Is PojavLauncher safe? The launcher itself is open source and has a public track record on GitHub, but it's been discontinued: the maintainers archived the project on September 23, 2025, and its README points to a successor called Amethyst. The real danger these days isn't the code, it's the pile of lookalike websites and APK downloads that pop up when you search for it. If it didn't come from GitHub or the successor's own site, don't install it.
Checked in October 2026. If you're still choosing a launcher for a PC, my roundup of the best Minecraft launchers is the better starting point, and whether MultiMC is safe is the same kind of question for a desktop launcher.
What PojavLauncher is
PojavLauncher describes itself as a launcher that lets you play Minecraft: Java Edition on Android and iOS. It's based on Boardwalk, it's licensed under LGPLv3, and the README says it can launch a huge range of versions, from the earliest ones up to 1.21 snapshots, with Forge and Fabric modding supported.
- Open source. The code is public on GitHub under the PojavLauncherTeam name. The iOS code lives in a separate repo.
- Not official. It's a third-party tool. Mojang and Microsoft didn't make it.
- Not a way to get the game. It runs Java Edition. You still need to own it.
Open source means anyone can read the code. It doesn't mean it's been audited, and it doesn't mean the APK you found is built from that code. That second part is the whole problem below.
Is PojavLauncher discontinued?
Yes. The README now says PojavLauncher "has been discontinued and is no longer supported," and GitHub shows the repository archived by its owner on September 23, 2025, which makes it read-only. The last release, "Gladiolus," came out January 17, 2025.
The README names one successor: Amethyst, from AngelAuraMC. It's a fork of PojavLauncher, also LGPLv3, built for Java Edition on Android and iOS. Unlike the original it's still being worked on. As of late October 2026 its repo was still getting commits, and its latest tagged release was from July 2026.
Other forks exist, and plenty of Reddit threads argue about which is best. Amethyst is the one the original project itself points to, so that's the one I'd start with.
Where to download it without getting burned
This is the part the "is it safe" searches are really about. Search for the launcher and you'll get several websites that all look official, plus APK blogs titled things like "verified APK guide." Players on Reddit ask exactly this: which of these sites is the real one?
- GitHub is the only place you can check. The original repo is PojavLauncherTeam/PojavLauncher, and the successor is AngelAuraMC/Amethyst-Android (iOS is AngelAuraMC/Amethyst-iOS). Type those into GitHub yourself.
- Amethyst's README lists two ways to get it: the automatic builds on GitHub, or building it from source. AngelAuraMC's own site links its downloads page and wiki too.
- The Play Store is not the answer. The original dropped out of Google Play in January 2025 and the old Play link in the archived README is stale. If you see a listing with the Pojav name today, treat it as a clone.
- APK mirrors and "official" lookalike domains: skip them. A random site hosting an APK can hand you anything. Nobody can promise that file matches the open source code.
One more habit: if you sign in with your Microsoft account, only do it in a copy you got from the project's own GitHub or site, and turn on two-step verification on that account anyway.
Is PojavLauncher legal?
Here's the careful version. Minecraft's EULA says if you've bought Java Edition, you can play around with it and modify it with mods, tools or plugins, and that you can make tools as long as they don't look official or approved. It also says game downloads and updates should come from a source Mojang authorizes. The EULA doesn't name PojavLauncher, and Mojang hasn't said anything about it either way.
So the line I'd draw: using it with a copy of Java Edition you own is a launcher choice. Using it to play a game you didn't buy is piracy, and the launcher doesn't change that. PojavLauncher is not a free Minecraft. If free is what you're after, I've got a straight rundown of how to play Minecraft for free the legitimate way, and a look at what "cracked" Minecraft really means and what it costs you.
Also, make sure it's Java Edition you own, because that's what this launcher runs. If you're fuzzy on how it differs from Bedrock, I compared them in Minecraft Java vs Bedrock. If you came here because another launcher is promising free accounts, read is TLauncher safe first.
Will you get banned on Hypixel?
Short answer: Hypixel's published rules don't name PojavLauncher or any mobile launcher. Their Allowed Modifications page says all use of modifications on the server is at your own risk, and that anything that doesn't clearly fit an allowed category should be assumed disallowed. Allowed categories include things like performance, cosmetic and HUD changes. Disallowed includes anything that automates gameplay or changes how your client talks to the server. The page also says to get mods from the official source, because unofficial downloads can carry bugs, surprise features or malicious code.
The ban talk you've seen is players guessing. The Hypixel forum thread asking exactly this is from 2022, the replies contradict each other, and there's no staff ruling in it. I'd treat "you will get banned" and "it's totally fine" as equally unproven. What the rules do tell you: stay away from anything that gives you an edge, and don't run modified clients from random sources. For the server side of the question, see is Hypixel safe, and for clients Hypixel does allow, is Lunar Client safe.
How it runs on a phone
It's Java Edition on hardware that wasn't built for it, so expect to compromise. How well it goes depends mostly on your phone's chip and graphics driver, and newer Minecraft versions are heavier than older ones. Mods and shaders make it harder still. Try an older version first, and add things one at a time.
The quick safety checklist
- Get it from GitHub. Original repo for reference, Amethyst for something that's still maintained.
- Skip APK mirrors, lookalike sites and store clones.
- Own Java Edition. That's what makes it legit.
- Sign in only in the copy you downloaded yourself, and keep two-step verification on.
- Don't join servers with stuff that gives you an edge, and read a server's own rules before you play.
The honest verdict
Honestly?
PojavLauncher wasn't a scam. It was a well-known open source project, and the code is still readable on GitHub. But it's finished, and the sketchy search results around it are why I'd say don't go hunting for it. If you want Java on your phone and you own the game, start with Amethyst from GitHub. If you don't own the game yet, buy it, or use one of the legitimate free routes.
FAQ
Is PojavLauncher a virus?
The official project is open source, and nothing points to malware in the builds on its GitHub. The risk is downloading an APK from anywhere other than the project's GitHub, because you can't know what's inside it.
Is PojavLauncher safe in 2026?
It's discontinued and archived, so it won't get fixes. Amethyst, the successor the README names, is still active as of October 2026.
Is PojavLauncher banned from the Play Store?
It dropped out of Google Play in January 2025 and isn't something I'd look for there now.
Is PojavLauncher free?
The launcher is free and open source. Minecraft: Java Edition isn't, and you need to own it.