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Usually, yes—but transferring the game and transferring a saved world are separate tasks. You can generally reinstall Minecraft on another device when you own it for that platform and sign in with the account tied to the purchase. To move a world, use a method supported for its edition and the devices involved; reinstalling the game alone does not copy local saves.
What are you transferring: the game or a world?
Minecraft Help’s new-device instructions say to install the game on the new device if you already purchased it for that platform and use the same account. On consoles and mobile devices, install it through the store where you originally bought it. This does not mean a purchase on one platform automatically unlocks Minecraft in every other platform’s store.
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A world is its own save. Before you start, identify the source and destination devices, whether the world is in Java Edition or Bedrock Edition, and where its save is stored. Minecraft’s edition guide lists Java for Windows, Mac, and Linux, and Bedrock for Windows, mobile, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, and PlayStation. Transfer instructions depend on that combination.
Which world-transfer method fits your devices?
| Situation | Documented route | Conditions |
|---|---|---|
| Bedrock world on supported devices | Upload the world to a Realm on the source device, then download it on the destination. | Requires an active Realms trial or paid subscription; both devices should run the latest Minecraft version. The downloaded world is a copy. Minecraft Help: transfer a Bedrock world with Realms. |
| Bedrock world on Android, with External storage selected | Connect the device to a computer by USB, choose File Transfer/MTP, and copy the minecraftWorlds folder or the folder for the individual world. |
These file-copy steps apply to External storage only. If the game uses Application storage, Minecraft Help directs users to Realms. Minecraft Help: Android world backup. |
| Xbox world | Use the Microsoft-account cloud saves and check the world’s status in Manage Worlds. | The console must be online and signed in for syncing. A world that has not been played may still be local-only until backed up. Minecraft Help: Xbox cloud saves. |
| Java, iPhone or iPad, PlayStation, or Nintendo Switch | Follow the guide for that platform in Minecraft’s Backup & Restore index. | The index lists dedicated guides, but steps vary by platform and are not interchangeable. Minecraft Help: Backup & Restore. |
How to move a Bedrock world with Realms
- On the source device, sign in and open the world you want to move.
- Use Minecraft Help’s Realms transfer guide to upload that single-player world to a Realm. You need an active trial or paid subscription.
- Update Minecraft on both devices so they are running the latest version, as the guide requires.
- On the destination device, sign in to the account with access to the Realm and download the uploaded world using the guide’s instructions.
- Open the downloaded copy and check that it is the world you intended to move before deleting or resetting anything on the source device.
The download creates a copy; it does not turn the original device’s local save into a shared file. If you are restoring an older Realm version or need Realm backup details, see How We Backup Your Minecraft Realms World. Minecraft Help says Realms backups are made automatically every 30 minutes and when players choose Save & Quit or disconnect. It also says a Realm world can be downloaded within 18 months after subscription expiry, while associated backups are deleted 30 days after expiry.
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#1 Best Overall
- Minecraft is a game about placing blocks and going on adventures
- Explore randomly generated worlds and build amazing things from the simplest of homes to the grandest of castles
- Play in creative mode with unlimited resources or mine deep into the world in survival mode, crafting weapons and armor to fend off the dangerous mobs
- Play on the go in handheld or tabletop modes
- Includes Super Mario Mash-Up, Natural Texture Pack, Biome Settlers Skin Pack, Battle & Beasts Skin Pack, Campfire Tales Skin Pack; Compatible with Nintendo Switch only
How to copy an Android world stored externally
This manual route applies only when the Bedrock world’s File Storage Location is set to External. Minecraft Help’s Android backup instructions specify connecting the phone or tablet to a computer by USB, selecting File Transfer/MTP, then copying the minecraftWorlds folder or the folder for the specific world. A cable must support data transfer and work with both devices; this method does not move the game purchase.
If the world uses Application storage, do not assume the External-storage folder path will work. The official guide directs Application-storage users to transfer through Realms instead.
Rank #2
- Explore randomly-generated worlds and build amazing things from the simplest of homes to the grandest of castles
- Play in Creative Mode with unlimited resources or mine deep into the world in survival mode, crafting weapons and armour to fend off the dangerous mobs
How to check Xbox cloud saves before changing consoles
Xbox cloud saves are associated with the Microsoft account and sync when the console is online and signed in. In Minecraft’s Manage Worlds area, check whether the particular world is marked cloud-synced, cloud-only, or local-only. A world that has not been played may remain local-only until it is backed up, so do not rely on a general assumption that every world is already in the cloud. Follow the current Xbox cloud-save guide before wiping or replacing the console.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What Microsoft sign-in does—and does not—transfer
Signing in with a Microsoft account can connect some Minecraft features across devices, but it is not a blanket world-migration or cross-platform game-license promise. Minecraft Help says signing in on Android or Apple devices can enable crossplay and access Marketplace content on other gaming platforms. On PlayStation, linking a Microsoft account provides access to non-exclusive Marketplace content purchased with that account on other game platforms; new PlayStation purchases use PlayStation Tokens. See the official mobile account sign-in guidance and PlayStation account-linking FAQ.
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Rank #4
Rank #3
- Minecraft is a game about placing blocks and going on adventures
- Explore randomly generated worlds and build amazing things from the simplest of homes to the grandest of castles
- Play in creative mode with unlimited resources or mine deep into the world in survival mode, crafting weapons and armor to fend off the dangerous mobs
- Play on the go in handheld or tabletop modes
- Includes Super Mario Mash-Up, Natural Texture Pack, Biome Settlers Skin Pack, Battle & Beasts Skin Pack, Campfire Tales Skin Pack; Compatible with Nintendo Switch only
Before you reset, sell, or erase the old device
- Confirm you can sign in to the account associated with the game purchase and know which platform store to use for reinstallation. Minecraft Help warns that purchases tied to Microsoft or platform accounts may be inaccessible if account sign-in details cannot be recovered.
- Confirm the exact world is present in the chosen backup, Realm, or cloud location—or export/copy it using the applicable platform guide.
- Keep the source device and original world intact until the destination copy opens successfully.
- If the destination is a different platform, verify that the game is available through that platform’s store and that you have the account required for that purchase before relying on access.
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.
