Here's the honest answer to how to get Minecraft for free: there is no permanent, legal free copy of modern Minecraft. What does exist is a set of official free routes you can use to play Minecraft for free — Java and Bedrock trials of about 100 minutes each, Minecraft Classic in your browser, and a Minecraft Education trial. Each is genuinely free and genuinely limited.
If you just want to start playing right now: go to minecraft.net's free trial page, grab the trial for your device, sign in with (or create) a Microsoft account, and launch. That's the whole setup. Everything below covers what each free option actually gets you, so you can pick the right one — or decide the full game (Standard Edition is $29.99 on the US site as of November 2026) is worth it. If you're specifically after a PC copy, I broke that down in what a free Minecraft PC download really means.
Every way to play Minecraft free, compared
| Option | What you get | Main limits |
|---|---|---|
| Java Edition trial | Modern Java Minecraft on Windows 10/11, macOS, Linux | ~5 in-game days (~100 minutes); no public multiplayer |
| Bedrock trials | Trial on Windows 10/11, PlayStation, Android | ~5 in-game days (~100 minutes); other platforms not listed |
| Minecraft Classic | An early version of Minecraft, free in your browser | Needs a keyboard and WebGL; not modern Minecraft |
| Minecraft Education | A free trial and sample lessons | The full game is licensed through schools |
| Game Pass | The Java & Bedrock PC bundle, included with a subscription | Paid, so not a free route |
Get Minecraft free with the official Java trial
The most complete way to play Minecraft free legally is the official Java Edition trial from minecraft.net/en-us/free-trial. It runs on Windows 10/11, macOS, and Linux (including Debian- and Arch-based distros).
How to start the trial
- Open the free trial page on minecraft.net and choose the download for your device.
- Sign in with a Microsoft account, or create one — it's required for the trial.
- Launch the game and start the trial world.
Trial limits you should know
- You get about five in-game days — roughly 100 minutes of playtime, though it can vary slightly by device.
- You can't join public multiplayer servers on the trial.
- LAN play is allowed, because the default trial name "Player" can't be changed.
For a deeper breakdown of exactly what the trial does and doesn't let you do, see our Minecraft free trial explained guide.
Bedrock Edition trials
As of 2026, the official trial page links Bedrock trials for Windows 10/11, PlayStation, and Android only — iOS/iPad, Switch, and Xbox are not listed there. The Bedrock trial runs about 100 minutes of in-game time (about five in-game days), the same as Java. First-timers also get pitched a 30-day Realms trial on the 10-user plan — but that's a trial of a paid hosting subscription, not a free copy of the game.
Play Minecraft free in your browser: Minecraft Classic
Minecraft Classic is free in the browser at classic.minecraft.net. You'll need a keyboard and a browser with WebGL, and it's a limited early version, not modern Minecraft. If you're curious, we've covered playing Minecraft Classic in your browser in detail. And if someone's pitched Eaglercraft to you as another browser option, here's whether Eaglercraft is safe.
Minecraft Education: free trial and sample lessons
You can start a free Minecraft Education trial or try its sample lessons, with installs for Windows, Chromebook or Android, Mac, and iPhone/iPad. The full game is licensed through schools, so it isn't automatically free for every student. More on eligibility in our Minecraft Education Edition free access guide.
Game Pass: included, but not free
As of November 2026, the Java & Bedrock bundle for PC is included with Game Pass Premium, PC Game Pass, and Ultimate. That's a handy way in if you already subscribe, but it's a paid subscription, not a free route. Tiers and lineups change, so check the Xbox site before you count on it, and see whether Minecraft is on Game Pass for the rest.
Quick FAQ
Is modern Minecraft ever fully free?
No. The full game costs money (Standard Edition is $29.99 on the US site as of November 2026 — check the store for your region). Everything free is a trial, a sample, or the browser Classic. Full answer in Is Minecraft free?
Can I play multiplayer on the free trial?
Not on public servers. LAN play is allowed.
What about cracked Minecraft or TLauncher?
That's not a free version of Minecraft, it's an unauthorized one. Malwarebytes flags TLauncher, a cracked Minecraft launcher, as a potentially unwanted program: it breaks Minecraft's EULA, it's considered illegal in most regions, and you risk getting adware or malware bundled in. I wouldn't trade a clean PC for skipping the trial. Here's what cracked Minecraft actually gets you, and what you give up. If it's TLauncher specifically, we've also looked at whether TLauncher is safe, and there are legitimate TLauncher alternatives worth a look.
Looking for a free voxel game you can keep?
If the trial timer running out stings, Folly is a free multiplayer voxel game, coming soon in early access — every player gets a permanent universe of their own and a portal into a shared hub of games and other players' worlds, no purchase required. Details in the Folly FAQ.