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To download an old Minecraft snapshot, use the official Minecraft Launcher for Java Edition: open Installations, enable snapshots, then create or edit an installation and choose the version you want. Before launching a testing version, back up your worlds or use a separate game directory; Mojang warns that testing versions can corrupt worlds.
Download a snapshot through the official Launcher
- Open the official Minecraft Launcher and select Installations.
- Turn on the option to show or enable snapshots.
- Select New installation, or edit an existing installation. In the version selector, choose the snapshot you want, if it is listed. Give the installation a distinct name so it is easy to recognize.
- Where the Launcher offers a game-directory setting, choose a separate folder to keep snapshot files and worlds apart from your main installation.
- Save the installation, select it from the Launcher, and click Play.
Mojang’s current snapshot instructions and its 2020 snapshot instructions describe the Launcher’s Installations workflow. The official pages do not guarantee that every historical snapshot will always appear in the current version selector. If the version you need is not listed, check its official Minecraft page rather than assuming a third-party download is an official client.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
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| 1 |
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Minecraft | Java & Bedrock Deluxe Collection | Windows Digital Code | $39.99 | Buy on Amazon |
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Minecraft | Java & Bedrock Ultimate Collection | Windows Digital Code | $49.99 | Buy on Amazon |
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Minecraft | Standard Edition | XBOX Digital Code | $19.99 | Buy on Amazon |
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Minecraft | $6.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
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Minecraft - Bedrock Edition PS4 | $42.98 | Buy on Amazon |
Protect your worlds before testing
Mojang’s snapshot guidance warns: “Testing versions can corrupt your world, so please backup and/or run them in a different folder from your main worlds.” Back up any save you care about before opening it in a testing version; using a separate game directory adds another layer of separation. The warning appears on the official 25w46a snapshot page.
When a snapshot page offers a manual download
Some release pages describe special files for a specific experimental build. For example, the 25w46a page gives a procedure for its named unobfuscated experimental build: download that page’s zip, unpack it into the local Minecraft application data versions folder, restart the Launcher, create an installation using the named unobfuscated version, and launch it so the remaining files can download.
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- DELUXE COLLECTION — Includes Minecraft: Java & Bedrock Edition, three Bedrock add-ons, three exclusive Character Creator items, and 700 Minecoins.
- CREATE YOUR WORLD — Build whatever you imagine in an infinite world that’s unique in every playthrough.
- EXPLORE AND CRAFT — Discover biomes, resources, and mobs, then craft your way through a sandbox world filled with surprises.
- SURVIVE THE ADVENTURE — Face mysterious foes, travel across exciting landscapes, and venture into perilous dimensions.
- PLAY TOGETHER — Play cross-platform with friends in Bedrock Edition on console, mobile, and PC, or join community servers in Java Edition on PC, Mac, and Linux. Online console multiplayer requires a platform-specific subscription (sold separately).
This is a release-specific exception, not the general way to install ordinary old snapshots. Follow such manual steps only when the page for the exact build provides them. A server jar linked from a snapshot page is server software, not the client installation you select to play in the Launcher; the distinction is also present on the 20w12a page.
Java requirements depend on the snapshot and setup
There is no single Java requirement that applies to every snapshot. Mojang’s 21w19a notes say that snapshot upgraded to Java 16. The notes explain that the default Launcher setup downloads the correct Java version; users with a custom Java setup or a third-party launcher needed Java 16 or later for that particular release. Treat that as a version-specific historical note, not a requirement for all snapshots.
Rank #2
- ULTIMATE COLLECTION — Includes Minecraft: Java & Bedrock Edition, five Bedrock add-ons, five exclusive Character Creator items, and 1000 Minecoins.
- CREATE YOUR WORLD — Build whatever you imagine in an infinite world that’s unique in every playthrough.
- EXPLORE AND CRAFT — Discover biomes, resources, and mobs, then craft your way through a sandbox world filled with surprises.
- SURVIVE THE ADVENTURE — Face mysterious foes, travel across exciting landscapes, and venture into perilous dimensions.
- PLAY TOGETHER — Play cross-platform with friends in Bedrock Edition on console, mobile, and PC, or join community servers in Java Edition on PC, Mac, and Linux. Online console multiplayer requires a platform-specific subscription (sold separately).
Java Edition, not Bedrock Edition
The snapshot installation instructions here apply to Minecraft: Java Edition. They do not describe how to install old testing versions of Bedrock Edition. Mojang’s official download page covers the Java & Bedrock game and Launcher, but snapshots are the Java Edition testing releases addressed by the workflow above.
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Rank #3
- CREATE YOUR WORLD — Build whatever you imagine in an infinite world that is unique in every playthrough.
- EXPLORE AND CRAFT — Discover biomes, resources, and mobs, then craft your way through a sandbox world full of surprises.
- SURVIVAL ADVENTURES — Face mysterious foes, travel across varied landscapes, and venture into perilous dimensions.
- PLAY TOGETHER — Play solo or join friends in local split-screen and cross-platform play across console, mobile, and PC. Online multiplayer supports up to 8 players.
- COMMUNITY PLAY — Connect with players on community servers, or subscribe to Realms Plus (sold separately) to play with up to 10 friends on a private server.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
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