Notes

The Sixth Minecraft Launcher, Version 2.0

The Minecraft Launcher is the game downloader and launcher for Minecraft: Java Edition and one of the game downloaders and launchers for Minecraft for Windows (Bedrock Edition) and Minecraft Dungeons. It is available on Windows, macOS, and Linux. Minecraft for Windows can only be played on Windows 10/11. Minecraft Dungeons cannot be played on Windows 7+.



Contents



1 Features 2 Minecraft Java Edition 2.1 Installations 2.2.2 Backward compatibility 3.2.3 Skins



4.1 Play 4.2 DLC 4.3 FAQ 4.4 Installation 4.5 Patch Notes



9.1 Minecraft Java Edition 9.2 Backgrounds



Features[]



On the initial login screen, users must log in with a pre-existing Microsoft account, otherwise they can create a new one by clicking the link. Logins to subsequent accounts can be done under the "Settings” tab. If a user attempts to log in with a Mojang Studios or legacy Minecraft account, they will be directed to migrate to a Microsoft account.



On the left side, a "News" tab, a tab for each game, and the Minecraft Launcher "Settings" tab can be seen.



The Minecraft Launcher's top left corner contains the user’s Xbox gamertag (which may differ from their Minecraft Java Edition username)[2]. Users can click on it to log in or manage their active account. A "Help" page will appear with links to useful resources.



The main "Play” section allows users to download and launch Minecraft: Java Edition. It also has an installation selection (which sorts installations by most recently played), the Java Edition username on right, and the most recent news from minecraft.net below.



You can launch multiple instances by pressing the "Play” button while the game is still running. The game can also be run offline, provided that the device is not connected to an internet connection. If the user isn’t logged in to an account that purchased the game, the “Play” button will appear as a “Play demo” button. STEVE IS BLOGGING This downloads and launches a demo version of the game. You can also view the patch notes, including snapshots, in the "Patch Notes" section.



Installations[]



Create a new installation.



You can edit and create custom installations in the "Installations” section. You can sort and search for installations. There are also checkboxes that allow you to install "Releases", Snapshots, and Modded versions of the game. Installations are stored in launcher_profiles.json (or launcher_profiles_microsoft_store.json when using the new Minecraft Launcher for Windows) in the game's directory (.minecraft).



There are two default installations: one for the "Latest release" (if enabled), and one for the "Latest snapshot". Both of these cannot be modified. You can create a brand new installation by clicking the button "New installation", or edit an existing installation by clicking it. You will find a button called "Play" that launches the chosen installation. There is also a folder icon that takes you to the game directory. The ellipses icon allows you to edit or duplicate an installation and delete it.



You can modify the following options on the create/edit installation page:



- Icon. You can choose from the default icons or add your own. Custom icons must be a .png and 128x128 pixels in size. - Name, by default called "". - Version. This allows access to older releases as well as snapshots (if you have this option). - Game directory. This is the location where game files are saved. The location can be entered or selected by clicking the "Browse” link. - Resolution, which changes the game's windows size. You can choose from a variety of resolutions or create your own. - Java executable, by default uses the bundled java runtime. - JVM arguments such as heap size. Before, it was possible for the users to manually set a logging configuration (see Debugging on wiki.vg for more info), however this doesn't seem to work anymore. [3]



You can also download a specific game version's server. To do this, select the version from the list and click the "Server" button.



Backward compatibility[]



Selecting older versions in the create new installation screen.



The Minecraft Launcher can play older releases (and older snapshots, if disabled) by default. However, it can also play older versions before Release 1.0. To view these versions in your installations section, you must enable "Show historic versions of Java Edition" under the Minecraft Launcher Settings tab. Because these versions are outdated and unsupported, they may contain bugs and errors that are not present in newer versions. To avoid save corruption, it is recommended to run the older versions in a separate directory. [4]



Once historical versions are enabled, the following can be accessed:



- Most beta version. - Most alpha version. - One infdev version. - Four classic versions. - Five pre-classic versions. [5]


These older versions can have issues, including:



- Some sounds may not work properly; doors, explosions, bows and doors use sounds from RC1, even if they were not available in previous versions. In versions before Alpha 1.1.2_01, sounds do not work at all. Versions prior to 1.7 do not have skins because they use a different skin server. This server has since been closed down. Capes might still work, however. [Needs testing]: The Minecraft Launcher does not correctly set the player’s nickname in Alpha 1.0.15, Alpha 1.2.0, and Alpha 1.2.6. As a result, everyone uses default names like "Player" followed a random 3-digit code. This makes multiplayer difficult as players' inventory and location are reset every time they relaunch their client.


- Alpha 1.2.5 and Alpha 1.2.6 are specifically designed to have players named "Player524". Multiplayer is impossible in these versions, as you can't join the same server and play with other players with the exact same name.


Online mode does not work in versions prior Beta 1.8, as a side effect to the above and because of the shutdown of old authentication server,


Skins[]



The skins section



The "Skins” section allows you to view and edit your in-game skin. By default, the skin will be either Steve or Alex.



In the skins library, skin can be applied by clicking "Use". You can edit, duplicate, and delete the skin by clicking on the ellipsis icon. The default skins for Steve and Alex are stored in the library. They can be duplicated, applied, or removed.



If you visit this section without purchasing the game, a button will redirect to the Minecraft: Java Edition store page.



Minecraft for Windows[]



The main "Play” section allows the user (if required) to download and launch Minecraft (Bedrock Edition) using the "Play” button. It also includes the Xbox Gamertag of the user on the right and the latest news about the game from minecraft.net.



- The game can only be run offline if the device has not been connected to the internet. Unsupported devices are notified with a link to a website for those devices. - If the user isn't logged into an account that has purchased the game, the "Play" button appears as a "Play demo" button that links the player to the Microsoft Store to download and launch the demo version of the game.


There are sections for FAQs and Minecraft for Windows (Bedrock Edition) and Installation. You can also repair or uninstall the game from the "Installation" section. The patch notes section contains information about the latest patches.



Minecraft Dungeons[]



There are five tabs to the Minecraft Dungeons webpage: FAQ, Play and Patch notes. (On unsupported platforms, only Play, Patch notes, and DLC are displayed.



Play[]



The default view of the Minecraft Dungeons section in the Minecraft Launcher.



The main "Play” section allows the user (if needed), to download and launch the latest Minecraft Dungeons. Click the "Play" button to access images and a list below of the latest news articles on minecraft.net. This section also has a notice that you can purchase the game separately from Microsoft Store for Windows. If the player is not playing on the supported platform, a small message on the bottom is shown that displays: Where is the play button?! Minecraft Dungeons isn't available on (platform).



DLC[]



The DLC tab is located on the Minecraft Dungeons page of the Minecraft Launcher.



There is a search bar and a filter option to narrow down the results when searching the DLCs. Click the box to show the bundle and/or the DLCs.



Each DLC is shown in a card-like structure with the DLC info on the left and a cover image on the right. A slideshow can also be found at the bottom.



FAQ[]



The FAQ tab on Minecraft Dungeons is available on the Minecraft Minecraft Launcher.



The FAQ section is shown when pressing the FAQ tab. The FAQ tab contains a list of troubleshooting areas and a link that will take you to the Minecraft Dungeons FAQ.



Installation[]



Visiting this section without the game purchased displays a button that redirects to the Minecraft Dungeons buy page. If the game was purchased, it displays an uninstall and repair button.


Patch Notes[]



This section shows cards of the patch notes.


Each card has an illustration on the top, and text below that identifies the patch notes. This displays the patch notes when clicked.

Settings[]



The "About" section in the Minecraft Launcher settings.



In the main "General" section, users can:



- Change the Minecraft Launcher language. There are 66 languages available, including 2 joke languages (as of February 2021). Use the beta version to download Minecraft Launcher. Launcher must be restarted to allow the download to begin, if one is not already available. - Keep the Minecraft Launcher open while games are running. - Enable animations in the Minecraft Launcher, which are disabled by default to avoid potential motion sickness for some users. - Disable hardware acceleration. Only available for Minecraft Edition



- Open the output file when the game starts. - Option to automatically email Mojang Studios the game's crash logs. - In the Version Selector section of the Installations section, you can see historical versions (versions prior 1.0). Users can manage their Microsoft accounts by going to "Accounts".



The "About" section contains details about the Minecraft Launcher including its version, credits, and third-party licenses, as well as a list of patch notes by clicking the "What's New?" button.



Command line usage[]



The Minecraft Launcher can be invoked using the command line by typing %ProgramFiles(x86)%Minecraft LauncherMinecraftLauncher.exe in Windows or minecraft-launcher in either Mac or Linux.



The Help Message when using MinecraftLauncher.exe --help



As of version 2.2.25xx, the Minecraft Launcher has these command-line options available for Minecraft: Java Edition:



--demo - This launches the demo version of the game, much like if the game hasn't been purchased yet. -h --help – This option displays a help message about how to run it from the command line. --clean - This option deletes the "game" and "runtime" folders, including their contents, from the working directory. --launcherui - This option presents the login screen. -w, -workDir: This option is followed by a path (relative, absolute), which changes the location (and/or the name) of the.minecraft directory. - Can be used in order to create a portable copy of the game. For example, --workDir(or --workDir=. can be used to make the Minecraft Launcher use the current directory (no matter what the current folder is called).





Uninstalling the old Minecraft Unified Launcher[]



Source: "Uninstalling Old Minecraft Unified Launcher"- Minecraft Help Center.



This applies only to players using Windows 10 or newer. Older versions of Windows are not able to use the new Minecraft Launcher for Windows. To clear up any confusion between them, you can remove the old launcher by installing the new launcher. For clarity, the new launcher is referred to as the "Minecraft Launcher for Windows" and the old launcher as the "Minecraft Unified Launcher".



How to uninstall the Minecraft Unified Launcher (old launcher):



1. Click the start menu for Windows (windows icon to the bottom left). 2. Type "Add or remove programs" into the search box and click on the top entry. 3. Search for "Minecraft Launcher". The launcher to uninstall displays Mojang underneath the title "Minecraft Launcher". 4. Click the three dots shown to the left of the "Minecraft Launcher" title and select "Uninstall".


Only one launcher should be installed. Run the Minecraft Launcher for Windows to ensure it still works; if it doesn't, reinstall using the Microsoft Store.



Launcher or game mods may need to be migrated or re-installed to the new Minecraft Launcher for Windows installation location before uninstalling the old launcher. For more information, contact the mod developer.



History[]



Gallery[]



Minecraft Launcher app icon



Minecraft Launcher Microsoft Store square key art



Minecraft Launcher Microsoft Store vertical key art



Minecraft Launcher Microsoft Store horizontal key art



The initial login screen



The News tab



The Minecraft: Java Edition tab



The Minecraft Dungeons tab



The "About" section in the launcher settings.



Closeup of the Technoblade crown on the pig



Minecraft: Java Edition[]



The default installations section (with snaps enabled).



Editing an installation.



Adding a new skin.



A game crash



A warning about running another copy if the current game is running.



A warning about using an older version of the player safety features



A skin for Alex that has been removed. This used to be the default Alex skin on the Skins Tab. This would give the player an alternative skin.



A texture reproduction of the Alex skin.



Backgrounds[]



Background for the initial login screen.



The background of Java Edition and Bedrock Edition.



Background for Minecraft Dungeons.



Version history[]



The first Minecraft Launcher



From Notch's blog, an in-development image for the second launcher.



The second Minecraft Launcher. The old Minecraft logo is still visible.



The third Minecraft Launcher



The fourth Minecraft Launcher, version 1.0.



The fifth Minecraft Launcher, version 1.6.



The last update to the Legacy Minecraft Launcher, version 1.6.93.



The sixth Minecraft Launcher, version 2.0.



The sixth Minecraft Launcher, version 2.0 - login menu.



The seventh Minecraft Launcher, version 2.1.



The seventh Minecraft Launcher, version 2.1 - login menu.



2013-16[]



After the Launcher starts, click on the Launcher Log tab



The tab Local Version Editor NYI (replaced with Time Machine)



If the development launcher is not up-to-date, an error message is displayed



An error message is displayed when an old launcher after using the 9.0 launcher is opened



2016-19[]



Choose from the launcher to create your profile icons



Launcher in offline mode



The Help page



Game crash



Launcher warning about starting another Minecraft copy if it is running.



Older skin options.



Selecting an older version



The shrug emoji can sometimes be found in the upper left corner.



Trivia[]



- Version 2.2.2.2529 release notes contain text that reads Tmwa/JJse shimwa/RiJ shi ma - Both Alpha (and Classic) versions of Minecraft: Java Edition have been listed as "old_alpha", despite not being identical. [13] - The Minecraft Launcher doesn't store passwords locally. Instead, it uses an'refresh token'. - The current Minecraft Launcher is the eighth launcher for Minecraft: Java Edition, and the third that was built to automatically update itself. Mojang Studios receives reports of game crashes through Hopper. - The legacy Minecraft Launcher can be downloaded here (version 1.6.93, ~4.6MB as opposed to the modern launcher's ~85MB). However, the legacy Minecraft Launcher is incompatible with Microsoft accounts and was discontinued in Q2 2021 due to account migration. - In version 2.3.240, the pig on the Minecraft Launcher screen was given a crown in light of popular Minecraft YouTuber Technoblade passing away due to cancer.


References[]



" We're expanding our Minecraft Launcher team! We have a lot of exciting plans and are looking for another senior C++ developer to help make them happen. Do you know someone who is interested? Send them our way!" - @Dinnerbone (Nathan Adams) on Twitter, September 6, 2018 | https://help.minecraft.net/hc/articles/360052640612 | MCL-17489 | "Changing game versions" - Minecraft Help Center. "Welcome to the new Minecraft Launcher" - MCUpdate, February 21, 2011, Tumblr - Mojang.com, March 1, 2012


Homepage: https://stevelarese.com/