Minecraft:Version types/Before 2026

This page documents version types for release and development versions Template:JE and Template:BE before the new version format was introduced in 2026. For the history of other version types, please see Minecraft:Version types.

Release versions

A release version is an update to the game that is fully released to all players on the main release channel. Release versions for Java Edition and Bedrock Edition typically have multiple corresponding development versions.

Major updates

Template:Main A major update is an update that adds multiple new features to the game. Typically, these include new Minecraft:biomes or Minecraft:structures as the highlights, and most of the features fit into an overarching theme as described by the update's name. For example, Minecraft:Tricky Trials adds a single new structure, and almost every new feature in the update is directly related to the Minecraft:trial chambers or is an actual part of them.

In Java Edition and Bedrock Edition, major updates always change the second number in the version number. For example, Minecraft:Java Edition 1.20 to Minecraft:Java Edition 1.21.

Minor updates

A minor update typically adds small features that complement the previous major update or make revisions to features from the major update. For example, Minecraft:Java Edition 1.16.2 and Minecraft:Bedrock Edition 1.16.20 added the Minecraft:Piglin Brute as an extra feature of the Minecraft:Nether Update. However, a minor update can also add or change features that are unrelated to the major updates before and after it.

Minor updates typically change the 3rd number in the version number. For example, Minecraft:Java Edition 1.21.4 -> Minecraft:Java Edition 1.21.5. Template:IN, the version number is usually incremented to the next 10 instead of 1 or 2 to make room for hotfixes. Minecraft:Bedrock Edition 1.18.2 -> Minecraft:Bedrock Edition 1.18.10 is an example of this.

Game drops

Template:Main Game drops are named minor updates. They tend to add new features that aren't related to the previous or next major update. However, Minecraft:Bats and Pots updates Minecraft:decorated pots, which were added in the previous major update. Also, Minecraft:Armored Paws makes Minecraft:wolves more viable in combat, which aligns with the combat-focused content of the next major update.

There is also the Minecraft:Texture Update, but its name is pretty generic, so it's not considered an update.

Hotfixes

Hotfixes fix bugs or make important revisions to features. Usually these bug fixes or revisions are related to newer features, such as features from the last major update, since any other revisions would be more appropriate for a minor update.

Hotfixes typically change the 3rd number in the version number. For example, Minecraft:Java Edition 1.14.1 -> Minecraft:Java Edition 1.14.2. This makes them look like minor updates. Hot fixes Template:In also change the 3rd number, but increase by 1 or 2 instead of going to the next 10. For example, Minecraft:Bedrock Edition 1.21.81 -> Minecraft:Bedrock Edition 1.21.82. Bedrock Edition does this because it has more hotfixes across more platforms than Java Edition, and this makes it easier to differentiate between hotfixes and minor updates.

Template:IN, un-named minor updates are also sometimes referred to as "minor hotfix updates", or since they often consist of only hotfixes and Minecraft:parity fixes. There were 5 of these in 2020, 5 in 2021, 7 in 2022, 6 in 2023, 4 in 2024, and 3 in 2025.

Development versions

A development version is a version of the game which is publicly released with the intent of testing new features, changes and bug fixes that are to make their way into the full release of a major or minor update. They are experimental (some types more so than others) and may break the game.

Java Edition

Snapshots

A "snapshot" is a term used to describe unstable development versions for Java Edition updates. Every major update, and many minor updates, have snapshots released roughly weekly for player feedback on in-development features and changes.

Snapshots use a unique naming format. The first number is the two-digit year, the second number is the two-digit week number, and the last letter increments alphabetically for each snapshot release within a week.

The first ever snapshot was Minecraft:11w47a for 1.1 in 2011.

Experimental snapshots

"Experimental snapshots" are a specific type of snapshot Mojang uses very early in the development cycle, before the standard snapshot cycle of development. These versions include even more unstable changes than standard snapshots have.

Experimental snapshots were first used for 1.18, with Minecraft:1.18 Experimental Snapshot 1, and since 1.18 they have only been used once for 1.19. This development format has been discontinued as experiments have been converted into toggleable data packs since 22w42a.

Pre-releases

A pre-release is a more stable development version of the game than a snapshot. Once development reaches the pre-release phase, the update is deemed feature complete, and subsequent pre-releases focus on fixing bugs and improving the stability of the features to be added in that update. The final pre-release may be functionally identical to the full release (for instance 1.4.7).

Pre-releases were first used for development of Minecraft:Java Edition Beta 1.8, with the first ever pre-release being Minecraft:Beta 1.8 Pre-release. At this time, snapshots did not exist yet, so this pre-release was the first development version for Beta 1.8.

Release candidates

A release candidate is a development version of the game that is intended to be the last version before the full release, unless a major game-breaking bug is discovered.<ref>Template:Mcnet</ref> Often, the full release of a version is identical to its last release candidate, differing only in the version name string, protocol version, and data version.

The first release candidate was Minecraft:RC1 for 1.0.0 in 2011. After 1.0.0, there were no release candidates until Minecraft:1.16 Release Candidate 1 in 2020.

Previews

A preview is a development version of the game that is only played by a select group outside of Mojang. Preview versions have been given to Hat Films to film the update trailers for Beta 1.6, Beta 1.7 and Beta 1.8. There was also a preview version of Beta 1.8 that was playable by attendees at PAX Prime 2011.

Bedrock Edition

Betas and previews

Development versions Template:In are known as betas and Previews.

Since the release of the Minecraft:Better Together Update to Template:BE, development builds subsequently took the form of "beta" builds, released for Android, Xbox and Windows 10.

Once development versions became available on Apple platforms, development builds were now known as Previews on those devices, while retaining the name of "beta" on Android.

Beta/Preview versions increment a 4th digit of the version number, starting on 20 or 21, and incrementing by 1 or 2 every new beta/Preview.

Usually, betas/Previews are released on Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday.