Minecraft:Minecraft Launcher
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The Minecraft Launcher is the main game downloader and launcher for Minecraft: Java Edition and one of the game downloaders and launchers for Template:BE, Template:MCD, and Template:MCL. It is available for Template:W, Template:W and Template:W, but Minecraft: Bedrock Edition and Minecraft Legends can be played only on Windows 10 & 11, and Minecraft Dungeons only on Windows 7 or later.
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. Subsequent logins can be done in the "Settings" tab.
On the left side, a "News" tab, a tab for each game, and the Minecraft Launcher "Settings" tab can be seen.
The top left corner of the Minecraft Launcher contains the user's Xbox gamertag for the currently active account (which might differ from their Minecraft: Java Edition username)<ref>https://help.minecraft.net/hc/articles/360052640612</ref>. By clicking on it, users can manage or log out of their active account, and see a "Help" page with various links to helpful resources.
Minecraft: Java Edition
There are 5 tabs on the Minecraft:Java Edition page: Play, Installations, Realms, Skins, and Patch notes.
The main "Play" section allows the user to download (if needed) and launch Minecraft: Java Edition with the "Play" button, and also includes an installation selection on the left (which sorts installations by last played), the user's Java Edition username on the right, and a list of the latest news for the game from Minecraft:minecraft.net below.
- One can launch multiple instances of the game by pressing the "Play" button while the game is running.
- If the device is not connected to the internet, the game can be run in offline mode, but only if the game has been initially downloaded.
- If the user isn't logged into an account that has purchased the game, the "Play" button appears as a "Play demo" button that downloads and launches the Minecraft:demo version of the game.
There is also a "Patch notes" section where the patch notes of the game's update can be seen, including the snapshots (if enabled).
Installations
In the "Installations" section, custom installations can be created and edited. There are buttons to sort and search installations, as well as checkboxes to enable installations with "Releases", "Snapshot", and "Modded" versions of the game. Installations are stored in Minecraft:launcher_profiles.json (or launcher_profiles_microsoft_store.json when using the new Minecraft Launcher for Windows) in the game's directory (Minecraft:.minecraft).
By default, there are installations for the "Latest release" and for "Latest snapshot" (if enabled), both of which the game versions cannot be changed. A new installation can be created by clicking the "New installation" button and an existing installation can be edited by clicking on it. There is a "Play" button that launches the selected installation and a folder icon that takes to the installation's game directory. The ellipses button contains the options to edit, duplicate, or delete an installation.
On the create/edit installation page, the following can be changed:
- Icon, by selecting one of the default ones or adding a custom one. Custom icons must be a .png and 128×128 pixels in size.
- Name, by default called "<unnamed installation>".
- Version, which includes access to older releases and snapshots (if enabled).
- Game directory, the location of where the game files are saved, the default being Minecraft:.minecraft. The location can be typed in or selected using the "Browse" button.
- Resolution, which changes the game's windows size. It has a list of resolutions, or a custom one can be typed in.
- Java executable, by default uses the bundled java runtime.
- JVM arguments, such as heap size or enabling Minecraft:debug renderers not normally accessible in the Minecraft:debug screen such as mob pathfinding.
Before, it was possible for the users to manually set a logging configuration (see Debugging for more info), however this doesn't seem to work anymore.<ref>Template:Bug</ref>
A specific game version's server jar can also be downloaded by selecting the version in the list and pressing the "Server" button next to it.
Backward compatibility
The Minecraft Launcher has the ability to play most older releases of the game (and older snapshots, if enabled) by default, but also some older versions prior to Minecraft:Java Edition 1.0.0. In order to see these versions in the installations section, the player must enable "Show historical versions of Java Edition" in 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. It is recommended to run old versions of the game in a separate directory and backup worlds to avoid save corruption or other problems.<ref>Template:Cite</ref>
Once historical versions are enabled, the following can be accessed:
- Most Beta versions.
- Most Alpha versions. (however, Minecraft:Alpha v1.2.0 and Minecraft:Alpha v1.2.1 are duplicated from Minecraft:Alpha v1.2.0_02 and Minecraft:Alpha v1.2.1_01 respectively.)
- One Minecraft:Infdev version.
- Four Classic versions.
- Five Minecraft:pre-Classic versions (however Minecraft:rd-20090515 is a duplicate from Minecraft:rd-161348).<ref>Template:Tweet</ref>
This list of versions is populated by Minecraft:version_manifest.json.
Some issues with these older versions include:
- Some sounds are wrong; Minecraft:bows, Minecraft:doors, and Minecraft:explosions use their sounds from Minecraft:RC1, even in versions released prior to it. In versions before Minecraft:Alpha v1.1.2_01, sounds do not work at all.
- Minecraft:Skins and Minecraft:capes are missing in versions prior to 1.7.6, as earlier versions used a different skin server, which has since been shut down.
- In Minecraft:Alpha v1.0.15 and from Minecraft:Alpha v1.2.0 to Minecraft:Alpha v1.2.6, the Minecraft Launcher does not set the player's name properly, resulting in everyone using default names: "Player" followed by a random 3-digit number. This makes multiplayer difficult to play, as a player's location and inventory is reset every time they relaunch their client.
- In Minecraft:Alpha v1.2.5 and Alpha v1.2.6 specifically, players are always named "Player524". Playing multiplayer in these versions is impossible, as joining a server kicks off other players with the same name.
- As a side effect of the above, and as a result of old authentication servers being shut down, online mode no longer works in versions before Minecraft:Beta 1.8.
Realms
In the "Realms" section, the user can buy, play, and manage a Minecraft Realm. Players can choose their Installation of choice before launching a realm.
Skins
In the "Skins" section, the user can view and change their in-game skin. By default, the skin is either Steve, Alex, Noor, Sunny, Ari, Zuri, Makena, Kai, or Efe.
In the Skins library, skin can be applied by clicking "Use". The skin can also be edited, duplicated, chosen to be either wide or slim, or delete by clicking the ellipsis button. By default, the library contains the default Steve, Alex, Noor, Sunny, Ari, Zuri, Makena, Kai, and Efe skins, which can be duplicated or applied, but not removed. Custom skins can also be uploaded by clicking the "New skin" button.
Visiting this section without purchasing the game displays a button that redirects to the Minecraft: Java Edition store page.
Patch Notes
This section shows cards of the patch notes. Each card contains an image on top and the text below stating the name of the patch notes. When clicked, this displays the patch notes.
Minecraft: Bedrock Edition
There are 7 tabs on the Minecraft:Bedrock Edition page: Play, Realms, Creator Tools, Marketplace, FAQ, Installation and Patch notes.
The main "Play" section allows the user to download or purchase (if needed) and launch Minecraft: Bedrock Edition<ref name=":0">“Minecraft for Windows” has been renamed to “Minecraft: Bedrock Edition” in the Launcher - @MinecraftWikiEN (Minecraft Wiki) on X (formerly Twitter), September 10, 2024</ref> with the "Play" button and also includes an installation selection on the left to choose between the latest release or the latest Minecraft:Preview. The Minecraft:Minecoins balance is shown on the right which opens a Minecoins purchase screen when clicked. The latest game news from Minecraft:minecraft.net and system requirements are shown in a scrollable section below. Minecraft:Quick Play is accessible and can be managed from the top-right.
- If the device is not connected to the internet, the game can be run in offline mode, but only if the game has been initially downloaded.
- If the user is on an unsupported device, a warning appears with a link to a website with supported devices, the "Play" button got replaced with "Not Playable on this Device".
- 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 Microsoft Store to download and launch the Minecraft:demo version of the game.
The Play section is decorated with key art from the latest named update and allows Minecraft: Pixel Drift to be played in place.
Realms
In the "Realms" section, the user can buy, join, and manage Minecraft:Realms. Owned and joined Realms are shown with some server information, and a list of pending invites. Joined Realms can be left from here, but all other settings can only be managed in-game or from the minecraft.net page linked here.
Creator Tools
In the "Creator Tools" section, the user can launch Bedrock Edition with the Minecraft:Editor tools enabled, where players can use the advanced in-game tools to edit Minecraft:worlds through projects and export them as world templates, and create custom Minecraft:Vibrant Visuals resource packs. The Editor can be launched for both the latest release and Minecraft Preview.
This section has some links to articles about Minecraft:Blockbench plug-ins, Minecraft:Chunker, and the Minecraft:feedback site.
Marketplace Pass
In the "Marketplace Pass" section, the user can subscribe to the Minecraft:Marketplace Pass and access to the 150+ Marketplace content that changes every month. The links to packs and the subscribe page launch Minecraft with the respective pack or subscribe page opened in the Minecraft:Marketplace. Furthermore, this section contains information about the Marketplace Pass, the Marketplace in general, and Minecraft:Realms Plus, as well as links.
FAQ
The "FAQ" section with frequently asked questions and answers about the Minecraft Launcher, Minecraft: Java Edition and Minecraft: Bedrock Edition.
Installation
The "Installation" section is used to install, repair, uninstall the game, or check for updates for Template:BE & Minecraft Preview.
Patch Notes
The "Patch notes" section is where the patch notes of the game's major and minor updates can be seen (not including development versions and hotfixes). Each card contains an image on top and the text below stating the name of the patch notes. When clicked, this displays the patch notes, which are the same as the patch notes on minecraft.net or the feedback site.
Minecraft Dungeons II
This tab appears shortly delayed after the launcher has been started. It shows some screenshots from Minecraft:Minecraft Dungeons II as well as a link to wishlist it on the Xbox store. The page features animations and an embed for the trailer.
Minecraft Dungeons
There are 5 tabs on the Template:MCD page: Play, DLC, FAQ, Installation, and Patch notes. (Only Play, DLC, and Patch notes are shown on an unsupported platform.)
Play
The main "Play" section allows the user to download (if needed) and launch the latest version of Minecraft Dungeons with the "Play" button and also includes images from the game and a list of the latest news articles from Minecraft:minecraft.net below. This section also contains a notice that the game can be purchased separately from Template:W for Template:W. If the player is not playing on the supported platform, a small message on the bottom is shown that displays: Template:Cd
DLC
There is a search bar and a filter option to narrow down the results when searching the DLCs. The bundle and the DLCs can be shown by checking the box.
Each DLC is shown in a card-like structure with the DLC info on the left and a cover image on the right. There is also a slideshow on the bottom of the card.
FAQ
The FAQ section is shown when pressing the FAQ tab. There are a list of troubleshooting sections and a link to the Minecraft Dungeons FAQ on the Minecraft Help Center.
Installation
Visiting this section is one of the ways to install the game. If the game wasn't bought, the game purchased displays a button that redirects to the Minecraft Dungeons buy page. If the game was bought but wasn't installed, it displays the Install button and if the game was installed, it shows an uninstall, repair and check for updates button.
Patch Notes
This section shows cards of the patch notes. Each card contains an image on top and the text below stating the name of the patch notes. When clicked, this displays the patch notes.
Minecraft Legends
There are 4 tabs on the Template:MCL page: Play, FAQ, Installation, and Patch notes. (Only Play, DLC, and Patch notes are shown on an unsupported platform.)
Play
The main "Play" section allows the user to download (if needed) and launch the latest version of Minecraft Legends with the "Play" button and also includes images from the game and a list of the latest news articles from Minecraft:minecraft.net below. If the player is not playing on the supported platform, a small message on the bottom is shown that displays: Template:Cd
FAQ
The FAQ section is shown when pressing the FAQ tab. There are a list of troubleshooting sections and a link to the Minecraft Legends FAQ on the Minecraft Help Center.
Installation
Like Minecraft Dungeon's page, visiting this section is one of the ways to install Minecraft Legends. If the game wasn't bought, the game purchased displays a button that redirects to the Minecraft Legends buy page. If the game was bought but wasn't installed, it displays the Install button and if the game was installed, it shows an uninstall, repair and check for updates button.
Patch Notes
This section shows cards of the patch notes. Each card contains an image on top and the text below stating the name of the patch notes. When clicked, this displays the patch notes.
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 of the Minecraft Launcher, which requires restarting the launcher to start downloading if there is one 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.
- Review the launcher.
- Make text size bigger.
- Enable or disable Minecraft:Quick Play feature and delete all entries.
Options exclusively for Minecraft: Java Edition:
- Open the output log when the game starts.
- Option to automatically send the game's crash reports to Mojang Studios.
- Show historical versions of the game (versions prior to Release 1.0) in the version selector in the Installations section.
In the "Accounts" section, users can add, switch, manage, or remove their Microsoft 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
Template:Msgbox Template:Missing information
The Minecraft Launcher can be invoked using the command line by typing Template:Cd in Windows, Template:Cd in Linux or Template:Cd in Mac.
As of version 2.2.25xx, the Minecraft Launcher has these command-line options available for Minecraft: Java Edition:
- Template:Cd - This launches the demo version of the game, much like if the game hasn't been purchased yet.
- Template:Cd - This option displays a help message on how to run it in the command line.
- Template:Cd – This option deletes the "game" and "runtime" folders, including their contents, from the working directory.
- Template:Cd - This option presents the login screen.
- Template:Cd – This option, followed by a path (relative or absolute), changes the location (and/or name) of the .minecraft folder.
- Can be used to create a portable installation of the game. For example, Template:Cd (or Template:Cd) can be used to make the Minecraft Launcher use the current directory (no matter what the current folder is called).
- Template:Cd - .
- Template:Cd – This option, followed by a path (relative or absolute), changes the location (and/or name) of the tmp folder.
- Template:Cd - This option, followed by a path, restricts the installation directory to a specified folder.
- Template:Cd – This option adds support for Windows 10. Since the Minecraft Launcher now supports Windows 10 fully, this option is unnecessary and seems to have no effect.
- Template:Cd - This option changes where the host of the proxy is.
- Template:Cd - This option changes the default port from Template:Cd to a custom one.
- Template:Cd - This disables GPU acceleration in the Minecraft Launcher, which might fix issues when playing Minecraft..
- Template:Cd - This opens up a new window showing debug information, like "Graphic Feature Stats", which shows if Hardware acceleration is enabled on certain features, and an option to copy the content to the clipboard. These might be useful for troubleshooting purposes.
Uninstalling the old Minecraft Unified Launcher
Source: "Uninstalling the 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. With the addition of a new launcher, you can uninstall the old launcher to remove any confusion between the two. 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):
- Click the start menu in Windows (windows icon in the bottom left).
- Type in "Add or remove programs" and click the top entry.
- Search for "Minecraft Launcher". The launcher to uninstall displays Mojang underneath the title "Minecraft Launcher".
- Click the three dots shown to the left of the "Minecraft Launcher" title and select "Uninstall".
Now only one launcher should be installed. Run the Minecraft Launcher for Windows to ensure it still works; if it doesn't, reinstall using 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. Check with the mod developer for more detail.
History
Java applets
Java applets were the original way to run Minecraft. It worked using a Template:W, and was used by some players to play the game<ref>https://jvm-gaming.org/t/browser-applet-games/36314/2</ref>, even after the Minecraft:Minecraft Launcher was introduced.
- This software had a size of around 4.5 MB, excluding additional assets.
- The applet version relied on the Java plugin, which was later considered insecure and then discontinued.<ref>https://www.fortinet.com/blog/industry-trends/java-browser-plugin-is-dead-long-live-html5</ref>
- The applet was often used to violate the Minecraft EULA.
Java Edition
Minecraft Launcher
Issues
Trivia
- In version 2.2.2529 release notes there's text that reads: T⍑ᒷ ᔑ ̇/𝙹ꖎ𝙹ℸ ̣ ꖎᓭ ᔑ∷ᒷ リ𝙹ℸ ̣ ∴⍑ᔑℸ ̣ ℸ ̣ ⍑ᒷ|| ᓭᒷᒷᒲ - which translates to "THE AXOLOTLS ARE NOT WHAT THEY SEEM".
- Both Alpha and Classic versions of Minecraft: Java Edition are listed as "old_alpha", despite them not being the same.<ref>Template:Bug</ref>
- The Minecraft Launcher doesn't store passwords locally. Instead, it uses a 'refresh token'.
- The current Minecraft Launcher is the eighth launcher for Minecraft: Java Edition, and the third that was built to automatically update itself.
- Game crashes are reported to Mojang Studios through Hopper.
- The legacy Minecraft Launcher can be downloaded Template:Dl (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 Minecraft:Technoblade passing away due to cancer.
- The Armadillo loading screen animation is scaled to 1280×720 (16:9) but was originally 646×364 (≈16:9.02), causing distortion to the animation.
Gallery
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Minecraft Launcher for Windows app icon
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Minecraft Unified Launcher app icon
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Minecraft Launcher app icon on Mac-OS
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Minecraft Launcher Microsoft Store square key art
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Minecraft Launcher Microsoft Store vertical key art
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Minecraft Launcher Microsoft Store horizontal key art
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Old Minecraft Launcher Microsoft Store horizontal key art
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Minecraft Launcher for Windows splash screen
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The initial loading screen (2024-2025)
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The initial loading screen (2025-present)
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The initial login screen
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The home tab
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The Minecraft: Java Edition tab
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The Minecraft: Bedrock Edition tab
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The Minecraft Dungeons tab
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The Minecraft Legends tab
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A Minecraft Movie tab
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Close up of the pig with Technoblade’s crown. Added as a memorial after famous YouTuber Technoblade had passed away.
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Old Minecraft Launcher app icon
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Poisonous Potato "play" font
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Minecraft Live Tab
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The Bedrock Edition screen on MacOS
Minecraft: Java Edition
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The default installations section (with snapshots enabled).
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Editing an installation.
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Adding a new skin.
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A game crash
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A warning about running another copy of the game if it is already running.
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A warning about playing a version that doesn't support the latest player safety features.
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A removed Alex skin that used to represent the default Minecraft:Alex on the Skins tab. Selecting this would simply give the player the default one instead.
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A texture recreation of the removed Alex skin.
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Backgrounds
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The background for Minecraft:Java Edition and Minecraft:Bedrock Edition, featuring the Minecraft:Mounts of Mayhem official artwork.
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The background for Minecraft:Minecraft Dungeons.
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The background for Minecraft:Minecraft Legends.
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The old background for the initial login screen.
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Version history
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The first Minecraft Launcher
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In-development image of the second launcher, from Notch's blog.
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The second Minecraft Launcher. The old Minecraft logo can be seen.
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The third Minecraft Launcher
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The fourth Minecraft Launcher, version 1.0.
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The fifth Minecraft Launcher, version 1.6.
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The last update to the Legacy Minecraft Launcher, version 1.6.93.
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The sixth Minecraft Launcher, version 2.0.
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The sixth Minecraft Launcher, version 2.0 - login menu.
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The seventh Minecraft Launcher, version 2.1.
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The seventh Minecraft Launcher, version 2.1 - login menu.
2013–16
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The 2013 launcher in development.
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Minecraft:Dinnerbone logging into the launcher.
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Selecting beta versions in the launcher.
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Selecting alpha versions in the launcher.
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The Launcher Log tab after the Launcher starts
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The Local Version Editor (NYI) tab (replaced by Time Machine)
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Error message that is displayed if a development launcher is outdated
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Error message that is displayed if an old launcher is opened after using the 9.0 launcher
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Notification for the end of support for the launcher.
.png){kind=link}
2016–19
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Profile icons selection from the launcher.
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Launcher in offline mode
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The Help page
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Game crash
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Launcher warning about running another copy of Minecraft if it is already running.
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Older skin options.
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Selecting an older version.
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The creeper face that appears at the top left corner.
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The shrug emoticon that sometimes replaced the creeper face at the top left corner.
See also
References
Template:Navbox Minecraft (franchise)
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