How to play Minecraft for free

Minecraft is far from the most expensive game on the market. However, $20 is $20, especially for new players who may want to try the game before buying it at full price. We have created this guide to help you play the game for free.

In this article, we will share several ways to download Minecraft for free on mobile devices, Windows and Mac computers. Additionally, we will explain how to create a Minecraft account and play the game with friends on a local or external server.

How to play Minecraft for free?

Instructions for playing the free version of Minecraft differ significantly depending on your device's operating system – find a suitable guide below.

iPhone

Unfortunately, it is not possible to download the official version of Minecraft on an iPhone for free. There are many websites that offer Minecraft Pocket Edition free download for iPhone, but we can't recommend any particular option. There is always a risk of catching a virus when installing pirated games, and you should be aware of the consequences. However, a free version of the game is available for Windows and Mac computers. If you have a PC or laptop running one of these operating systems, find instructions for installing free Minecraft below.

Android

A free trial of Minecraft Pocket Edition is available for Android users. Follow the steps below to claim it:

1. Visit the official Minecraft site and click the Android icon. You will then be redirected to Google Play.
2. Click "Install" and wait for the game to download.
3. Open the game on your phone and register or login to an existing account to start playing.

The free trial only lasts 90 minutes, but there is a way to extend it indefinitely. Here's how:

1. Stop playing before the end of the 90 minute trial. We recommend playing no longer than 80 minutes to ensure you have enough time for the next steps.
2. Exit and save your current Minecraft world.
3. Create a new world or copy your previous world. You can play it even less than 90 minutes. Then you will have to repeat the process again. Time does not count when you quit the game.

Notes: The Minecraft Pocket Edition free trial is available in the United States but may not work in other countries.

Windows 10

The first way to play Minecraft for free is to use the TLauncher. The tricky part here is that using TLauncher is against the Minecraft User Agreement. The download website may also contain viruses, so we recommend using a VPN and antivirus to protect your PC during installation. Follow the steps below to install Minecraft using TLauncher:

1. Go to the Minecraft download page and click "Direct Download". It's a small text located below the "Get It Now" button.
   
2. Once redirected to a new page, click on “Request download links”.
3. On a new page, select the download option for Windows (.exe file).
   
4. Once the file is downloaded, double click on the launcher icon to run it.
5. In the launcher installation window, expand the drop-down menu and select "Create and manage accounts".
   
6. Click the green plus icon to create an account, then select "Free (no password)". Follow the instructions on the screen. Optionally, click on "Mojang.com account" if you already have an account.
   
7. Select your account and click the orange house icon to sign in.
   
8. Once you are logged into your account and redirected to the installation window, select the version of Minecraft you wish to install from the drop-down menu.
   
9. Click "Install and Play" and wait for the installation to complete. Then launch the game and start playing.
   

If you don't want to risk your computer's security, you can play the official Minecraft demo for free for 100 minutes. It's not much, but it should be enough for you to decide if the full version is worth paying for. Here's how to install the Minecraft demo:

1. Visit Minecraft official website and click "Download" to download the demo installer file.
   
2. Once the file is downloaded, double click on it to start the installation process.
3. Follow the instructions on the screen.
4. Once the Minecraft launcher is installed, double-click its icon to open it. You can find the icon on your desktop or in the Start menu.
   
5. Click "Register", then register a new Minecraft account or log in to an existing account.
   
6. Once logged in, click on “Play demo”. The 100-minute demo period can be extended up to five days. Once expired, you will need to purchase the full version.
   

Finally, you can play the official version of Minecraft Classic 2009 for free for an unlimited time. Follow the steps below to install it:

1. Download the installer file.
2. Type your username.
   
3. Click "Start" and you are good to go.
   

Mac

Like Windows users, Mac Minecraft players have three options to play the game for free. The first is to install the game using TLauncher:

1. Go to the Minecraft download page and click "Direct Download". It's a small text located below the "Get It Now" button.
   
2. Once redirected to a new page, click on “Request download links”.
3. On a new page, select the download option for Mac (.jar file). Make sure you have the latest version of Java to run the file.
4. Once the file is downloaded, double click on the launcher icon to run it.
   
5. In the launcher installation window, expand the drop-down menu and select "Create and manage accounts".
   
6. Click the green plus icon to create an account, then select "Free (no password)". Follow the instructions on the screen. Optionally, click on "Mojang.com account" if you already have an account.
   
7. Select your account and click the orange house icon to sign in.
   
8. Once you are logged into your account and redirected to the installation window, select the version of Minecraft you wish to install from the drop-down menu.
   
9. Click "Install and Play" and wait for the installation to complete. Then launch the game and start playing.
   

The second option is to play an official 100-minute Minecraft demo:

1. Visit Minecraft official website and click "Download" to download the demo installer file.
   
2. Once the file is downloaded, double click on it to start the installation process.
3. Follow the instructions on the screen.
   
4. Once the Minecraft launcher is installed, double-click its icon to open it. You can find the icon in the Applications folder.
   
5. Click "Register", then register a new Minecraft account or log in to an existing account.
   
6. Once logged in, click on “Play demo”. The 100-minute demo period can be extended up to five days. Once completed, you will need to purchase the full version.
   

The last option is to play the first version of Minecraft. The installation process is extremely simple:

1. Download the installer file.
2. Type your username.
   
3. Click "Start" and you are good to go.
   

How to create a Minecraft account?

A Minecraft account is required to play any version of the game. Fortunately, creating an account is free and you can use it with the free version of the game without any problems.

Pocket Edition

To register a Minecraft account on a mobile device, follow the steps below:

1. Visit the official Minecraft site and tap "Login" located in the top right corner of your screen.
2. Select "Join for free".
3. Enter your email address, then click “Next”.
4. Enter your password and click “Next”.
5. Select your region and date of birth, then click “Next”.
6. Open your email and enter the verification code you received from Minecraft in the registration window.
7. Solve the Captcha.
8. Select a Minecraft and an avatar, then press "Let's go".

Windows 10

If you're playing Minecraft on Windows 10, follow the instructions below to sign up:

1. Visit the official Minecraft site and click on the "Login" button located at the top right corner of your screen.
   
2. Select "Sign in with Microsoft" if you have a Microsoft account. The connection will be done automatically; no further steps are required on your part.
   
3. If you don't have a Microsoft account or don't want to use it, select "Sign up for free."
   
4. Enter your email address, then click “Next”.
   
5. Enter your password and click “Next”.
   
6. Select your region and date of birth, then click “Next”.
   
7. Open your email and enter the verification code you received from Minecraft in the registration window.
   
8. Solve the Captcha.
   
9. Create a Minecraft username and select an avatar, then click "Let's Go".

Mac

Registering a Minecraft account on a Mac is not much different from doing so on a Windows PC or mobile device. Follow the steps below:

1. Visit the official Minecraft site and click on the "Login" button located at the top right corner of your screen.
   
2. Select "Join for free".
   
3. Enter your email address, then click “Next”.
   
4. Enter your password and click “Next”.
   
5. Select your region and date of birth, then click “Next”.
   
6. Open your email and enter the verification code you received from Minecraft in the registration window.
   
7. Solve the Captcha.
   
8. Create a Minecraft username and select an avatar, then click "Let's Go".

Frequently Asked Questions

In this section, we will answer more questions about Minecraft game.

How to play Minecraft with friends on mobile?

If all your friends use the same Wi-Fi network, you can play on a local server. Follow the steps below to start playing together:

1. Open game settings.

2. Move the button next to "Local Server Multiplayer" to the "On" position.

3. Load the world you want to play on your device before other players load it. You are now the host of the game.

4. Your friends should press "Play" and select the world at the top of their list highlighted in blue.

If your friends use a different network, you will need to create a new external server or use an existing one. Follow the instructions below:

1. Visit the Minecraft Pocket Edition server list to find your server information.

2. In-game, tap "Play" and then navigate to the "Servers" tab.

3. Tap "Add Server" to connect to an external server.

4. Fill in the required information – server name, IP address and port number.

5. Press "Play" to start playing.

Enjoy Minecraft for Free

Hopefully with the help of our guide you can now play Minecraft for free. Be aware of viruses when downloading unofficial game versions. We recommend using antivirus and VPN to scan all files before installation. And if you really like the game, consider paying for the official version to pay tribute to the developers.

Do you know any safe and reliable sites to download Minecraft for iPhone for free? Share your experiences in the comments section below.