Yes, you can play Minecraft on Chromebook, and it's the official game. Since June 7, 2023 you've been able to buy Minecraft: Bedrock Edition for Chromebook from the Google Play Store. That's the same Bedrock you get on consoles and phones: cross-play with Xbox, PlayStation, Switch, iOS, Android and Windows, plus Realms and the Marketplace. It isn't free (it launched at $19.99), and it needs a reasonably recent Chromebook that can run Play Store apps.
There are three other routes. Schools can run Minecraft Education on Chromebooks with a licence. Java Edition can be squeezed onto ChromeOS through Linux, but that's unofficial and only works if you already own Java. If you want something genuinely free, you've got Minecraft Classic in the browser and Luanti, a free open-source block game with an official Play Store app. Here's what each one really involves.
Every way to play Minecraft on a Chromebook
| Route | Cost | What you need | Official? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bedrock Edition for Chromebook | Paid ($19.99 at the 2023 launch) | A supported Chromebook with the Play Store | Yes |
| Minecraft Education | Licence, usually paid by a school | A Minecraft Education licence | Yes |
| Java Edition via Linux | A paid Java Edition licence | Linux enabled on your Chromebook, a Microsoft account | No, unsupported workaround |
| Minecraft Classic | Free | The Chrome browser | Yes |
| Luanti (not Minecraft) | Free | Play Store access | Official Luanti app |
Minecraft for Chromebook: the official Bedrock version
This is the one most people want. It went into early access on select Chromebook models in March 2023, then got a full release on June 7, 2023. It's normal Bedrock, so your Chromebook can join friends on Xbox, Switch or a phone. Cross-play needs a Microsoft account, though.
What it costs
At launch it cost $19.99. If you already owned Minecraft for Android, you got a discounted $13 price. That's how it worked in 2023. Prices bounce around and deals change, so check the Play Store listing for today's price before you assume the Android discount still applies.
Will your Chromebook run it?
Older Chromebooks get left out. At launch, the support line was roughly Chromebooks from the previous three years, and Mojang keeps an exact list of supported hardware. Rule of thumb: a Chromebook from the last few years that can install apps from the Play Store has a decent chance. Anything older, or anything without Play Store support, probably won't make it. Check your model against Mojang's Chromebook system requirements before you pay.
How to get Minecraft on Chromebook
- Open the Google Play Store on your Chromebook.
- Search for Minecraft and open the full game's listing. Minecraft Education is a different app.
- Buy it and install it like any other Android app.
- Sign in with a Microsoft account if you want cross-play.
If the full game doesn't show up as something you can install, check the requirements page above first. If it's a school or work Chromebook, read the school section below.
Minecraft Education on Chromebooks
Minecraft Education has run on Chromebooks since August 2020, and Mojang pitches it to schools for grades K–12. It isn't the consumer game with a different logo. It's a separate edition, and every user needs a Minecraft Education licence. Schools usually buy these as yearly subscriptions. On a managed Chromebook, you can sign in with your school's Google account if your school has set that up.
Anyone can buy a licence, not just schools, but don't think of it as a free personal copy. When it came to Chromebooks in 2020, Microsoft capped the free trial by logins: 25 for teachers and 10 for students. Once those are gone, they're gone. If your school already pays for it, it's effectively free to you. Otherwise someone's paying. My guide to who actually gets Minecraft Education free covers the full licensing picture.
Java Edition on ChromeOS through Linux
Want Java mods and Java servers? It can be done, but it's a project. The Minecraft Wiki's Java Edition on ChromeOS tutorial says plainly that the method isn't supported by Mojang or by the wiki itself. Here's the short version:
- Turn on ChromeOS's Linux development environment, which is a small Linux virtual machine.
- Inside it, install the official Minecraft Launcher's Debian build, or a third-party launcher such as Prism Launcher, MultiMC or Modrinth's.
- Sign in with a Microsoft account that owns Java Edition. The licence is a separate paid purchase. Linux doesn't make it free.
Your Chromebook also has to support Linux at all, and on a school-managed device the admin may have it switched off. If you're comfortable in a terminal and already own Java, follow the wiki step by step. If you're not, I'd buy the Play Store version instead. It just works, and you skip an evening of troubleshooting.
Minecraft for Chromebook free: the options that are real
There's no free permanent copy of modern Minecraft, on Chromebook or anywhere else. Any download that promises one is a red flag. These are the free routes that actually work on ChromeOS.
Minecraft Classic in Chrome
Mojang's Minecraft Classic runs free at classic.minecraft.net, right in the Chrome browser, with normal WASD controls. Nothing to install. It's the old Classic version, though, not modern Minecraft. Expect a fun half-hour of history, not a new main game. My guide to Minecraft Classic in your browser covers what's in it.
Luanti from the Play Store
Luanti (it used to be called Minetest) is a free, open-source voxel game. It has an official Android app on Google Play, and that app installs on a Play Store–enabled Chromebook like any other Android app. Get the official Luanti listing from the developer "Luanti", not a lookalike. Luanti's own docs warn that unofficial builds on app stores can come loaded with adverts or spyware. It isn't Minecraft, but it's the closest free thing you can install.
Free block games in the browser
If your Chromebook can't install apps at all, browser games are what you've got. I've rounded up the best free browser block games. For every legit free route on other devices too, see how to play Minecraft for free and my Minecraft free trial explainer.
How to play Minecraft on a school Chromebook
Straight answer: usually through your school, or not at all. Google's own help pages say that on a work or school Chromebook you might not be able to add the Play Store or download Android apps, because your administrator controls that. If Minecraft won't install on a school Chromebook, suspect that first. It's a policy setting, not a fault with the laptop.
Your best bet is to ask a teacher or your school's IT team whether the school has Minecraft Education. If it's set up for you, it's free to you. If the answer's no, play Minecraft Classic in the browser on your own time, or play the full game on a personal device.
Minecraft on Chromebook FAQ
Can you play Minecraft on Chromebook?
Yes. You can play Bedrock Edition on Chromebook through the Google Play Store, and it's been out officially since June 2023. You need a supported model with Play Store access.
Do I have to buy Minecraft again for Chromebook?
Yes. The Chromebook version is its own Play Store purchase. At the 2023 launch, people who already owned Minecraft for Android got it for $13 instead of $19.99. Check the Play Store to see whether that discount still applies to you.
Why is my Chromebook not compatible with Minecraft?
Usually one of two things. Either the model is too old or isn't on Mojang's supported list, or it's a managed school or work device where the admin has blocked Play Store installs. Mojang's requirements page settles the first one. Your IT department is the only fix for the second.
How do I download Minecraft for free in Chrome?
You can't download the full game for free. But Minecraft Classic plays free in a Chrome tab at classic.minecraft.net with no download at all, and Luanti is a free install from the Play Store.