Not codes for free items. Minecraft has commands, which work with cheats enabled, and personal redeem codes from gift cards and Minecoins, which you redeem at minecraft.net/redeem.

What is the difference between Java and Bedrock?

Java Edition is the original PC version, with the biggest mod and server scene. Bedrock Edition runs on Windows, consoles and phones with crossplay between them. Buying Minecraft on PC now gives you both.

Who owns Minecraft?

Minecraft is made by Mojang Studios, which Microsoft bought in 2014.

Is there a Minecraft 1.22?

No. In 2026 Mojang moved to year-based version numbers, so the 1.21.x updates were followed by 26.1 (Tiny Takeover) and 26.2 (Chaos Cubed).

How do I enable cheats in Minecraft?

Turn on "Allow Cheats" (Bedrock) or "Allow Commands" (Java) when creating the world, or open the world to LAN with cheats on.

What is the newest Minecraft update?

As of October 2026 the latest game drop listed is Wilderness Bound, released September 15, 2026. An Ice Caves drop was teased, with no date confirmed.

Minecraft is a sandbox game by Mojang Studios, owned by Microsoft. You explore an endless world made of blocks, mine resources, craft tools and build anything you can imagine, while surviving monsters at night. It officially released on November 18, 2011 and is the best-selling video game of all time, with more than 300 million copies sold.

There are two main versions. Java Edition is the original PC version, popular for mods and servers. Bedrock Edition runs on Windows, consoles and phones with crossplay between them. Since 2026, Mojang numbers versions by year (26.1, 26.2 and so on) and releases several free game drops a year, including Tiny Takeover and Chaos Cubed. The last drop of 2026 is in testing now.

Game modes

Survival is the classic mode: you gather resources, manage hunger and health, and survive monsters at night. Creative gives unlimited blocks and flight so you can build freely. Hardcore, available in Java Edition, is Survival on the hardest difficulty with one life. Adventure is used for custom maps where players cannot break blocks freely. Spectator lets you fly through blocks and watch. Multiplayer works on servers, Realms and local worlds, and Bedrock Edition supports split-screen on consoles.

Minecraft on Xbox

What version of Minecraft is on Xbox?

The version on Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One is Minecraft Bedrock Edition, usually just called Minecraft on the store. It is the same edition as on Windows, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, iOS and Android, so you can play with friends on all of those platforms through crossplay, the Marketplace and Realms. Java Edition is PC-only.

Minecraft Xbox One Edition

Minecraft: Xbox One Edition was the original console version released in 2014. In 2017 the Better Together update replaced it with Bedrock Edition, and owners received the new version free. The old Xbox One Edition, along with the Xbox 360 Edition, no longer receives updates, but you can still load legacy worlds and convert them to Bedrock. If you search Minecraft Xbox One today, the game you get is Bedrock Edition, and it also runs on Xbox Series X|S with improved performance.

How much is Minecraft on Xbox?

Minecraft costs $19.99 on the Xbox store for the standard edition, which works on Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S. Bundles with Minecoins and Marketplace content cost more. Minecraft is also included with Xbox Game Pass on console, and PC Game Pass includes both Java and Bedrock for Windows. Online multiplayer on Xbox needs Game Pass Essential, except for Realms, which have their own subscription. See the Xbox Game Pass hub.

Where to put an IP in Minecraft Bedrock on Xbox

On Windows, phones and tablets, you add a server by opening Play, then Servers, then Add Server, and typing the IP address and port. On Xbox, the Add Server button is not available: console editions only show Featured Servers by default. To join a custom server on Xbox you have three main options:

Join through a friend: a friend on PC or mobile joins the server, then you join their game from your friends list. Some servers provide a dedicated Xbox account to friend for this purpose.
Use a server-list app: community tools such as BedrockTogether on a phone broadcast the server on your local network, so it appears under Friends on your Xbox.
Change DNS settings: advanced players set a custom DNS on the Xbox network settings to a service like BedrockConnect, which replaces a featured server with a screen where you can type any IP. Use trusted services only, and change the DNS back afterwards.

Realms are the simplest official alternative: they are private servers run by Mojang and can be joined from any platform with an invite code.

Minecraft guides on this site

Java Edition vs Bedrock Edition

Both editions share the same core game, but they differ in important ways. Java Edition runs on Windows, macOS and Linux, supports a huge modding scene through Forge, Fabric and NeoForge, and hosts the biggest community servers such as Hypixel. Redstone behaves more predictably, which technical players prefer. Bedrock Edition runs on Windows, Xbox, PlayStation, Switch, iOS and Android with crossplay between all of them, includes the Marketplace for official add-ons, skins and worlds, and supports split-screen on consoles. Since 2022, buying Minecraft on PC gives you both editions together. Most families and console players use Bedrock; most modders and server players on PC use Java.

A short history of Minecraft

Markus Persson, known as Notch, released the first public version in May 2009. Mojang was founded to develop it, the full release arrived on November 18, 2011, and Microsoft bought Mojang for $2.5 billion in 2014. Major updates have since added oceans, villages and pillagers, the Nether update, caves and cliffs, the Wild update with the Deep Dark, Trails and Tales with archaeology, Tricky Trials with trial chambers, and a series of smaller game drops. Minecraft passed 300 million copies sold, making it the best-selling video game ever, and A Minecraft Movie became a major box office hit in 2025.

How updates work in 2026

Instead of one big update a year, Mojang now ships several smaller free game drops, each adding a theme, new mobs, blocks or features. Since 2026 versions are numbered by year, such as 26.1 and 26.2. You can test features early through Java snapshots and Bedrock Preview. Check the updates tab on this hub for the latest drop and what it adds.

Spin-offs and related games

Minecraft has several spin-offs: Minecraft Dungeons, an action dungeon crawler; Minecraft Legends, an action strategy game; Minecraft Education, used in schools; and Minecraft Story Mode, a narrative adventure by Telltale. The main game remains the center of the franchise and is still updated regularly.

Minecraft for parents

Minecraft is rated E10+ in the US and is one of the most family-friendly games available. Creative mode is ideal for younger children, and Peaceful difficulty removes hostile mobs. For online play, use Realms with invited friends rather than public servers, and use Xbox Family Settings or the equivalent on other platforms to manage chat and purchases from the Marketplace.

Minecraft

Latest update

Wiki highlights

Guides

How Do You Beat the Wither in Minecraft? Arena, Gear and Two-Phase Fight Plan

How Do You Beat the Ender Dragon in Minecraft? Crystals, Perching and the Kill

How Do You Beat the Warden in Minecraft? Strategies, Weak Spots and When to Run

What Does Minecraft Gameplay Look Like? The Survival Loop, Mobs, Building and Exploration

How Do You Play Minecraft? A Beginner Guide to Your First Night

How to Make Glass in Minecraft (Panes, Stained and Tinted Glass)

Tools & calculators

Frequently asked questions about Minecraft