Dinnerbone (Nathan Adams) on Twitter, September 6, 2018 | https://help.minecraft.net/hc/articles/360052640612 | MCL-17489 | "Changing game versions" - Minecraft Help Center. "Welcome to the new Minecraft Launcher" - MCUpdate, February 21, 2011, Tumblr - Mojang.com, March 1, 2012