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How to download and play Minecraft on a Chromebook
Minecraft, in all its different forms and spinoffs, is one of the most popular games ever. Players of all ages have enjoyed it since its official debut in 2011. If you or your child have a Chromebook and you’re wondering if you can play Minecraft, the answer is yes. Minecraft’s developers and publishers have been working hard to make the title playable on as many devices as possible and released the official version for the game Chromebooks in 2023. Here are a couple of ways to get Minecraft running on a Chromebook.
QUICK ANSWER
You can run Minecraft on a Chromebook by installing Minecraft: Bedrock Edition from the Google Play Store to run the full version. Alternatively, you can install Minecraft Java Edition using the Linux app support in Chrome OS.
KEY SECTIONS
Installing Minecraft: Bedrock Edition from Google Play Store
Starting June 7th, 2023, Minecraft: Bedrock Edition is available on all Chromebooks. The official version includes crossplay functionality; you can play with friends across multiple platforms. It also comes with the Trails and Tales update, which consists of a host of new features, such as a cherry grove biome and the ability to ride a camel.
The Minecraft: Bedrock Edition costs $19.99 on the Google Play Store and comes with the Android version for free. However, if you already own the Android version, you can upgrade to the Chromebook version for only $12.99. The game will work with all Chromebooks released after 2020, but you can verify the minimum and recommended specs on a Minecraft support site.
Before you start, ensure your Chromebook has the latest version of Chrome OS. Open the Settings app by clicking the time at the bottom right corner of the screen, on the status bar, and clicking the Settings cog.
Select the Apps option. If your Chromebook supports Google Play Store, you will see the option on the Apps screen. Click the Turn on button next to the Google Play Store option.
Open the Google Play Store from the dock/taskbar or via search. Look for Minecraft: Bedrock Edition by searching for it. Click on the Buy button.
It’ll take some time, but Minecraft: Bedrock Edition will eventually finish installing. Launch it by clicking the Open button on the Play Store screen. You can also open it by looking for it in search.
If you don’t want to spend money, you can always download Minecraft: Education Edition for free.
Using Linux app support to install Minecraft Java Edition
The Minecraft Java Edition for Linux will only work on x86 systems. This method will not work for you if you have an ARM-based Chromebook. Also, note that your Chromebook must support Linux apps for this method to work.
Open the Settings app on your Chromebook and open the advanced settings by clicking the Advanced tab in the left navigation pane. Click the Developers tab under advanced settings. There will be a tab that says Linux development environment in the right pane. Click the Turn On button under it.
An installation window will show up. Click Next. Select the disk size according to your preference on the following screen and click Install.
It will take some time, but the installation will finish, and a terminal window will open. Update your Linux environment to the latest version by typing in the command below. Hit Enter once you type it in.
sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get upgrade -y
Head over to the Minecraft downloads page, and download the Debian / Ubuntu version by clicking Minecraft.deb. You can find it in your Downloads folder and copy the file by pressing Ctrl + C or right-clicking and Copy.
Open the Linux files folder from the left navigation pane, and paste it into the folder. Double-click the file to run.
In the window that appears, click Install. It’ll take a few seconds, and the installation will finish. Click OK to close the window.
Look for Minecraft Launcher in the search tab, and click it to launch. You can then log in with your Minecraft account and start playing.
Installing Minecraft using PojavLauncher (ARM and x86)
If your Chromebook has an ARM chipset, i.e., it runs on a CPU, not from Intel or AMD, the Linux method will not work for you. In that case, you will need to install PojavLauncher, which helps run the Android version of Minecraft on ARM-based and x86-based Chromebooks.
Open the Settings app on your Chromebook by clicking on the time at the bottom right corner of the screen, on the status bar, and clicking the Settings icon.
Click on the Apps tab. If your Chromebook supports Google Play Store, you will see the option on the Apps screen. Click the Turn on button next to the Google Play Store option.
Open the Google Play Store from the dock/taskbar or via search. Search for PojavLauncher, and open it in the Play Store by clicking on the search result. Click the Install button.
Once installed, run PojavLauncher. Grant it storage permission when prompted.
It will download and install the files needed to run Minecraft and then allow you to log in to Minecraft.
FAQs
It depends upon the kind of Chromebook you have, but most Chromebooks will be able to play Minecraft at 30 FPS at an acceptable resolution.
Yes, as of June 7th, 2023, you can download the official Minecraft: Bedrock Edition from the Google Play Store.
Minecraft is a paid game, so there’s no legal way to get it for free. All these methods will ask you to log in to a Minecraft account with a purchase associated with it.
Playing Minecraft on a school Chromebook may be technically possible, but it depends on your school’s policies and restrictions. If Linux (Beta) is enabled, you can download and install Minecraft’s Linux version from the official website. However, your school might disable such features or block game downloads and certain websites.