The correct update method depends on which Minecraft version you use: update Java Edition through the official Minecraft Launcher by selecting Latest Release; update Minecraft for Windows (Bedrock Edition) through Microsoft Store → Library → Check for updates; and update the Minecraft Launcher from Settings → About.
First, identify your Minecraft edition
| What you see | What it is | Where to update it |
|---|---|---|
| Minecraft: Java Edition in the Launcher | Java Edition | Launcher version selector → Latest Release |
| Minecraft for Windows | Bedrock Edition | Microsoft Store → Library → Check for updates |
| Minecraft Launcher | The PC launcher application | Launcher Settings → About, or Microsoft Store if installed there |
Minecraft for PC includes Java Edition and Bedrock Edition for Windows, but they use different update systems and versioning. Bedrock is the Windows edition intended for cross-platform play, while Java is launched and version-selected through the official Launcher. See Minecraft’s Java and Bedrock comparison.
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How to update Minecraft: Java Edition
- Close any running Minecraft game.
- Open the official Minecraft Launcher and sign in with the Microsoft account associated with your purchase.
- Select Minecraft: Java Edition.
- Use the installation or version selector beside the Play button.
- Choose Latest Release. Do not choose an old numbered release, snapshot, custom installation, or mod-loader profile unless you specifically need it.
- Select Play and wait while the Launcher downloads the required files.
Opening the Launcher does not necessarily mean Java has selected the newest game release. The profile chosen in the version selector determines what launches. For ordinary play, Latest Release is the safest default. Minecraft’s official update instructions also direct Java players to select this option when it is not already selected.
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A snapshot is a testing version, not the normal stable release. Minecraft warns that snapshots can damage or corrupt worlds, so back up important saves and use a separate test world before trying one. Keep separate Launcher profiles for a current vanilla release, a modded installation, and snapshots.
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You may deliberately keep an older Java version if a server or mod requires it. That is a compatibility choice, not an update to the newest release.
How to update Minecraft for Windows (Bedrock Edition)
- Select Start and open Microsoft Store.
- Select Library.
- Select Check for updates.
- If Minecraft for Windows appears, select its update or download control, or allow the Store to complete it automatically.
- Wait until the download and installation finish.
- Launch Minecraft for Windows again.
Microsoft’s current wording is Check for updates. Some older Minecraft instructions use Get Updated, Get updates, or similar wording. These labels refer to the Store’s update check and may vary by Windows or Microsoft Store interface version. Microsoft’s current instructions are available on its page for updating Microsoft Store apps and games.
Make sure Microsoft Store is signed in with the Microsoft account that owns the game or has the relevant entitlement. A wrong account can make Minecraft appear unavailable, missing, or ready to purchase again.
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- Open the Minecraft Launcher.
- Open Settings.
- Select About.
- Install any Launcher update shown there.
The Launcher and the Minecraft game versions are separate. A current Launcher does not guarantee that Java is launching the newest release: return to the Java Edition version selector and confirm that Latest Release is selected. For the official download and Launcher guidance, use Minecraft’s download page.
How to enable automatic updates
- Open Microsoft Store.
- Select your profile or account picture.
- Select Store settings.
- Turn on App updates.
Automatic updates are convenient, but they may not install immediately when a new Minecraft release becomes available. Microsoft also notes that some publishers manage updates through their own applications. For Bedrock, manually selecting Library → Check for updates is the quickest way to look for an update. Java updates remain tied to the Launcher’s selected installation and release profile.
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How to confirm that Minecraft updated
- Java Edition: Reopen the Launcher and check that the selected profile says Latest Release or shows the current release identifier supplied by the Launcher.
- Bedrock Edition: Check Microsoft Store’s Library for a pending Minecraft update, then start Minecraft for Windows and inspect the title-screen version information if it is displayed.
- Launcher: Open Settings → About and check whether an update remains available.
- Multiplayer: Connect to the intended Realm or server. A connection failure may indicate a version mismatch rather than a failed installation.
Java and Bedrock have separate versioning, so their version numbers should not be expected to match exactly even when they receive the same major content update.
Minecraft will not update: troubleshooting steps
Use this escalation order rather than immediately deleting folders or reinstalling the game:
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- Close and reopen Minecraft, the Launcher, and Microsoft Store. A download may still be processing in the background.
- Check the correct channel. Java updates through the Launcher; Minecraft for Windows updates through Microsoft Store.
- Run the Store check again. Open Library → Check for updates.
- Verify the Microsoft account. It must be the account associated with the purchase or entitlement.
- Restart Windows. This can release a Store download or app installation that is stuck.
- Check Windows Update, internet access, disk space, and pending restarts.
- Update Microsoft Store itself. Microsoft’s Store troubleshooting guidance recommends checking for Store and Windows updates.
- Repair the affected app. In Windows app settings, open the Minecraft Launcher or Microsoft Store entry and use Repair when available.
- Use Reset cautiously. Reset can remove app-local settings, so record custom Launcher settings and back up important worlds before using it.
- Reinstall only as a final step. Download the official Launcher from Minecraft.net or Microsoft Store, then sign in with the correct account.
Microsoft’s full guidance covers Store update checks, Windows updates, and the Repair, Reset, and reinstall options: fixing problems with Microsoft Store apps.
If Microsoft Store says “Pending”
- Confirm that the connection is working.
- Pause and resume the download.
- Restart Microsoft Store and then restart Windows.
- Check available storage.
- Install pending Windows updates.
- Sign out of Microsoft Store and sign back in if authorization appears to be the problem.
Avoid repeatedly deleting Minecraft folders before confirming that worlds and saves are backed up.
If Java starts an older version
Open the Java Edition installation selector and choose Latest Release. An old release, snapshot, custom installation, mod-loader profile, or third-party launcher can intentionally keep Java on an older version. If you use mods, verify that the loader and every mod supports the release before switching.
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If the Launcher will not open
- Restart Windows.
- Update Microsoft Store and Windows.
- Open the Launcher’s Windows app settings and choose Repair, if available.
- Try Reset only after accounting for possible loss of app-local settings.
- Reinstall the official Launcher from Minecraft.net or Microsoft Store.
Mods, resource packs, Realms, and servers
A vanilla Java update is usually simple; a modded installation is not. New releases can make mods, shaders, resource packs, and mod loaders incompatible. Back up worlds before updating a heavily modded installation, and keep modded profiles separate from the current vanilla profile.
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Multiplayer can also require a specific version. A server may remain on an older Java release, a modded server may require a particular loader, or a Realm may update independently. If the newest version prevents you from joining, check the server or Realm’s required version before changing profiles again.
Java and Bedrock are not automatically interchangeable for multiplayer. Java cross-play is generally among Java players on Windows, macOS, and Linux, while Bedrock supports cross-platform play with Windows, Xbox, Switch, PlayStation, and mobile platforms. Bedrock’s cross-platform support does not mean Java and Bedrock can freely join the same worlds or servers in every configuration. See Minecraft’s edition comparison.
Do you need to buy Minecraft again?
No separate updater or paid utility is required. If you reinstall the Launcher or move to another Windows PC, sign in with the same Microsoft account used for the original purchase. Minecraft’s official PC product information explains that an eligible previous PC purchase should appear in the account’s library when the correct account is used: Minecraft Java & Bedrock Edition for PC.
This does not mean that every purchase transfers across every platform; entitlements depend on the account and platform terms. If the game appears to require another purchase, verify the account before buying anything.
Windows 10 and Windows 11 considerations
Minecraft for Windows supports Windows 10 and Windows 11, subject to the current system requirements. Minecraft’s PC product page lists Windows 10 version 19041.0 or higher for the Windows edition. Microsoft ended free Windows 10 software updates, technical assistance, and security fixes after October 14, 2025. That cutoff does not by itself prove that every Minecraft build stopped working on Windows 10 immediately; compatibility depends on the edition, Windows build, and current requirements.
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