Minecraft Free Trial 2026 — What You Get & How Long It Lasts

What Is the Minecraft Free Trial?

The Minecraft free trial is an official, Mojang-authorized demo version of Minecraft that lets you play the game for a limited time without paying. It's designed to give players a taste of the full experience before committing to a purchase.

The trial is available on multiple platforms, but the features and time limits vary depending on which device you're playing on. Below, we break down exactly what you get on each platform so there are no surprises.

Windows PC Free Trial

The Windows free trial gives you access to Minecraft Bedrock Edition with a gameplay limit of approximately 5 in-game days (about 100 minutes of real time in Survival mode).

What's included:

• Full Survival mode gameplay with crafting, mining, building, and mobs
• Access to a single generated world
• Basic multiplayer (you can join others who own the full game)
• The Marketplace is visible but you can't purchase anything

What's limited:

• Time limit — after 5 in-game days, the trial locks and you'll need the full version to continue
• No Creative mode access
• Worlds cannot be saved beyond the trial period
• No access to Realms (Minecraft's official multiplayer servers)

How to get it:

1. Open the Microsoft Store on Windows 10 or 11.
2. Search for "Minecraft" and select Minecraft for Windows.
3. Click the "Free Trial" button (it appears next to the Buy button).
4. Download and install. Sign in with your Microsoft account to play.

Android Free Trial

The Android free trial is available on the Google Play Store and gives you approximately 90 minutes of gameplay.

What's included:

• Survival mode with full crafting and building
• Touch controls optimized for mobile
• Local world generation

What's limited:

• 90-minute gameplay cap — after that, you need to purchase the full version
• No multiplayer access
• No Marketplace purchases
• World progress is lost if you don't upgrade before the trial ends

How to get it:

1. Open the Google Play Store on your Android device.
2. Search for "Minecraft" and select the official Mojang/Microsoft listing.
3. Tap "Free Trial" to download the trial version.
4. Play for up to 90 minutes to test out the game.

PlayStation Free Trial

PlayStation offers a Minecraft trial through the PlayStation Store. Availability may vary by region, but when available it provides a limited-time demo of Minecraft Bedrock Edition.

What's included:

• Survival mode with standard Bedrock features
• DualSense controller support with haptic feedback on PS5
• Local world generation and basic gameplay

What's limited:

• Time-limited gameplay (usually 90 minutes to 5 in-game days, depending on the promotion)
• No online multiplayer or Realms
• World progress may be lost after trial expiry

How to get it: Open the PlayStation Store on your PS4 or PS5, search for Minecraft, and look for the free trial option. If it's not showing, the trial may be temporarily unavailable in your region — check back periodically.

Xbox Free Trial

Xbox players have a few options for trying Minecraft free:

Xbox Game Pass — If you have Game Pass (or can grab a $1 trial), Minecraft is included in the subscription. This gives you the complete game, not just a demo.

Free Play Days — Microsoft occasionally runs Free Play Days events where select Game Pass titles, including Minecraft, are free to play for a weekend. These are announced on the Xbox blog and social media.

Store trial — The Microsoft Store on Xbox sometimes offers a standalone trial version similar to the Windows trial. Check the store listing for Minecraft to see if a trial button is available.

Nintendo Switch

Nintendo Switch does not currently offer a permanent free trial for Minecraft. However, there are occasional opportunities:

• Free Play events — Nintendo sometimes features Minecraft in their Game Trials program for Nintendo Switch Online members.
• Demo availability — Check the Nintendo eShop periodically as trial availability changes without much advance notice.

If you're a Switch player and the trial isn't available, your best bet for getting Minecraft free is through our Discord giveaways — we give away codes that work on all platforms.

Minecraft Classic — Free Forever

There's one version of Minecraft you can play completely free with no time limit: Minecraft Classic. This is the original 2009 version of the game, playable directly in your web browser at classic.minecraft.net.

It's extremely basic compared to modern Minecraft — 32 blocks, no mobs, no survival mode, just creative building. But it's a fun nostalgia trip and a way to experience where Minecraft started. It runs in any modern browser and requires no account or download.

What Happens After the Trial Ends?

When your free trial expires, here's what to expect:

• You can't continue playing — The game will lock and prompt you to purchase the full version.
• World progress is usually lost — On most platforms, your trial world cannot be loaded after expiry. On Windows, your world may be saved if you purchase the full version using the same Microsoft account.
• No additional charges — The trial doesn't auto-charge you. You won't be billed unless you explicitly purchase the game.
• You can upgrade anytime — If you decide to buy, the purchase unlocks the full game permanently.

Get the Full Game Free Instead

The free trial is a great way to test Minecraft, but it ends quickly and you lose your progress. If you want the full, permanent version of Minecraft without paying, here are your best options:

• FreeMCFA Discord giveaways — We give away full Java & Bedrock Edition codes every week. Join and enter for free.
• Xbox Game Pass $1 trial — Get the complete game for $1 for up to a month.
• Microsoft Rewards — Earn points daily and redeem them for a Microsoft Store gift card to buy Minecraft. Takes 2–3 months but it's guaranteed.