How Do I Know What Minecraft Edition I Have? A Complete Guide
As a passionate Minecraft gamer and content creator who has been covering the game since its early Alpha days, one of the most common questions I see is "how do I know what Minecraft edition I have?" So let me clearly state it upfront:
If you‘re playing Minecraft on a phone, tablet, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation or Xbox, you have Bedrock edition. If you‘re playing on a PC, you have either Java edition or Bedrock edition for Windows 10/11.
Let me now break that down in more detail…
Checking Your Edition on Consoles and Mobile Devices
If you are playing Minecraft on any console or mobile platform, you have the Bedrock engine running behind the scenes. This includes:
- iPhone/iPad (iOS)
- Android phones/tablets
- Nintendo Switch
- Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S
- PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5
The Bedrock edition, formerly known as the Better Together Update, was released in 2017 to unify Minecraft across platforms. So if you are playing on one of the above devices, rest assured that you have the Bedrock edition of the game. This has some technical differences compared to the original Java release on PC, but enables cross-platform multiplayer between mobile, console and PC.
As of 2022, Bedrock represents over 90% of Minecraft‘s monthly active users. So if you‘re one of the tens of millions playing on consoles or mobile, you have Bedrock!
Now let‘s move on to the trickier case of determining your edition when playing on Windows or MacOS…
Checking Your Edition on PC
If you are playing Minecraft on a desktop/laptop, things get a little more complicated. You could have either:
- Minecraft: Java Edition – The original release which first launched back in 2009
- Minecraft: Bedrock Edition – The cross-platform version for Windows 10 and 11
Here‘s how to know for sure what edition you have when playing on a PC:
Check for "Java Edition" Under the Logo
On the main menu of the Minecraft game, look directly underneath the logo.
If you see the words "Minecraft: Java Edition" printed there prominently, then you indeed have the tried and true PC Java release. Granted access to decades of incredible mods and maps, plus more customization options.
However…
If there is no subtitle, it simply says "Minecraft" as the title, then keep reading!
Verify the Version Number and Launcher
Pull up the Minecraft launcher on your Windows PC, before clicking Play.
If the launcher still looks like the one pictured above, and you see a version number at the bottom left corner (such as 1.19.3), then Java edition it is!
However, if your launcher and main menu looks markedly different minimalistic, congratulations – you have the newest Bedrock edition designed for Windows 10 and 11 PCs! Enabling you to play with friends on phones and consoles.
Check Your Purchase/Download Source
Another quick check is verifying where you downloaded or purchased Minecraft from.
If you acquired Java edition from Minecraft.net or other official sellers like Amazon several years ago, then it will remain the Java edition.
Whereas if you downloaded Minecraft for Windows 10/11 from the Microsoft Store in the past few years, you are running Bedrock.
What are the Differences? Java VS Bedrock
Now that you know for sure what platform-specific edition you have installed, what does that actually mean? Let‘s run through some of the key differences under the hood:
| Minecraft: Java Edition | Minecraft: Bedrock Edition | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Technical | Released | 2009 | 2011 as Pocket Edition, rebranded Bedrock in 2017 |
| Written in | Java | C++ | |
| World format | Anvil | LevelDB | |
| Modding API | Formal modding API | No official support | |
| Maximum world size | 60,000,000 x 60,000,000 blocks | 32,000,000 x 32,000,000 blocks | |
| Maximum height | 256 blocks | 256 blocks (was 128 before 1.18 update) | |
| Business | Developer | Mojang Studios | Mojang Studios + Microsoft |
| Publisher | Mojang Studios | Xbox Game Studios | |
| Price | $27 | Bundled with Game Pass or $27 | |
Key Takeaways
While too much to cover fully here, in summary:
- Java edition is seen as closer to Minecraft‘s roots – with more customization and modding potential.
- Bedrock edition facilitates cross-play with consoles and mobile by building off a common codebase. It is optimized and regularly updated across platforms.
Both versions receive the same major gameplay updates like new biomes and mobs. Tech-savvy players tend to prefer Java with its capacity for mods and community creations. But Bedrock offers simpler online multiplayer with friends on phones and Switch consoles making it more accessible.
Now you have the complete picture on the seminal differences distinguishing the two parallel Minecraft editions!
Let‘s wrap up with a quick cheat sheet for checking in under 10 seconds…
Minecraft Edition Cheat Sheet
So in summary once again:
- Consoles & Mobile = Bedrock
- PC with Java logo = Java
- PC without Java logo = Bedrock Windows 10/11
I hope this definitive guide has cleared up any lingering confusion around which edition you have installed. Let me know if you have any other Minecraft-related questions!
