Minecraft is one of the most popular video games of all time, with over 140 million monthly active players as of 2022. The sandbox game allows players to explore, gather resources, craft items, build structures, fight mobs, and more across randomly generated worlds.
While the full version of Minecraft requires purchase, Mojang offers a free trial version that allows new players to test the game for a limited time before deciding if they want to buy. Here is what you need to know about the Minecraft free trial, including how it works, length, limitations, and more.
Overview of the Minecraft Free Trial
The free trial version of Minecraft allows players to access the game in survival mode for a set period of time before purchase is required. The trial is available on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch.
The trial gives new players an opportunity to try out the core Minecraft experience before committing to buying the full game. It includes access to survival mode, where you have to gather resources, craft items, build shelters, fend off mobs, and ultimately try to survive and thrive.
While the trial provides a good taste of Minecraft, it does have some limitations compared to the paid versions. These restrictions help encourage purchase while preventing unlimited free access.
How Long Does the Minecraft Trial Last?
The Minecraft trial lasts 5 in-game days, which equates to about 1 hour and 40 minutes of real-world time.
Here‘s how it breaks down:
- Each in-game day in Minecraft is 20 minutes long.
- 5 in-game days means the trial lasts 100 minutes of playtime.
- 100 minutes is equal to 1 hour and 40 minutes (1.66 hours).
So you get just under 2 hours of playtime to try Minecraft for free before the trial expires.
The 5 day limit applies across all platforms. On mobile devices, the trial duration shows a countdown timer so you can see exactly how much time is left.
Once the trial ends, you‘ll need to purchase Minecraft to continue playing that world.
What Are the Limitations of the Minecraft Free Trial?
To encourage purchase of the full game, the Minecraft trial has the following restrictions:
Limited to 5 in-game days (100 minutes) – The biggest limitation is the short timeframe before the trial expires.
Only one world – You can only access a single generated world, rather than create multiple ones.
No online multiplayer – You cannot join multiplayer servers or play with others online.
No LAN multiplayer – Local area network (LAN) play is disabled, so you can‘t play locally with friends.
No Realms – Access to Mojang‘s subscription-based Realms servers is disabled.
World doesn‘t save – Progress on the trial world is not saved after the 100 minutes.
Locked to "Easy" difficulty – Cannot change the game difficulty above the default "Easy" setting.
Limited inventory – The survival inventory size is restricted to 9 slots instead of 27.
So in summary, the trial lets you play alone in a single world for 1-2 hours to get a sense of the Minecraft experience before your time expires.
How to Get the Minecraft Free Trial
If you want to try Minecraft for free, here are the steps to access the trial:
Download the Minecraft launcher – Go to the official Minecraft website and download the game launcher for your platform. You‘ll need to create a free Mojang account if you don‘t already have one.
Open the launcher and log in – Launch the downloaded app and log into your Mojang account. This will begin installing Minecraft.
Start your free trial – On the main menu, click the "Play Demo" button to begin your 100 minute trial. This will generate a new survival world for you to explore.
Play for 1-2 hours – You‘ll now have 5 in-game days to try out Minecraft before the trial expires. Be sure to keep an eye on the countdown timer.
Decide to buy or not – After the trial ends, you can purchase the full game if you want to continue playing on that world and with no restrictions.
The trial launcher is the same one used to play regular purchased copies of Minecraft. Just look for the "Play Demo" option after logging in with your Mojang account.
What Happens When the Minecraft Trial Expires?
Once your 5 day trial period has ended, you‘ll no longer be able to access that generated world. The game will tell you that your trial has expired and prompt you to purchase the full game.
Here‘s what happens when the Minecraft free trial runs out:
You are kicked out of the world back to the main menu.
The trial world is locked and can no longer be played.
Your inventory and builds are not saved – the world is completely reset.
Previously-unlocked recipes will be locked again.
You‘ll need to purchase Minecraft to play beyond 100 minutes.
You can start a new trial period by re-clicking "Play Demo" to generate a fresh world.
So while you don‘t lose your account or anything, you do lose all progress made during the trial once time expires. You can return to try out a new world for another free 100 minutes if you want.
Can You Play Minecraft Indefinitely for Free?
There are some ways to technically play Minecraft for free without limits, although they require workarounds and come with downsides:
Restaring trials – You can repeatedly start new 100 minute trials indefinitely by re-clicking "Play Demo". However, no progress will be saved as worlds are reset.
"Cracked" launchers – Unofficial launchers exist that bypass account checks, although we don‘t recommend them as they violate the Minecraft EULA and account security.
Classic mode – The original 2009 browser-based Classic mode is still free but very limited compared to the full Java and Bedrock versions.
The trial itself will always have the 5 day limit though, so there‘s no way to have unlimited access to the latest Minecraft for free. Mojang limits it to encourage purchasing the game.
Does Minecraft Have a Free Version?
There are two free versions of Minecraft, although both are fairly restricted:
Demo/Trial Version – The time-limited trial allows 100 minutes of play. Good for testing the game.
Minecraft Classic – The original 2009 Classic mode is free in browser. Very limited features.
Other than those options, there is no unlimited free version of the Java Edition or Bedrock version that most players enjoy today. You‘ll need to purchase the game to go beyond the trial‘s limits.
However, Minecraft is included free with Xbox Game Pass for PC and console. So Game Pass subscribers can access the full game for no extra cost through their membership.
Can You Get Minecraft Java Edition for Free?
Unfortunately there is no way to legally obtain the latest Java Edition of Minecraft for free. The full PC/Mac version must be purchased from Minecraft.net for $26.95.
However, here are some quasi-free options for Java Edition:
Use the limited 100 minute trial.
Some third-party launchers provide "cracked" access, though we don‘t recommend them.
You can play on free sandbox servers that offer gameplay without owning Minecraft.
Try "pirated" copies at your own legal risk, such as torrents.
But otherwise, the only way to fully play the latest Java Edition is to buy an account. The free trial lets you test it out before purchasing.
Does the Minecraft Free Trial Work on Mobile?
Yes, the Minecraft trial is available on both iOS and Android mobile devices. You get the same 5 in-game days (100 minutes) to try out mobile Minecraft before hitting the trial limit.
To access it:
iOS – Download Minecraft from the App Store and tap "Start Trial" after launching.
Android – Get Minecraft from Google Play Store, login, and tap "Start Trial" on the menu.
Mobile also shows the remaining trial time left with a countdown timer. Once expired, you‘ll need to buy the paid mobile version via in-app purchase to continue playing.
What Game Modes Can You Play in the Free Trial?
The Minecraft free trial focuses on survival mode, the core sandbox game mode focused on gathering resources and surviving in the generated procedural world.
When you start a new trial world, you‘ll begin in survival mode during the daytime. You‘ll then have 5 days to start surviving by collecting wood, mining stone, crafting weapons, building a base, etc.
The trial does not provide access to other major game modes like Creative or Hardcore modes. Only the main Survival mode is available for testing the game.
Does the Minecraft Trial Include Multiplayer?
A major limitation of the free Minecraft trial is a lack of multiplayer access beyond single player worlds. The trial has the following multiplayer restrictions:
No online multiplayer – You cannot join servers or play with others online.
No LAN (local) multiplayer – Local worlds don‘t allow friends on the same network.
No split-screen multiplayer – Offline split-screen with controllers is disabled.
No cross-platform play – Platform linking for multiplayer is restricted.
So unfortunately, the trial is limited to solo Survival mode only. You cannot play with friends over LAN or online until you purchase the full game.
What Features Are Missing in the Minecraft Free Trial?
Aside from the major restrictions like world resets and no multiplayer, here are some other missing features and limitations in the Minecraft trial version:
Only "Easy" difficulty available, no normal, hard, peaceful
Limited hotbar and inventory size (9 slots instead of 27)
Cannot respawn the Ender Dragon after defeating it
No access to player-made skins or skin customization
Generated worlds use default "Steve" player skins
Can‘t install mods or texture packs
No Realms access or creating servers
Can‘t change world generation options or seeds
Certain items and recipes may be locked
So while you get the basic Survival experience, some personalization, progression, and content options are limited unless you purchase.
What Do You Get with the Paid Version of Minecraft?
Buying the full version of Minecraft grants unlimited access to all features and content, including:
Unlimited playtime and world creation
All Survival, Creative, Adventure, Hardcore game modes
Full inventory, crafting, and customization
Online multiplayer, LAN, split-screen
Skins, textures, mods, seeds, and more
Access to Realms subscriptions and hosted servers
Expanded world options and world generation
Achievements and stat tracking
Difficulty levels above just "Easy"
Play across platforms with linked accounts
Ongoing updates and new features
Plus tons of players creations like adventure maps
So purchasing opens up unlimited gameplay and content beyond the limited trial.
Can You Continue Your Trial World After Buying?
Unfortunately, worlds created during the Minecraft free trial are not saved or available after it expires. When your 100 minutes ends, that particular map is locked away.
If you choose to buy Minecraft after trying the trial, you will have to start over in a new world. Your trial world and all progress is reset and inaccessible even if you purchase afterwards.
This limitation prevents players from using trials to obtain free permanent worlds. So be sure to screenshot anything you want to save before the trial resets.
Tips for Making the Most of Your Minecraft Trial
To help make the most of your limited 100 minutes with the Minecraft free trial, here are some suggested goals and tips:
Speedrun – See how fast you can complete objectives on a fresh world in under 2 hours.
Focus exploration – Wander in one direction to see how far you can discover.
Gather key resources – Target coal, iron, diamonds, obsidian to sample mining.
Build a mini-base – Construct a small hut or house to survive the first night.
Craft essential items – Make basic tools, weapons, armor, furnaces, and crafting tables.
Find and gather food – Hunt, farm, or forage food to stay fed.
Experiment with redstone – Try basic automated redstone circuits.
Kill some mobs – Fight zombies, skeletons, creepers, and spiders.
See one sunset/sunrise – Experience the day/night cycle.
With some goal-setting, you can experience a wide range of Minecraft gameplay during the short trial window.
Can You Reset the Minecraft Trial on PC?
On Windows, Mac, and Linux, there is no official way to reset or restart the Minecraft trial after it expires. Once your 5 days are up, that demo is permanently unavailable.
However, you can begin a brand new trial period simply by fully quitting the game, re-launching, and clicking the "Play Demo" button again. This will generate a fresh world with a new 100 minute countdown.
So on PC, you can play unlimited trials, but each world is a clean slate. There‘s no way to replay or backup worlds after the trial locks them.
Is There a Way to Make the Minecraft Trial Last Longer?
Unfortunately, there are no official or legitimate methods to extend the 100 minute time limit on the Minecraft free trial. The 5 in-game day restriction is hardcoded into the demo version.
Some players have tried techniques like pausing, closing the game, or changing device clocks to stretch the trial, but these techniques no longer work. The trial countdown runs in real-time regardless of any workarounds attempted.
The only way to get more than 100 minutes of play is to purchase the full version of the game. Minecraft demos are intentionally time-limited to encourage players to buy in order to keep experiencing new worlds.
Can You Use Hacked Clients to Remove Trial Limits?
Some unofficial "hacked" Minecraft clients and launchers claim they can bypass the free trial restrictions by modifying the client-side code. However, we do not recommend this for several reasons:
Using hacking tools likely violates the Minecraft EULA.
It could get your Mojang account banned for cheating.
Hacked clients carry security and malware risks.
Time limits may still kick in if code verifies with servers.
Mojang can still detect and block tampered clients.
While you might be able to get a few extra minutes of play, hacked clients can seriously risk your account standing with Mojang. We do not recommend attempting to use hacked clients to remove trial restrictions, as any perceived benefits are outweighed by potential account bans and security issues.
Is the Minecraft Trial the Full Game?
The free Minecraft trial gives you access to Survival mode in a limited single player world for 100 minutes. However, this is a restricted demo version, not the full game.
Major limitations include only one world, temporary gameplay, no multiplayer, and restrictions on difficulty, inventory, mods, account features, and more.
While the trial provides a solid taste of the Minecraft experience, you‘ll need to purchase the full game to enjoy unlimited creation across multiple worlds, multiplayer with friends online and locally, customized experience, and all other features that make Minecraft such an incredible sandbox game.
So for complete unrestricted access, you‘ll need to buy an account after trying out the trial. But the free demo lets you test the game first!
The Bottom Line – Is Minecraft Free or Does It Cost Money?
In summary:
Minecraft offers a free limited trial for about 1-2 hours of playtime. This lets you test the game at no cost for a limited time.
But the full version requires purchase at $26.95 USD for unlimited access with no restrictions after the trial ends.
There are ways to technically play free forever, but only through limited trial worlds or outdated versions.
To enjoy full Survival, Creative, multiplayer, mods, skins, and access to everything new, you need to buy an account.
So ultimately while you can sample Minecraft through the trial, enjoying the complete experience does require purchasing the game. The free demo lets you decide if the gameplay is worth the cost before committing!
