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How do I Download Minecraft Snapshots and Gain Early Access To Beta Builds

Home Features Adventure Minecraft How to download Minecraft Snapshots and get early access to beta builds



By Rachel Watts published 10 March 21



Check out the new features coming to the Minecraft Caves and Cliffs 1.17 update before it officially releases.



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The date for the release of Minecraft's 1.17 Caves and Cliffs update (opens in a new tab) is quickly approaching however for those who don't want to put off the update Mojang's Snapshots are an excellent way to test the upcoming features before they are released.



Minecraft Snapshots are publicly-released test builds that have unpolished features from upcoming updates for players to play with. It's an opportunity for Mojang to test how features work within the game before making them a permanent part of the official update. If players want to report bugs, they can and provide feedback to assist Mojang in making improvements.



Snapshots contain whatever the studio wants to try out and can include new biomes, mobs, game mechanics, or blocks. Snapshots contain a range of features from Caves and Cliffs, such as glowing squids (opens new tab), cave generation and abundant flora and fauna you'll find within blocky caverns. If you're okay with a few hiccups every now and then, Minecraft Snapshots are a great way to test new features prior to the update's official release. So, here's everything you need to know to see a glimpse of the future of Minecraft.



Minecraft Snapshot installation How do I access beta builds



Snapshots are available on the Java edition of Minecraft, but there is an option to view early features on the Bedrock edition, too. Test builds for the Bedrock edition on Android, Xbox One, and Windows 10 are simply called Bedrock betas. Although they're not exactly the same as Snapshots, they do include a bunch of new features.



Mojang has made jumping into the early versions of Minecraft fairly easy Here's how you can do it:



Snapshots of Minecraft: Java Edition:



- Start the Minecraft launcher. - Click the tab 'Installations'


- Check the box titled Snapshots in the upper right corner.


The most recent Snapshot will be at the bottom of your installation list


Beta on Minecraft: Bedrock Edition:



Visit the Microsoft Store app on Windows 10


Look for the Xbox Insider App and download it


- Launch the app, then click on the tab "Insider Content" on the left


- Choose Minecraft and click the join button


- The app may navigate you to Minecraft's product page if you do not have a digital copy the game.


If you're after Xbox One or Android instructions for Minecraft, visit Mojang's beta page (opens in a new tab) for further instructions. Jack To stay up to date with the latest betas and Snapshots, bookmark the Minecraft forum's news page (opens in a new tab) that provides a list of all the released versions.



Snapshots and betas are extremely unstable, and your system could crash or become janky. You shouldn't load into a world you don't mind getting corrupted. In other words, you should keep your best Minecraft builds (opens in a new tab) secure in a different world.



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Rachel had been bouncing around different gaming websites as an employee writer and freelancer for three years prior to settling at PC Gamer back in 2019. She writes mostly reviews, previews, and features, but she does occasionally add news and guides. When she's not snapping hundreds of pictures of the most popular indie hit and releasing her own games, she's nurturing her parsnip empire in Stardew Valley and planning an axolotl uprising in Minecraft. She loves 'stop and take a sniff of the roses' games, her proudest gaming moment being the time she managed to keep her virtual potted plants alive for nearly one year.


Homepage: https://ejac.org/