View source for Minecraft:Game Menu

{{Page image|Game Menu.png}}
The '''game menu''' or '''pause menu''' is one of ''Minecraft''{{'}}s multiple [[Minecraft:menu screen]]s. Activated during gameplay, it provides a portal to configure game options, quit out of a world, and more. This menu can be accessed anytime (when not in a [[Minecraft:GUI]]) by pausing the game with the {{Key|Esc}} key.

The game completely freezes when the game menu is opened in singleplayer. {{IN|be}}, a setting to disable pausing in singleplayer is available, and enabled by default.<ref name="pause preview">{{cite|url=https://feedback.minecraft.net/hc/en-us/articles/34034576387469-Minecraft-1-21-60-Bedrock|title=Minecraft - 1.21.60 (Bedrock)|website=Minecraft Feedback|date=February 11, 2025|Quote=The pause functionality will only be available in Beta and Preview for the time being.}}</ref> The game is not paused in {{edu}}, but singleplayer and multiplayer worlds can be paused when connected to the companion app ''[[Minecraft:Classroom Mode|Classroom Mode For Minecraft]]''.

== ''Java Edition'' ==
[[File:Game Menu.png|right|thumb|The pause screen {{in|je}} in singleplayer.|310px]]
[[File:Java Edition Multiplayer Pause Menu.png|right|thumb|The pause screen {{in|je}} in multiplayer.|310px]]
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Option
!Description
|-
|style="font-size: large; text-align: center;" | {{Btn|Back to Game|20em}}
|Closes the game menu and allows the player to continue playing ''Minecraft''.
|-
|style="font-size: large; text-align: center;" | {{Btn|Advancements|9em}}
|Shows all of the [[Minecraft:advancement]]s the player has and hasn't completed.
|-
|style="font-size: large; text-align: center;" | {{Btn|Statistics|9em}}
|Shows the player's [[Minecraft:statistics]].
|-
|style="font-size: large; text-align: center;" | {{Btn|Give Feedback|9em}}
|Provides a link to the [[Minecraft:feedback site]].
|-
|style="font-size: large; text-align: center;" | {{Btn|Report Bugs|9em}}
|Provides a link to the ''Java Edition'' page on [[Minecraft:bug tracker]].
|-
|style="font-size: large; text-align: center;" | {{Btn|Server Links...|9em}}
|Opens the server links screen. Server links can point to the server's website, forums, bug tracker, feedback site, and more. See {{section link||Server links}}.

If the server sends out the server links, the "Report Bugs" and "Give Feedback" buttons are moved into a sub-screen, accessible by "Feedback..." button.<ref>https://feedback.minecraft.net/hc/en-us/articles/27547857163917-Minecraft-Java-Edition-1-21-Tricky-Trials</ref>
|-
|style="font-size: large; text-align: center;" | {{Btn|Options...|9em}}
|Opens the [[Minecraft:options]] menu, which can change the [[Minecraft:difficulty]], controls, settings, [[Minecraft:resource pack]]s, music, sounds, and more.
|-
|style="font-size: large; text-align: center;" | {{Btn|Open to LAN|9em}}
|Provides an option to allow players from the [[Minecraft:LAN|local network]] to play in this world.
|-
|style="font-size: large; text-align: center;" | {{Btn|Player Reporting|9em}}
|Opens the [[Minecraft:Social interactions]] screen. Note that it is only accessible in multiplayer games.
|-
|style="font-size: large; text-align: center;" | {{Btn|Save and Quit to Title|20em}}
|Saves the game's progress and goes back to the menu screen.
|-
|style="font-size: large; text-align: center;" | {{Btn|Disconnect|20em}}
|Disconnects the player from the world (leaves the world). Replaces the "Save and Quit to Title" button in [[Minecraft:multiplayer]] games.
|}

== ''Bedrock Edition'' ==
[[File:Pause Menu (Bedrock 26.0).png|thumb|The game menu {{in|bedrock}}.]]
[[File:Pause menu (Bedrock Preview 26.10.23).png|thumb|The game menu in ''Minecraft Preview''.]]
The game menu appears as an overlay with a gray section on the left containing the game's [[Minecraft:logo]] and some buttons. A message shows when the game is paused. On the right side, an animated player doll is shown with the player's [[Minecraft:skin]] and name tag, with a button to open the dressing room and the social drawer.
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Option
!Description
|-
| style="font-size: large; text-align: center;" | [[File:Bedrock_Resume_Game_button.png|200px|Resume Game]]
|Closes the game menu and allows the player to continue playing ''Minecraft''.
|-
| style="font-size: large; text-align: center;" | [[File:Bedrock_Realms_Stories_button.png|link=Realms Stories|200px|Realms Stories]]
[[File:Bedrock Realms Stories button (pause menu preview).png|link=Realms Stories|40px|Realms Stories]]
|Opens [[Minecraft:Realms Stories]], only available when playing in a [[Minecraft:Realms|Realm]]. On the top-right of this button, the amount of unread posts is shown. Shown as the second button on the bottom in beta or ''Preview''.
|-
| style="font-size: large; text-align: center;" | [[File:Bedrock_Marketplace_button_(Pause_Menu).png|link=Marketplace|200px|Marketplace]]<br>
[[File:Bedrock Marketplace button (pause menu preview).png|link=Marketplace|40px|Marketplace]]
|Opens the [[Minecraft:Marketplace]]. Shown as the second/third button on the bottom on Realms, or in beta or ''Preview''.
|-
| style="font-size: large; text-align: center;" | [[File:Bedrock Beta Feedback button.png|link=Feedback site|200px|Beta Feedback]]
|Opens the [[Minecraft:feedback site]]. This is only available in beta or ''Preview'', and replaces the Browse Add-ons! button.
|-
| style="font-size: large; text-align: center;" | [[File:26.0 Settings Button.png|link=Settings|200px|Settings]]
|Opens the [[Minecraft:Settings#Bedrock_Edition|settings]] menu, which allows the player to configure controls, difficulty, sounds, and more. Some [[Minecraft:World Options|world options]] can also be changed from this menu.
|-
| style="font-size: large; text-align: center;" | [[File:Bedrock_Save_&_Quit_button.png|link=Loading world screen|200px|Save & Quit]]
|Saves the game's progress and goes back to the previously opened menu screen.
|-
| style="font-size: large; text-align: center;" | [[File:BedrockAchievements.png|Achievements|40px|link=Achievement]]
|Opens the [[Minecraft:achievement]]s page, where all locked, completed, and in progress achievements can be seen as well as rewards.
|-
| style="font-size: large; text-align: center;" | [[File:Bedrock How to Play button (pause menu).png|How to Play|40px|link=How to Play]]
|Opens the [[Minecraft:How to Play]] guide, where basic information about gameplay is explained.
|-
| style="font-size: large; text-align: center;" | [[File:BedrockScreenshot.png|frameless|Take Screenshot|40px|link=Screenshot]]
|[[Minecraft:Screenshot]]s the current in-game perspective. This feature is only available for signed in players.
|-
| style="font-size: large; text-align: center;" | [[File:BedrockDressingRoom.png|link=Dressing Room|150px|Dressing Room]]
|Allows the player to change their skin and access the [[Minecraft:Character Creator|character creator]].
|-
| style="font-size: large; text-align: center;" | [[File:Bedrock Social button (pause menu).png|link=Social|150px|Social]]
|Opens the [[Minecraft:Ore UI]] social drawer, with a list of players in the world, and friends. The number shows the amount of online friends.
|}

=== Social drawer ===
{{main|Social}}
[[File:Ore UI - Game Menu - Social Drawer Screen Menu (Bedrock).png|thumb|The social drawer in the game menu.]]
Similar to the social drawer in the [[Minecraft:play]] and [[Minecraft:profile]] screen, this shows a list of all online and offline in-game friends. At the top of the list, all players currently in the world are shown. Each player button shows their activity below the gamertag, and can be pressed to open their profile. The button on the right can be used to manage some options for the player. At the top of the social drawer, there are buttons to invite friends to the world or manage [[Minecraft:player permissions]].

After the release of [[Minecraft:parties]],{{upcoming|nocat=1}} the social drawer is organized in three tabs. A "Search for people" bar above opens the "Search for players" screen, where new friends can be added. The "World" tab shows exactly the same features as the old social drawer. The "People" tab shows the same features as the social drawer in the game menus (without players currently in the world), and the "Party" tab shows players currently in the party, with some options, or a button to create a party.

== Custom buttons ==
{{Exclusive|Java|section=1}}
It is possible for servers and [[Minecraft:data pack]]s to add a button to the game menu. In that case, the "Report Bugs" and "Give Feedback" buttons are moved into a sub-screen, accessible by "Feedback..." button.

=== Dialogs ===
[[Minecraft:Dialog]]s can be added to the pause screen by adding them to the {{tag link|dialog|minecraft:pause_screen_additions}} tag. If more than one dialog is added, a "Custom Options..." button is shown that leads to a sub-screen listing all dialogs.

=== Server links ===
{{See also|Java Edition protocol/Packets#Server Links (configuration)}}
[[File:Pause Menu with Server Links.png|thumb|right|The pause screen {{in|je}} in multiplayer with server links.|310px]]
[[File:Server Links.png|thumb|right|The server links screen with built-in and custom links.|310px]]

Server [[Minecraft:operator]]s can provide '''server links''' to their website, forums, bug tracker, feedback site, and more. They are shown using the {{cd|[[Minecraft:Dialog#server_links|minecraft:server_links]]}} dialog. This dialog is automatically added to the {{tag link|dialog|minecraft:pause_screen_additions}} tag when that tag is empty otherwise and the server specifies server links.

Each of the server links is customizable: built-in server links have predefined labels, while custom server links allow custom labels using [[Minecraft:text component format]]. Operators can set custom links for their built-in and custom server links.

There are ten built-in server links that operators can use:

{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Option
!Description
|-
|style="font-size: large; text-align: center;" | {{Btn|Bug Report|20em}}
|Provides the server's bug tracker website, where players can report a server-specific bug. This link will also be displayed on the players' connection error screen, and included as a comment in the disconnection report.
|-
|style="font-size: large; text-align: center;" | {{Btn|Community Guidelines|20em}}
|Provides the server's community guidelines for players.
|-
|style="font-size: large; text-align: center;" | {{Btn|Support|20em}}
|Provides the server's help and support page for players.
|-
|style="font-size: large; text-align: center;" | {{Btn|Status|20em}}
|Provides the server's uptime status for players to check if the server is online, or offline under specific reasons.
|-
|style="font-size: large; text-align: center;" | {{Btn|Feedback|20em}}
|Provides the server's feedback page for players to post their feedback and participate.
|-
|style="font-size: large; text-align: center;" | {{Btn|Community|20em}}
|Provides the server's community page for players to interact with the community.
|-
|style="font-size: large; text-align: center;" | {{Btn|Website|20em}}
|Provides the server's website.
|-
|style="font-size: large; text-align: center;" | {{Btn|Forums|20em}}
|Provides the server's forums.
|-
|style="font-size: large; text-align: center;" | {{Btn|News|20em}}
|Provides the server's news page.
|-
|style="font-size: large; text-align: center;" | {{Btn|Announcements|20em}}
|Provides the server's announcements, where players can read important news or events for the server.
|}

Server links can only be specified through custom server-sent packets to the client. The [[Minecraft:vanilla]] [[Minecraft:server.jar|server software]] does not provide any settings nor utilities for this, and thus cannot be configured without [[Minecraft:modification]]s to the software or third-party utilities. The {{cd|[[Minecraft:server.properties]]}} also provides no settings for server links.

== Sounds ==
{{edition|java}}:
{{SoundTable
| type = java
| {{SoundLine
|sound =Click stereo.ogg
|subtitle=''None''
|source=ui
|description=When a menu button is clicked
|id=ui.button.click
|translationkey=''None''
|volume=0.25
|pitch=1.0
| distance = 16
}}
}}

{{edition|bedrock}}:
{{SoundTable
| type = bedrock
| {{SoundLine
| sound =Click stereo.ogg
|subtitle=Pressure Plate clicks<ref name=bug>Although there is a subtitle and a translation key assigned to this sound, the subtitle only appears if the sound is played directly in-game.</ref>	
|source=sound
|description=When a menu button is clicked
|id=random.click
|translationkey=subtitles.block.pressure_plate.click<ref name=bug></ref>
|volume=0.2
| pitch = 1.0
}}
}}

== History ==
{{more images|Comparison of button texture scaling before and after 23w31a.}}

=== ''Java Edition'' ===
{{HistoryTable
|{{HistoryLine|java classic}}
|{{HistoryLine||0.0.13a|[[File:0.0.13a-launcher menuscreen.png|48px]] Added the pause menu, which, like today, could be opened by pressing {{key|Esc}}.}}
|{{HistoryLine||0.0.13a_03|[[File:0.0.13a_03 menuscreen.png|48px]] Added "Game menu" title.}}
|{{HistoryLine||0.0.14a|[[File:0.0.22a_05 menuscreen.png|48px]] Changed "Generate new level" to "Generate new level..." button.}}
|{{HistoryLine||unknown|[[File:0.0.22a_05 server menuscreen.png|48px]] The "Generate new level...", "Save level.." and "Load level.." buttons are unclickable and a different color on a server.}}|{{HistoryLine||0.0.23a|[[File:0.0.23a_01 menuscreen.png|48px]] Added "Options..." button.
|Menu buttons now have a stone like texture.}}
|{{HistoryLine|java indev}}
|{{HistoryLine||0.31|dev=20100206-1437|Pause menu now stops the game.}}
|{{HistoryLine|java infdev}}
|{{HistoryLine||20100327|[[File:Infdev march 27 menuscreen.png|48px]] Added "Change world..." and "Quit game" buttons.
|Removed "Generate new level...", "Save level..", and "Load level.." buttons.}}
|{{HistoryLine||20100608|[[File:Infdev 20100608 Game menu.png|48px]] Changed background overlay.}}
|{{HistoryLine||20100624|[[File:Infdev 20100624 Game menu.png|48px]] Changed "Quit game" to "Save and quit to title.." button and background overlay.
|Removed "Change world..." button.}}
|{{HistoryLine||20100629|[[File:Infdev 20100629 Game menu.png|48px]] Moved buttons closer to center and swapped "Back to game" and "Options..." buttons.}}
|{{HistoryLine|java alpha}}
|{{HistoryLine||v1.0.9|[[File:Alpha v1.0.9 Game menu.png|48px]] The background overlay has now been darker.}}
|{{HistoryLine||v1.0.12|Changed "Save and quit to title.." to "Save and quit to title".}}
|{{HistoryLine|java beta}}
|{{HistoryLine||1.5|[[File:Beta 1.5 menuscreen.png|48px]] Added "Achievements" and "Statistics" buttons.}}
|{{HistoryLine|java}}
|{{HistoryLine||1.1|dev=11w49a|[[File:11w49a menuscreen.png|48px]] Changed "Back to game" to "Back to Game" and "Save and quit to title" to "Save and Quit to Title" buttons.}}
|{{HistoryLine||1.3.1|dev=12w18a|The "Saving level..." text no longer appears in the pause menu among [[Minecraft:Java Edition 12w18a/List of broken features|several other features broken by this version]].{{check the code|May have been intentionally removed, it did appear in multiplayer before 12w18a.}}}}
|{{HistoryLine|||dev=12w25a|[[File:12w25a menuscreen.png|48px]] Added "Open to LAN" button.}}
|{{HistoryLine||1.11|dev=16w38a|Capitalized "Game menu" to "Game Menu" title.}}
|{{HistoryLine||1.12|dev=17w13a|[[File:17w13a menuscreen.png|48px]] Changed "Achievements" to "Advancements" button.}}
|{{HistoryLine||1.14|dev=18w43a|[[File:18w43a menuscreen.png|48px]] Added the "Give Feedback" and "Report Bugs" buttons.}}
|{{HistoryLine||1.19.1|dev=22w24a|Added a "Player Reporting" button, which is only visible while on a server.}}
|{{HistoryLine||1.19.3|dev=22w43a|[[File:22w43a menuscreen.png|48px]] Moved down title and buttons.}}
|{{HistoryLine|||dev=pre1|[[File:18w43a menuscreen.png|48px]] Reverted 22w43a changes.}}
|{{HistoryLine||1.20.2|dev=23w31a|Buttons now use a proper nine-slice system.{{info needed|how exactly did the texture scaling work before?}} The appearance of the buttons has now slightly changed.<ref>{{bug|MC-264573}}</ref>}}
|{{HistoryLine||1.20.5|dev=24w09a|The overlaid background is now less dark and is handled as a texture file that can be configured via resource packs.
|A configurable box blur effect is now applied to the game while paused.}}
|{{HistoryLine|||dev=24w11a|A linear blur is now applied to the game while paused.}}
|{{HistoryLine||1.21|dev=24w21a|Added server links button and menu.}}
|{{HistoryLine||1.21.6|dev=25w20a|Music now plays when the game is paused.
|Data packs can request some of the available dialogs to be accessible from Pause screen. This feature replaces the "Server Links" button and is placed on Pause screen according to the same rules.}}
|{{HistoryLine|||dev=pre3|The button clicking sound is now controlled by the "UI" source.}}
}}

=== ''Bedrock Edition'' ===
{{HistoryTable
|{{HistoryLine|pocket alpha}}
|{{HistoryLine||v0.1.0|Added the pause menu.}}
|{{HistoryLine||v0.1.2|The pause menu now allows users to switch to third person view and disable sound.}}
|{{HistoryLine||v0.7.0|The pause menu has been redesigned.|Switching to third person view and changing sound volume is now done via the Options menu.|Removed ability to change server visibility.}}
|{{HistoryLine||v0.7.2|Added list of players to the pause menu.}}
|{{HistoryLine||v0.15.0|dev=build 1|Added Achievements button to pause menu.}}
|{{HistoryLine||v0.16.0|dev=build 1|The pause menu has been redesigned.}}
|{{HistoryLine|bedrock}}
|{{HistoryLine||1.2.0|dev=beta 1.2.0.2|Player permissions are configurable in the pause menu.}}
|{{HistoryLine||1.9.0|dev=beta 1.9.0.2|Added "Feedback" button to the pause menu.}}
|{{HistoryLine||1.13.0|dev=beta 1.13.0.15|Replaced the hanger button with a "Profile" button.}}
|{{HistoryLine||1.17.30|dev=beta 1.17.30.20|The feedback button now appears at the down left as an icon.
|The options, achievements, or invite button now appear beside the feedback button.}}
|{{HistoryLine|||dev=beta 1.17.30.22|The "Profile" button menu to Character Creator has been renamed to "Dressing Room".}}
|{{HistoryLine||1.21.30|dev=Preview 1.21.30.23|Added a button to the pause menu that takes a screenshot.}}
|{{HistoryLine||1.21.60|dev=Preview 1.21.60.21|The game now completely freezes when the pause menu is opened in single player. This feature can be turned on/off from the [[Minecraft:setting]]s in the general section. This feature, however, is only available in betas and previews.<ref name="pause preview"/>}}
|{{HistoryLine||1.21.70|The game now completely freezes when the pause menu is opened in single player. No longer exclusive to betas and previews. This feature is not present on Nintendo Switch.}}
|{{HistoryLine||1.21.111|dev=Preview 1.21.110.25|[[File:New UI - Pause Menu "Social" Tab - People Screen Menu (Bedrock Preview 1.21.110.25).png|48px]] Removed the player list, permissions, and "Invite to Game" button and renamed the "Friends" button to "Social", which opens an updated player list with new buttons to open the player permissions screen,  view each player's permissions, invite players, and manage some options for a player. This change only affects ''Minecraft Preview''.}}
|{{HistoryLine||1.21.120|dev=Preview 1.21.120.21|[[File:New_UI_-_Pause Menu_(Bedrock_Preview_1.21.120.21).png|53px]] Redesigned the pause menu with some buttons moved to the bottom with icons, and a larger player skin.}}
|{{HistoryLine||26.0|dev=Preview 26.0.25|[[File:Pause menu (Bedrock Preview 26.0.25).png|53px]] The Settings button has been changed back into being a text button, and the pause notice has been moved to the top-right.|[[File:New UI - Pause Menu - Social Tab Screen Menu - World Tab (Bedrock Preview 26.0.25).png|53px]] [[File:New UI - Pause Menu - Social Tab Screen Menu - People Tab (Bedrock Preview 26.0.25).png|53px]] [[File:New UI - Pause Menu - Social Tab Screen Menu - Party Tab (Bedrock Preview 26.0.25).png|53px]] The social drawer has been updated and is now separated into three tabs, one for the old pause menu drawer, one for the main menu drawer, and one for the new party system.}}
|{{HistoryLine||26.10|dev=Preview 26.10.23|Added a Beta Feedback button in ''Preview'' and betas, which opens the feedback site. This replaces the Browse Add-ons! button, which has been moved to the small buttons below.|The small buttons now show a tooltip similar to [[Minecraft:hotbar]] tooltips on hover.}}
|{{HistoryLine|||dev=Preview 26.10.24|Added a button opening the [[Minecraft:How to Play]] guide to the game menu.}}
}}

=== Legacy Console Edition ===
{{HistoryTable
|{{HistoryLine|console}}
|{{HistoryLine||xbox=Build 0016|xbone=CU1|ps3=1.00|psvita=1.00|ps4=1.00|wiiu=Patch 1|switch=1.0.1|Added the pause menu.}}
|{{HistoryLine||xbox=TU0|Pause menu is now lower.}}}}

== Issues ==
{{Issue list}}

== Gallery ==
=== ''Java Edition'' ===
<gallery>
File:0.0.22a_05_menuscreen.png|[[Minecraft:0.0.22a 05]]
File:Infdev_20100629_Game_menu.png|[[Minecraft:Infdev 20100629]]
File:11w49a_menuscreen.png|[[Minecraft:11w49a]]
File:12w25a_menuscreen.png|[[Minecraft:12w25a]]
File:Java Edition Multiplayer Pause Menu.png|[[Minecraft:22w24a]]
</gallery>

=== ''Pocket Edition'' ===
<gallery>
Pocket Edition Pause Menu v0.7.2 alpha.png|[[Minecraft:Pocket Edition v0.7.2|v0.7.2]]
Pocket Edition Pause Menu 1.1.5.jpg|[[Minecraft:Pocket Edition v0.16.0 alpha build 1|v0.16.0 alpha build 1]] - [[Minecraft:Pocket Edition 1.1.5|1.1.5]]
</gallery>

=== ''Bedrock Edition'' ===
<gallery>
File:Bedrock Edition Pause Menu beta 1.13.0.13.png|[[Minecraft:Bedrock Edition beta 1.2.0.2|1.2.0.2]] - [[Minecraft:Bedrock Edition beta 1.13.0.13|1.13.0.13]]
File:Bedrock Edition Pause Menu beta 1.17.30.20.png|[[Minecraft:Bedrock Edition beta 1.17.30.20|1.17.30.20]] - [[Minecraft:Bedrock Edition beta 1.17.30.21|1.17.30.21]]
File:Bedrock Edition Pause Menu with screenshot button.png|Before [[Minecraft:Bedrock Edition 1.21.120|1.21.120]]
File:New UI - Pause Menu "Social" Tab - People Screen Menu (Bedrock Preview 1.21.110.25).png|The new player list in the old game menu in ''[[Minecraft:Minecraft Preview|Preview]]'' only, from [[Minecraft:Bedrock Edition Preview 1.21.110.25|1.21.110.25]] - [[Minecraft:Bedrock Edition Preview 1.21.120.20|1.21.120.20]].
File:Pause menu (Bedrock Demo Mode).png|The game menu in [[Minecraft:demo mode]]
File:Pause menu with screenshot button (Bedrock).png|Before [[Minecraft:Bedrock Edition 26.0|26.0]]
File:Game Menu Realms (Bedrock).png|The game menu on [[Minecraft:Realms]]
</gallery>

=== Mojang screenshots ===
<gallery>
File:Grog Grog pause.jpeg|An example of a game being paused.
File:Creeper paused.jpeg|A [[Minecraft:creeper]] in the game menu mid-ignition.
</gallery>

== See also ==
* [[Minecraft:Options]]
* [[Minecraft:Settings]]
* [[Minecraft:Menu screen]]
* [[Minecraft:Ore UI]], the {{BE}} UI refresh

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== Navigation ==
{{Navbox Minecraft|General}}

[[Category:Menu screens]]

[[Minecraft:de:Menü/Spielmenü]]
[[Minecraft:es:Menú de pausa]]
[[Minecraft:fr:Menu de pause]]
[[Minecraft:ja:一時停止メニュー]]
[[Minecraft:ko:일시 정지 메뉴]]
[[Minecraft:pt:Menu de pausa]]
[[Minecraft:zh:暂停菜单]]