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Minecraft: Windows 10 Edition Beta FAQ
Minecraft: Windows 10 Edition Beta is the latest version of Minecraft, and you have the opportunity to participate in the development process. As an owner of the previous PC or Mac version of Minecraft, you can request a free copy for your Windows 10 device. Or, if you're new to the game, you can purchase it now at a reduced rate and help shape the future of the game, with no additional cost once it's released.
This page answers frequently asked questions about purchasing and downloading Minecraft: Windows 10 Edition Beta, in-game information for players of the previous version, information about the new Windows 10 edition of the game.
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Download your free copy of Windows 10 Edition Beta (for existing owners of Minecraft on PC or Mac)
Purchase the Windows 10 Edition Beta (for new players)
What to expect if you're already playing Minecraft on other devices
Playing the Windows 10 edition
Download your free copy of Windows 10 Edition Beta (for existing owners of Minecraft on PC or Mac)
I already own a copy of Minecraft on PC or Mac. How do I get my free copy of the Windows 10 edition?
Players who already have the previous PC or Mac edition of Minecraft (running on Java) will be able to download Minecraft: Windows 10 Edition Beta for free.
Note You will need to get a code from Mojang, the game developer, by signing in to your Mojang account before purchasing Minecraft: Windows 10 Edition. Otherwise, you may incur a charge.
If you don't already own a copy of Minecraft: You can purchase Minecraft: Windows 10 Edition at a discount throughout the beta period.
Once the promotion starts, Mojang will post a message on their home page directing existing users to the campaign. The message also appears in the blog when starting the existing version, so you'll see it there, too. You can then do the following:
Sign in with your Mojang account.
Under Redeem Gift Code or Prepaid Card, select the link to request a code.
Once requested, the Windows 10 store will open.
Note You'll need to sign in or create a Microsoft account. If you sign in, use the account that you want to redeem the game against – this will be the one you use to sign into your Xbox account.
After redeeming your code, if you're running Windows 10, you'll be able to download the game right away. If you're running an earlier operating system, you'll need to come back to the store once you're running Windows 10.
If you run into any problems while trying to request a code from your Mojang account, visit the Mojang Support forum for more help.
Do I need to sign in with my Xbox gamertag on my Windows 10 device when I redeem the code?
Yes, you will need to make sure to sign in to your own gamertag on your Windows 10 device. For example, if you are using a friend's device to redeem your code, your friend will be entitled to get the game for free, and you'll need to pay for it when you try to download it.
You can check which account you're signed in with by looking at the upper-right corner while signed in at the Microsoft account page.
I own Minecraft on PC but I'm unable to request a code. What's wrong?
There are a couple of reasons why you may not be able to get a code:
You have signed in to the wrong Mojang account, which did not purchase the PC/Mac version previously.
You have already requested a code.
To verify that you have purchased Minecraft on your Mojang account, sign in at the Mojang account page and look for your purchase under "My Games." If you own it, it will be listed there against your profile name. If you don't see it listed, you either don't own it or didn't use that account to buy it.
Do I need to be running Windows 10 to request my code?
You can request your code at any time; however you can only run the game on a Windows 10 device. You will be unable to download the game on an earlier operating system.
What happens if I don't have Windows 10 already?
If you redeem your code and you're not running Windows 10, you'll see a message in the store that you can only download the game to a Windows 10 device. Don't worry, if you signed in online with your own Xbox account on an earlier version of Windows, the game will be waiting for you as soon as you're running Windows 10 on any of your devices.
I just redeemed my code in the Store, but it's telling me I need to pay for the game. Why?
If you already had the Store app open when you redeemed your code, you'll still get the game for free. Close and reopen the Store app, and you should see the game available for you to download, at no cost.
Will Minecraft: Windows 10 Edition be available to purchase in retail stores?
No. The game is only available to purchase online from the Store.
When does the offer for the free game end?
There will be an expiry date once the game is out of beta. Mojang will make an announcement when this happens.
Purchase the Windows 10 Edition Beta (for new players)
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