1. Which account owns it?
Open the order history for the Microsoft account you paid with on account.microsoft.com/billing/orders. Note the exact email address of that account and the order date. This is the account every other check has to match.
Bedrock download hub
Pick the platform.
Install with confidence.
Download Minecraft Bedrock for your device from this site.
Download Minecraft BedrockPlatform picker + readiness check
Choose the primary device first, then download Bedrock from this site. Bedrock cross-play works only when everyone in the group uses Bedrock on the same game version, signed in with a Microsoft account, and cross-play is allowed in the invited account's privacy settings.
Windows PC Download
Chromebook Download
Android Download
Xbox Download
iOS Download
Amazon Fire Download
PlayStation Download
Nintendo Download
Mac and Linux run Java Edition only — Bedrock is not sold for macOS or Linux. If the rest of the group is on consoles, a Mac-only player cannot join a Bedrock world. Reference: Mojang, Java or Bedrock Edition.
Before purchase or reinstall, verify these five items so the “Buy Again” loop and account mismatches never start.
- Microsoft account exists. Create it on account.microsoft.com before the store checkout. Write down which email you used.
- Family group set up if a child will play. Configure Microsoft Family Safety multiplayer and chat permissions before the child first launches the game — the change requires a sign-out before it applies. Xbox family hub.
- Console online entitlement ready. On Xbox, PlayStation, and Nintendo Switch, online multiplayer normally requires access to that console's paid online service. A profile may receive that entitlement through Home Xbox, console sharing, or a family plan instead of buying a separate subscription; verify the current sharing rules on the platform.
- Storage confirmed. Check the current install size on the platform store listing. Free the space before checkout so the install does not stall.
- Correct edition. On Windows the Java & Bedrock for PC bundle covers both. On every non-Windows device, Bedrock is the only option — see the feature-fit page.
The “Buy Again” branch: what actually causes it
Ownership errors on Windows and Xbox almost always trace to a mismatch between the Microsoft account that bought the game and the account currently signed into the Store, Xbox app, or console. Work through these four checks before contacting support.
2. Which account is signed into the Store?
On Windows, open the Microsoft Store, click the profile icon, and confirm the email matches the purchasing account. Sign out and back in with the owning account if it does not.
3. Is the game in that library?
On Windows, open the Xbox app > Library and search for Minecraft. On Xbox console, hold the game tile and choose “See in Store” — if it shows “Play” instead of “Buy”, the license is present.
4. Is the entitlement refresh finished?
Give the entitlement 15 minutes to sync after signing in. Restart both the Store app and the Xbox app. Only then open a ticket at aka.ms/Minecraft-Support with the order ID and the exact error text.
Reference: Xbox Support, purchase issues on console and Microsoft, help with Store purchases.
Edition decision in one page
Before opening any store, answer three questions in order. The first hard constraint wins — a later preference cannot solve a platform mismatch.
1. What device will the player use?
- Console, phone, tablet, or Chromebook
- Bedrock is the only option — Java is not sold for these devices.
- Mac or Linux
- Java only — Bedrock is not sold for macOS or Linux.
- Windows PC
- Either edition, so continue to question 2.
2. Who do they want to play with?
- Friends on mixed devices (console + phone + PC)
- Everyone needs Bedrock. Java cannot join Bedrock worlds.
- An existing Java community server or modpack
- Java. Joining Java communities with Bedrock is not supported.
- Single-player only, for now
- Either works — the Windows bundle covers both.
3. Do they need Java-only features?
- Deep code-level mods and pinning old versions
- Java. Bedrock only runs the current stable or preview build.
- Marketplace, Add-Ons, controller-first on TV
- Bedrock. Add-Ons and the Marketplace do not exist in Java.
- Split-screen on a console
- Bedrock — Java has no split-screen mode.
Reference: Mojang, Java or Bedrock Edition. Longer version with tables on the features page.
Which Windows SKU actually delivers Bedrock
Microsoft's Windows PC catalogue lists several Minecraft variants. Two facts remove most of the confusion before checkout: the client that runs is always Bedrock or Java (never a separate “Deluxe engine”), and the difference between SKUs is the bundle of cosmetic packs and add-ons that ships with the purchase.
Minecraft: Java & Bedrock Edition for PC
Delivers both Java and Bedrock clients on Windows under one Microsoft account. This is the default recommendation for a Windows-only household because a later change of friend group does not force a second purchase.
Minecraft: Bedrock Edition (standalone Windows)
Bedrock client only, no Java. Cheaper on some regional stores. Choose this only if you are certain nobody in the household will want to join a Java-only community server later — Java is not added retroactively.
Deluxe Collection / seasonal bundles
The same Java & Bedrock client packaged with a rotating set of Marketplace cosmetics or Minecoin credit. The client itself is the same as the base SKU — the extra value lives in the bundled content, which may or may not be worth the difference depending on the packs included.
Prices, bundle contents, and regional availability change between promotions. Verify on the current Mojang PC listing and the Microsoft Store listing for Minecraft for Windows before checkout.
The 30 minutes after checkout, in order
Most first-launch tickets come from steps done out of order. Follow this exact sequence and the game usually launches without a support ticket at all.
- Give the Store 5 minutes to reflect the purchase in the owning account's library. Refresh the Store or Xbox app on the buying device if the game does not appear.
- Confirm the same Microsoft account is signed into the Xbox app (Windows) or the console profile (Xbox). Sign out of any secondary Microsoft accounts before launching.
- Start the install and let it complete fully. Do not launch the game while the download is still pending — an interrupted first launch is a common source of the “Buy Again” loop.
- Launch the game. Accept the Microsoft account sign-in prompt inside Bedrock with the same account you bought with. This is the account that carries Marketplace purchases and cross-play permissions.
- Screenshot Settings > About once the main menu appears. Save the version number — you will need it every time a friend later says “I cannot join”.
- Only after the first world has loaded once, add friends and invite them. Adding friends before the entitlement finishes syncing sometimes creates duplicate invites that then refuse to connect.
Six purchase mistakes onboarding stops
Every mistake below has cost real money in support tickets. Working through the pre-install checklist above pre-empts each one.
- Buying Java for a Mac when the rest of the family plays on Xbox. The two editions never share a world. Confirm every group member's device before checkout.
- Assuming an Xbox purchase automatically covers Windows. The console and PC SKUs are separate purchases. Only the Java & Bedrock for PC bundle covers both editions, and only on Windows.
- Subscribing to Marketplace Pass and Realms Plus at the same time. Mojang states Plus already includes Pass — pick one and cancel Pass first if moving to Plus.
- Buying Minecoins on PlayStation. PlayStation uses Minecraft Tokens. Minecoins bought elsewhere do not transfer. Reference: PlayStation parents guide.
- Forgetting the console online entitlement. Each online profile needs access under the platform's rules, but Home Xbox, console sharing, or a family plan may provide that access without a separate subscription for every profile.
- Downloading an installer from a search result. Skip cracked or “full free” installers from random sites. Use the Download page on this site.
Where to go next
If you already own the game and something has broken after a game drop, our onboarding hub is not the right destination — the sister help desk at minecraftbedrock.cc covers errors, world recovery, and post-update behaviour.
Reviewed 28 August 2026. Store availability, subscription tiers, and platform requirements change without notice — every claim above links back to the official Mojang, Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo, or Microsoft page that owns the current version.