Minecraft Launcher

Name: Minecraft Launcher
Author: Mojang

Partly paid

Mojang

Category: Games
Version: 2.0.0.0
Manifest checked: 2026-10-23
Size: ~2 MB
Licence terms: Launcher is free · the game must be purchased
Supported OS: Windows 11 · 10
Install method: Automatic install supported
Developer: Mojang
Downloads via this site

Download Add to install list

This links to Mojang’s own download source. AfterFormat neither stores nor modifies installer files.

Check before installing

This installs the launcher. The game downloads afterwards.
Java Edition and Bedrock Edition are different. To play together you need the same edition.
Java Edition needs Java, but the launcher handles it. You do not install it separately.

What it is

The official launcher for the build-and-explore sandbox game. Released in 2011, it remains the best-selling game ever made, and its open-ended play suits a wide age range. The launcher is free; the game must be purchased.

When to pick this

If building and exploring suits you and you want a game to stay with. To hop between many short games instead, Roblox fits.

Details

Two editions

Java Edition and Bedrock (Unified) Edition. To play together you need the same edition, and mods require Java Edition.

No separate Java install

Java Edition needs Java, but the launcher provides it. You no longer install Java first as you once did.

Mods and servers

Java Edition has a large ecosystem of user-made mods and servers. Mods must match the game version, and mismatches can corrupt a world file.

After a reformat

Save the worlds folder — it is not on the account

Java Edition worlds are in %APPDATA%\.minecraft\saves; Bedrock worlds in %LOCALAPPDATA%\Packages\Microsoft.MinecraftUWP_8wekyb3d8bbwe\LocalState\games\com.mojang. Copy them before formatting or they are gone. Realms live on the server.

Mods, resource packs, shaders

They sit in mods, resourcepacks and shaderpacks inside .minecraft. Copy the whole folder along with the worlds. Mod loaders (Forge, Fabric) are reinstalled.