Back up your worlds before uninstalling Minecraft. The correct procedure depends on whether you use Java Edition, Bedrock Edition, the Minecraft Launcher, Windows, a console, or a mobile device. Uninstall only the component causing the problem, reinstall it from the official store or Minecraft download page, then sign in with the account that owns the game.
Quick answer
- Identify whether the problem affects the Launcher, Java Edition, Bedrock Edition, one world, or your account.
- Back up or export important worlds and record your mods and add-ons.
- Confirm which account purchased Minecraft.
- Repair the app first when that option is available.
- Uninstall only the relevant Minecraft app or game installation.
- Restart the device.
- Reinstall from the official Minecraft site or your platform’s store.
- Sign in with the same licensed account, restore worlds, and test them before deleting backups.
Uninstalling Minecraft does not have one universal result. Removing the Windows Launcher, deleting Java’s .minecraft folder, deleting a console game, and deleting mobile app data are different actions.
Minecraft Support recommends backing up worlds and save data before a fresh installation, and treats reinstalling as a later troubleshooting step rather than the first response to every crash or error. See the guidance for crashes and lag and P2P and installation troubleshooting.
Should you uninstall Minecraft?
Not always. First identify the failure:
- Game crash: update Minecraft, the operating system, and graphics drivers where applicable; then test without mods or add-ons.
- Launcher crash: repair or reinstall the Launcher, but back up Java worlds first.
- Microsoft Store error: check the Store account, restart Windows, and reset the Store cache before removing the game.
- Sign-in or license error: verify the Microsoft, Xbox, console, or mobile account. Reinstalling cannot correct ownership on the wrong account.
- Mod or add-on problem: disable or remove the modification before reinstalling. Restoring it immediately may reproduce the crash.
- One damaged world: test a new world. If only one world fails, the installation may be healthy and the world may need a backup or recovery procedure.
- Network, server, or service problem: reinstalling local files will not repair an outage, DNS problem, multiplayer restriction, or server-side issue.
A sensible order is: restart Minecraft and the device, sign out and back in, update software, disable mods or add-ons, repair or reset the Windows app, use the Xbox Gaming Services Repair Tool on Windows, back up worlds, and only then uninstall and reinstall.
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Before uninstalling: protect your worlds and account
1. Confirm the account that owns Minecraft
On Windows and Java Edition, Minecraft access is normally tied to the Microsoft account that owns the license. On consoles and mobile, the platform account controls the purchase, while a Microsoft account may also be used for Realms, Marketplace content, multiplayer, and cross-platform features. Review Minecraft’s account requirements by platform.
On Windows, check that the same Microsoft account is used in the Microsoft Store, Xbox app, and Minecraft Launcher. Minecraft’s Launcher troubleshooting guidance specifically warns that mismatched accounts can make a valid purchase appear unavailable.
If Minecraft asks you to pay again, stop. Sign out, restart the Store and Launcher, and sign in with the account that originally purchased or claimed the game. Do not buy a second copy until ownership has been verified.
2. Back up worlds outside the Minecraft folder
Do not assume that uninstalling preserves local saves or that cloud synchronization protects every world. Copy or export important worlds to a separate computer, external drive, or cloud-storage folder, and keep that backup until you have opened a restored copy successfully.
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Backups can be incomplete if made while the game is running. Close Minecraft before copying files when using a file-based backup, and test the backup before deleting the original. Java backups belong in Java Edition; Bedrock worlds require a Bedrock-compatible export or transfer.
3. Record modifications and storage requirements
- Write down the Java version, mod loader, mods, shaders, resource packs, and custom installations.
- Record Bedrock add-ons, behavior packs, resource packs, and Marketplace content.
- Check that the device has enough free space for the game, updates, assets, and restored worlds.
- Do not store your only backup inside
.minecraft, an app-data folder, or the game’s installation directory.
What exactly are you uninstalling?
On Windows, “Minecraft” may refer to several separate components:
- Minecraft Launcher: the program used to manage and start Minecraft installations.
- Minecraft for Windows: generally the Bedrock application.
- Java Edition files: worlds, versions, logs, settings, mods, and other data in the Java game directory.
- Microsoft Store, Xbox, and Gaming Services components: dependencies that can cause installation or launch failures.
- User-created files: mods, mod loaders, shaders, resource packs, add-ons, screenshots, and configuration files.
Uninstalling the Launcher is not the same as deleting all Java or Bedrock data. Conversely, manually deleting .minecraft or Bedrock storage is a deeper, potentially destructive cleanup step—not a normal first reinstall instruction.
Windows 10 and Windows 11
Repair or reset Minecraft first
For a Windows app that supports these controls:
- Open Start > Settings > Apps > Installed apps.
- Find the relevant Minecraft app.
- Select its More button, then choose Advanced options.
- Select Repair.
- If Repair does not help, choose Reset.
Microsoft notes that not every desktop app exposes Repair or Reset. Reset can remove app data, so make sure worlds and other important files are backed up first. See Microsoft’s guidance for repairing apps that cannot be installed or removed.
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Uninstall Minecraft Launcher
- Open Start > Settings > Apps > Installed apps.
- Search for Minecraft Launcher.
- Select the More button next to it.
- Choose Uninstall and follow the prompts.
- Restart Windows.
You can also open Start > All apps, right-click Minecraft Launcher, and select Uninstall. This follows Microsoft’s general Windows uninstall procedure.
Minecraft Support’s Launcher recovery sequence is to back up worlds, uninstall the Launcher, restart if necessary, and download it again from the official Launcher recovery guidance.
Reinstall on Windows
- Download the Launcher from Minecraft’s official download page, or install it through the Microsoft Store.
- Open the Launcher.
- Sign in with the Microsoft account that owns Minecraft.
- Select Minecraft: Java Edition or Minecraft for Windows.
- Install the desired edition.
- Start the game once, then close it.
- Restore your backed-up worlds.
- Launch again and test a restored world before deleting the backup.
Java and Bedrock are separate editions. Installing one does not automatically convert or make the other edition’s worlds interchangeable.
If Microsoft Store will not install Minecraft
Reset the Store cache:
- Press
Windows key + R. - Enter
wsreset.exe. - Press Enter and wait for Microsoft Store to reopen.
- Try the installation again.
Microsoft documents wsreset.exe in its guidance for apps that cannot be found or installed from Microsoft Store. Also verify the Store account, Xbox account, Launcher account, Windows updates, region availability, device compatibility, and free storage.
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Java Edition: back up and restore worlds
Use Java’s backup-folder option
- Open Java Edition.
- Select Singleplayer.
- Select the world.
- Select Edit.
- Select Open Backups Folder.
- Copy the backup somewhere outside the Minecraft folder.
Minecraft Support documents this process in its guide to Java Edition data and game storage.
Copy the complete saves folder
You can also copy the entire Java saves directory. The standard locations are:
Windows:
%appdata%.minecraftsavesmacOS:
~/Library/Application Support/minecraft/savesThese locations are documented in Minecraft’s Java world-transfer instructions. Copy each world folder as a complete unit. Do not copy isolated files unless you understand their purpose.
Restore a Java world after reinstalling
- Start Java Edition once so it creates its folders.
- Close the game and Launcher.
- Open the new installation’s
savesfolder. - Copy the backed-up world folder into
saves. - Open Java Edition and select Singleplayer.
- Confirm that the world appears.
- Check your inventory, builds, player position, advancements, and loaded areas.
If your backup is an archive, unzip it first and move the extracted world folder—not merely the outer archive—into saves. A modded world may also require the same mod loader, mods, resource packs, or compatible game version.
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Deleting the entire .minecraft folder should be reserved for an advanced cleanup after a verified backup. It can remove worlds, screenshots, settings, installed versions, mods, and other local data.
Bedrock Edition: use a platform-specific backup
Bedrock save storage varies by platform and installation type. Do not use a Java folder path for Bedrock, and do not publish or rely on one universal Bedrock directory.
Windows Bedrock
Use Minecraft’s in-game export or backup workflow where available. Bedrock’s internal storage paths and access permissions can vary between Windows versions and installation types, so avoid deleting internal app-storage folders as a routine step. Start the game once after reinstalling, then import or restore a verified Bedrock-compatible backup.
Android
Minecraft Support documents this location when Bedrock’s storage setting is External:
Android/data/com.mojang.minecraftpe/files/games/com.mojang/minecraftWorlds- Connect the Android device to a computer using USB.
- Choose File Transfer or MTP on the phone.
- Browse to the path above.
- Copy the
minecraftWorldsfolder, or individual world folders, to the computer.
On newer Android versions, access to application-specific folders may be restricted. If the world is stored in the app-specific location rather than External storage, direct copying may not be available. Minecraft Support points readers toward Realms as a possible transfer method in that situation; Realms is optional and does not automatically prove that every local world has been preserved.
iPhone and iPad
Treat iOS as a platform-managed app. Export or back up important worlds before deleting Minecraft, then reinstall it from the App Store using the same Apple account. Sign in to the same Microsoft account if you use Realms, Marketplace purchases, multiplayer, or cross-platform features. Because iOS storage and menu labels can change, use the current Minecraft Support instructions rather than deleting app data manually.
Realms as an optional transfer method
Realms can be useful when normal local-file access is difficult, particularly for supported Bedrock devices. Upload the specific world and confirm that it is present before uninstalling. Do not treat Realms as a guarantee that every local world is automatically backed up, and do not purchase it solely for a routine reinstall unless you need its transfer or hosted-world features. See the official Realms page.
Xbox
- Back up or verify the availability of important worlds before removing the game.
- Open the Xbox storage or game-management menu.
- Uninstall the installed Minecraft game, not saved data unless you have a confirmed backup.
- Restart the console.
- Redownload Minecraft from the Xbox library or store using the same account that owns it.
- Sign in with the same Microsoft account used for Minecraft services.
- Allow updates to finish before testing a world.
Exact Xbox menu labels can vary with system software. The stable rule is to distinguish deleting the installed software from deleting saved data.
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- Designed to work with Windows or Mac computers, this external hard drive makes backup a snap just drag and drop
- To get set up, connect the portable hard drive to a computer for automatic recognition no software required
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PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5
- Verify your world backup or cloud-save situation first.
- Use the console’s game-management or storage menu to delete the Minecraft application.
- Do not delete Minecraft saved data unless the backup is confirmed.
- Redownload Minecraft from the PlayStation library or store under the same PlayStation Network account that purchased it.
- Start Minecraft and sign into the same Microsoft account if you use Realms, Marketplace content, multiplayer, or cross-platform play.
PlayStation system menus change over time, so follow the labels shown by your console. Deleting the game application and deleting its saved data are separate choices.
Nintendo Switch
Archive or delete Minecraft
- From the HOME Menu, open System Settings.
- Select Data Management.
- Select Manage Software.
- Select Minecraft.
- Choose Archive Software or Delete Software.
Nintendo says archiving or deleting downloadable software does not delete save data. Archived software can be redownloaded from its HOME Menu icon. Deleted software can be redownloaded using the Nintendo Account that purchased it. See Nintendo’s guidance on deleting or archiving software and redownloading software.
Important Switch warning
Do not initialize the entire console while trying to reinstall Minecraft. A factory reset can remove software, save data, screenshots, and user information. Nintendo describes initialization separately in its console reset guidance.
After reinstalling, use the same Nintendo Account that purchased Minecraft and sign in to the same Microsoft account for cross-platform services.
Mobile devices
On Android and iPhone/iPad, delete the Minecraft app only after exporting or backing up important worlds. Reinstall it through Google Play or the App Store using the original platform account. Then sign in to the same Microsoft account for Realms, Marketplace content, and multiplayer.
Mobile cloud backups and app-storage behavior vary by operating system and Minecraft storage setting. Never assume that deleting the app preserves a local world. On Android, use the External-storage path documented above when applicable; on iOS, use a current supported export or transfer method rather than improvising a private app-data path.
After reinstalling: restore and test safely
- Start the newly installed edition once before copying anything back.
- Install updates and wait for all platform services to finish syncing.
- Restore only a verified backup that belongs to the same edition.
- Test a new world first. This helps distinguish an installation problem from a damaged existing world.
- Open a restored world and check inventory, structures, player position, advancements, add-ons, and resource packs.
- Reintroduce mods, shaders, or add-ons one at a time rather than restoring everything at once.
- Keep the original backup until the restored world has been tested across more than one launch.
If reinstalling did not fix Minecraft
When the game still crashes
- Test a new world. If only one world crashes, investigate that world rather than repeatedly reinstalling.
- Disable every mod, shader, resource pack, and Bedrock add-on.
- Check that the mod loader and mods match the installed Java version.
- Update the operating system and Minecraft.
- Check free storage and device compatibility.
When the Launcher or Store still fails on Windows
- Sign out of the Launcher, Xbox app, and Microsoft Store.
- Restart Windows.
- Sign back into all three using the same licensed Microsoft account.
- Run
wsreset.exeto reset the Microsoft Store cache. - Use Settings > Apps > Installed apps > Minecraft > Advanced options > Repair, then Reset only after confirming backups.
- Use the Xbox Gaming Services Repair Tool if Gaming Services is preventing installation or launch.
- Check Windows updates, region availability, compatibility, and free storage.
When the error is account, network, or service-related
Reinstallation will not solve a wrong account, missing entitlement, Store-region issue, Xbox service outage, DNS or network problem, server-side problem, multiplayer permission restriction, or ban. Confirm the account and service status before removing more files.
If the issue remains, contact Minecraft Support with the exact error code, edition, platform, operating-system version, account symptoms, and the steps already attempted. Do not send passwords or recovery codes.
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Important account note: Mojang migration is not a current fix
The Mojang-to-Microsoft account migration period ended on December 18, 2023. Do not follow old advice telling you to migrate an old Mojang account as the solution to a current Launcher or license problem. Use the Microsoft account associated with your Minecraft purchase and consult the official migration information if an old-account issue is specifically involved.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will uninstalling Minecraft delete my worlds?
It depends on the edition, platform, storage location, and whether saved data is deleted separately. Back up or export important worlds before uninstalling. Java worlds are local in the saves folder; Bedrock and console storage are platform-specific.
Do I have to buy Minecraft again after reinstalling?
No, not when you reinstall through the account that owns the license or entitlement. If the Store or Launcher asks you to pay again, stop and verify the Microsoft, console, or mobile account used for the original purchase.
Is uninstalling the Minecraft Launcher enough?
It can fix a damaged Launcher, but it does not necessarily remove Java worlds, Bedrock data, mods, or other local files. Do not delete those folders unless you have a verified backup and specifically need a deeper cleanup.
Can I reinstall Java Edition and Bedrock Edition separately?
Yes. On Windows, Minecraft: Java Edition and Minecraft for Windows are separate editions managed through the Launcher. Their worlds are not automatically interchangeable.
How do I restore a Java world?
Start Java Edition once, close it, then copy the complete backed-up world folder into the new %appdata%\.minecraft\saves folder on Windows or ~/Library/Application Support/minecraft/saves on macOS. Reopen Java Edition and test the world.
Can I recover a deleted Bedrock world?
Only if a platform backup, exported world, cloud backup, or confirmed Realm copy exists. Do not assume reinstalling recreates a deleted local Bedrock world.
Does deleting Minecraft on Switch delete saves?
Nintendo distinguishes software deletion from save-data deletion. Archiving or deleting downloadable software does not delete save data, but initializing the entire console can remove saves and other data.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsWhy does Minecraft still crash after reinstalling?
The cause may be a mod, add-on, damaged world, account problem, service outage, network issue, incompatible device, or restored configuration. Test a new world without modifications before reinstalling again.
What if Microsoft Store says I do not own Minecraft?
Sign out of Microsoft Store, Xbox, and the Launcher, restart Windows, and sign in with the Microsoft account that purchased or claimed Minecraft. Check region, subscription, updates, and entitlement before buying anything.
The Bottom Line
Back up first, uninstall the correct component, reinstall from the official store or Minecraft download page, and sign in with the original purchasing account. Treat Java, Bedrock, consoles, and mobile devices differently—especially when handling local worlds and saved data.
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