Minecraft on Mac

Although Minecraft is owned by Microsoft, you might be wondering if you can download Minecraft on Mac. You should also think about potential complexities that may arise, since the game is owned by a competitor of Apple. But before you buy an entirely new device, it’s worth reading my research findings.

The good news is that you can play Minecraft on Mac, albeit with some caveats. Today, I’ll share with you how to ensure a seamless gaming on Mac experience. Keep reading to learn about the specific requirements for your device and how to get Minecraft—along with how to play with friends and more.

Can you play Minecraft on a Mac

Yes, Minecraft does work on a Mac. For the latest version, your software must support at least Java 17 (macOS 10.14.5 and later). You can play older versions of Minecraft without meeting these requirements, but you won’t get the latest updates and features.

Differences between Minecraft Java and Minecraft Bedrock Edition

Minecraft Java Version

• Available on Mac and Windows
• Access new features earlier than on Bedrock
• Play with others on computers in multiplayer mode
• Play any release of Minecraft
• Install snapshots to test upcoming versions of Minecraft

Minecraft Bedrock Version

• Only available on Windows
• You can only play the current version of Minecraft
• Play across different devices, such as game consoles
• Access to the Minecraft Marketplace
• No mods available

Minecraft Mac requirements

Below are the main requirements that you need to play Minecraft on your Mac.

A note from our experts:

 

Minecraft needs a lot of space on your Mac. You may have to remove unnecessary and unused items. MacKeeper’s Smart Uninstaller will help you free up some space. It removes apps, plugins, browser extensions, and leftover files in a few clicks.

 

Here's how to use Smart Uninstaller:

1. Download MacKeeper.
2. Go to Cleaning > Smart Uninstaller on the left-hand side.
3. Select Start Scan.
4. You’ll then see a list of apps, widgets, plugins, etc. that you can delete. Choose everything you want to get rid of and then tap Remove Selected.

How much does Minecraft cost on a MacBook

Minecraft has two pricing tiers. The normal version of Minecraft costs $29.99 as a one-time purchase, and Minecraft Deluxe costs $39.99. Here’s an overview of the offerings for both:

Our tip:

 

If you don’t have a lot of storage space on your device, you can do several things to clear disk space on Mac. For example, you can look for files consuming a lot of space in your System Settings. You should also check to see if low storage space is the cause of your MacBook overheating.

How to get Minecraft on Mac

You can install Minecraft on Mac in several ways, including each of the following:

1. Download and run Minecraft macOS version
2. Install and play Minecraft via a virtual machine
3. Play Minecraft online on Mac
4. Download the Minecraft trial on your Mac

Let’s now look at how to download the game via each of these methods.

1. Download and run Minecraft macOS version

The easiest way to get Minecraft on Mac is to run the official macOS version. Follow these instructions to make Minecraft run on Mac:

1. Go to the official Minecraft website and select Account in the top right-hand corner.
2. When the dropdown menu appears, tap Sign In.
3. If you have a Microsoft account, select Sign In on the button with the Windows logo. Alternatively, choose Sign Up if you don’t have one. Then, follow the on-screen instructions.

2. Install and play Minecraft on Mac via a virtual machine

You can also play Minecraft on your Mac via a virtual machine, but this is more complicated for gamers with little or no gaming experience. The process will vary depending on your virtual machine, but you should focus on:

1. Checking the specific instructions for your chosen software.
2. Setting up your profile.

3. Play Minecraft online on Mac

In addition to downloading Minecraft for offline play on your Mac, it’s also possible to play the game online. The steps are quite simple:

1. Select Minecraft on your Mac, and—if needed—log into your account.
2. Click on Multiplayer.
3. Select Add Server.
4. Type in the server address and IP address to join. You should perform this step regardless of whether you play with friends or strangers.
5. After entering the server address and tapping Done, select Direct Connection to join the game.

Important:

 

If you don’t want to pay for Minecraft, or you’re simply interested in other titles, you’ll find plenty of free games for Mac. Alternatively, if you want to explore different options and don’t mind paying, consider checking out the top Steam for Mac offerings.

4. Download the Minecraft trial on your Mac

While Minecraft is a one-time purchase, you do still need to commit to the payment for full access. However, you can start with a free trial before paying for the full version. Also, it is beneficial to download it from an official source, so you don’t have to worry about malware that could lead to MacBook overheating and other issues.

Here’s how to get Minecraft on Mac as a trial:

1. Go to the trial page on Minecraft’s official website.
2. Scroll down to Java Edition Free Trial. This is important, as it’s very easy to miss in the beginning; the Bedrock version is above it.
3. Click on the Apple logo.
4. Select Download Now and wait for Minecraft to download. If needed, sign in to your Microsoft account.

How to play Minecraft with friends on Mac

The steps to play Minecraft with your friends are identical to playing with others online. Basically, you’ll need to connect to a specific server. To do this:

1. Get the server’s IP address.
2. Enter it in the Multiplayer section.

Of course, you’ll also have to ensure that you have a good internet connection.

A few tips if you're new to Minecraft

Minecraft is a relatively easy game to understand. Having some extra tips will make it much easier to maximize your experience.

Based on my own experiences playing Minecraft, here’s what I would recommend for other gamers:

• Get the optimal setup to play Minecraft more smoothly. This means having more storage available than is required, in addition to the Nvidia GeForce 940M AMD as your GPU.
• Make sure that you have a good internet connection. It’ll make connecting to servers and playing online much easier.
• Use mods sparingly. This measure will ensure that you don’t sacrifice the user experience.
• Get a MacBook with at least 16GB RAM, and if you can, ideally more. Computers with smaller RAM are worse at performing intensive tasks like gaming.

Essential information about playing Minecraft on Mac

Minecraft is one of the most popular video games of all time, and, unsurprisingly, you’re also thinking about playing it on your Mac. You don’t need a Windows computer, but you must ensure that your device meets the minimum requirements for downloading and playing Minecraft.

Also, before installing Minecraft, I recommend that you use MacKeeper’s Smart Uninstaller to clear enough space and optimize performance. Here’s a reminder of how to do that:

1. Download MacKeeper and open the app.
2. In the left-hand toolbar, select Smart Uninstaller under Cleaning.
3. Tap Start Scan and then choose Remove Selected after the results appear, and you’ve ticked everything you’d like to delete.
4. Finalize the deletion by tapping the blue Remove button.

Now that you’re ready, enjoy your Minecraft gaming experience!