Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Gaming
  3. Guides

How to get Minecraft for free

By
best survival games minecraft game
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Although many of today's popular titles are free-to-play games, it might surprise you to find out that Minecraft — the best-selling game of all time — isn't one of them. Its price varies depending on your platform of choice, but it'll always cost you something to pick up and play the hit title. However, it is possible to play Minecraft for free using a limited-time trial of the game.

Recommended Videos

Difficulty

Easy

Duration

5 minutes

What You Need

  • Eligible platform (Xbox, PlayStation, PC)

  • Trial version of Minecraft

It's not available on every system (and there are a few limitations), but it's a good idea to take advantage of the demo before buying Minecraft. There's also a way to access an old version of Minecraft from 2009 for free, so long as you don't mind being more than a decade behind the times.

minecraft nether update released new biomes mobs
Minecraft

Play the Minecraft demo on PC and Mac

Anyone looking to test out Minecraft on their home computer just needs to create a new account and download Minecraft from the official website.

That's really all there is to it. This will give you access to the full version of Minecraft, but it only lasts for "five in-game days." A day in Minecraft runs for about 20 minutes, so you'll have just over an hour and a half to decide if the game is for you. It's also a good way to check if your older laptop can handle the procedurally generated worlds and sprawling landscapes of one of the best PC games and Mac games.

best minecraft texture packs bare bones
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Play the Minecraft demo on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One

While the demo for the console is more restrictive than PC/Mac, it still allows you to experience the world of Minecraft. Here is where you can access the demo for consoles:

  • Xbox One owners can locate the demo on the Xbox Store after searching for Minecraft.

  • PlayStation 4 owners can find it on the PlayStation Store after searching for Minecraft.

You won't be able to save your progress or go past the trial levels, but this is the only way to get a few minutes with Minecraft without dropping any cash.

It's also worth pointing out that Minecraft is included with Xbox Game Pass. The subscription service isn't free, but if you're already signed up, you can install the full version of Minecraft without spending additional money.

Oleg Doroshin /123rf.com

Play the Minecraft demo on iOS and Android

Unfortunately, there isn’t a demo version of Minecraft: Pocket Edition available. Instead, it might be worth your time to check out one of the many Minecraft-inspired titles floating around both the Google Play Store and the App Store. 

For a detailed list of alternative Minecraft games for Androids and iPhones, check out our current guides.

how to get minecraft for free classic screenshot
Jon Bitner / Digital Trends

Play Minecraft Classic for free

If you don't mind missing out on a few decades' worth of updates, you can check out a free version of Minecraft Classic on PC. This free version of the game lacks most of Minecraft’s more modern features, but players can still interact with friends and poke around in Creative mode. 

Minecraft Classic is also run directly from your browser, making it suitable for older laptops or rigs with an overflowing hard drive.

If this sounds appealing to you, you can check out the game on Mojang’s official website.

Jon Bitner
Jon Bitner
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Jon Bitner is a writer covering consumer electronics, technology, and gaming. His work has been published on various websites…
Topics

Editors’ Recommendations

How to rebind skills in Avowed
A spellcaster holds a book in Avowed.

Making proper use of all your best abilities in Avowed is the easiest of the tips and tricks you can take into the game. When you begin, you will have your healing and mana potions set on your quick select bar, followed by the first skill you unlock and first companion ability. That's great in the early game, but it isn't long before you unlock new skills that you want on that slot more than what is put there for you. You can always access all your abilities through the tactical menu, but that is a bit cumbersome. Instead, here's how you can remap your quick skills to whatever you want.

Read more
How long is Avowed?
An environment shot of the Dawnshore Eastern Overlands in Avowed.

When it was first revealed, Avowed drew a lot of comparisons to Skyrim. Both are fantasy RPGs playable in first or third-person and set in open worlds, so it made some sense to compare the two. However, Obsidian later clarified that Avowed was not an open world in the same sense as an Elder Scrolls, and was more hub-based like The Outer Worlds. This left fans wondering just how long of an RPG this would be. Even though the game will be available on Game Pass, it is important to know how long or short of a time investment is before deciding when you want to start it. Here's how long you can expect to spend exploring the Living Lands in Avowed.
How long is Avowed?

Even though the world in Avowed isn't anywhere close to as big as Skyrim, each zone is dense with activities, side quests, and secrets. Your playtime will heavily depend on how much optional content you decide to partake in. In our experience, doing most of the primary side content, our playthrough took around 35 hours. Had we focused only on the main story, we predict it could be finished in between 15 and 20 hours depending on the difficulty level and your individual skill. This is roughly the same as The Outer Worlds.

Read more
Should you free Ilora in Avowed?

Avowed is a game that loves to give the player tons of choices. You can read up on all the best tips and tricks for which abilities to get, how to fast travel, and switch to third-person, but no one can tell you how to role-play. The first choice that the game hits you with during the tutorial section is whether or not you should trust a free a prisoner named Ilora. On one hand, she claims to have a boat and will help you reach Paradis. On the other, she clearly has a bone to pick with Aedyrans and could easily betray you. If you're uncertain on how to proceed with this early choice, we'll clue you in on how it all plays out.
Should you free Ilora?

Yes, you should choose to be kind to Ilora and take the time to find the cell key and release her. Not only will she join you as a temporary companion for the rest of the tutorial, but she will keep her word on helping you reach Paradis. There's no risk of betrayal so long as you don't provoke or abandon her.

Read more