There is no official way to get the full version of Minecraft for free, but you can legally try it without paying in several ways. Mojang offers a trial for both Java and Bedrock, the original Minecraft Classic in your browser and the Minecraft Education demo. On top of that there is Game Pass, which saves you buying the game, and a free month of Realms. Here is what each option gives you, where the limits are and why to stay away from unofficial versions. Status as of 19 October 2026.
The official free trial
Mojang runs an official trial for both editions. The Java trial runs on Windows, Mac and Linux, the Bedrock trial on Windows 10 and 11, PlayStation and Android. There is no official trial on other devices.
What the trial gives you:
- the full base game in Survival mode,
- about 100 minutes of play, roughly 5 in-game days (the length varies slightly by device),
- offline play and LAN play.
You cannot join online servers in the trial, and the player name “Player” cannot be changed. How to start:
- Open the minecraft.net free trial page and pick your platform.
- Download the trial.
- Sign in with a Microsoft account. Minecraft does not start without one, not even the trial.
- Play. When your time runs out, you can buy the game.
Not sure which edition to try? Our Java vs Bedrock guide explains the differences.
Minecraft Classic in your browser
For the game’s 10th anniversary in 2019, Mojang released Minecraft Classic, the version from 2009. You play it for free right in your browser at classic.minecraft.net without installing anything.
It is a piece of history, not today’s Minecraft. It has just 32 blocks and keeps the original bugs. You need a keyboard and a browser that supports WebGL and WebRTC.
Minecraft Education: the free demo
Minecraft Education is the version made for teaching and it runs on Windows, Mac, Chromebook and iPad. Its Demo with sample lessons is free for anyone and needs no account. It has limits, though: it does not save your world or progress, there is no multiplayer and you cannot create your own worlds. Details are on the Education support page.
Full trial access is only for users with an academically verified Microsoft Entra ID account (Office 365 or Microsoft 365 Education), and only for a limited number of logins. After that, Education is paid. Schools buy licences directly for $5.04 per user per year; families, homeschoolers and clubs use a commercial licence for $36 per user per year through the Microsoft 365 Admin Center (prices from the licensing page as of 19 October 2026).
Game Pass: no purchase, but not free
Minecraft: Java & Bedrock Edition for PC is included in PC Game Pass and Game Pass Ultimate on Windows 10 and 11. You do not have to buy the game, but you do pay for the subscription. The bonus is that you get both editions and can play with anyone by launching the one your friends use.
What else in Minecraft is free
- The second edition on PC: anyone who owns Java or Bedrock on PC has had the other edition for free since 7 June 2022. Both are in the Java & Bedrock bundle.
- Server software: the official server for Java and Bedrock is a free download. To play on a server, though, you need the full game; the trial does not allow servers. The steps are in our server setup guide.
- A month of Realms: new Realms subscribers get the first month free. After that the subscription renews automatically until you cancel, so keep an eye on it.
Minecraft Pi Edition for Raspberry Pi is no longer updated by Mojang or Microsoft.
What the full game costs
On PC you buy the Minecraft: Java & Bedrock Edition for PC bundle. Check the current price for your country in the Microsoft Store or on the official store page on minecraft.net. On consoles and phones you play Bedrock, which supports crossplay between devices. What runs where is covered in our crossplay guide.
What is not legal
Online you will come across “cracked” versions and unofficial APKs promising the full Minecraft for free. They are not official, and Mojang provides neither support nor parental controls for them. The legal routes are the ones above: the trial, Classic, the Education demo, Game Pass and buying the game.
This matters for parents too: parental controls only work in versions from 1.16.4 onwards and not in modded versions, which is why Mojang recommends keeping the game up to date. More in our parents guide.
Join our Discord and we will help you decide whether to start with the trial or buy straight away: GamersTogether Discord.
FAQ
The full game is not free. You can legally play the official trial, Minecraft Classic in your browser and the Minecraft Education demo for free. The full game is sold as the Java & Bedrock bundle on PC.
About 100 minutes of play, roughly 5 in-game days. The length varies slightly by device.
The Java trial is on Windows, Mac and Linux; the Bedrock trial on Windows 10 and 11, PlayStation and Android. There is no official trial on other devices.
Over LAN, yes, but you cannot join online servers in the trial. For servers you need the full game.
Yes. Minecraft: Java & Bedrock Edition for PC is part of PC Game Pass and Game Pass Ultimate on Windows 10 and 11. It is not free; you pay for the subscription instead of buying the game.
Information verified on 19 October 2026. More guides are waiting in our Minecraft section.