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How do I Download Minecraft Snapshots and Receive Early Access To Beta Builds

Home Features Adventure Minecraft How do I download Minecraft Snapshots and get early access to beta builds

By Rachel Watts published 10 March 21

Have a look at the new features coming to the Minecraft Caves and Cliffs 1.17 update prior to the official release.
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The date for the release of Minecraft's 1.17 Caves and Cliffs update (opens in new tab) is fast approaching however for those who aren't willing to put off the update, Mojang's Snapshots are a great way to play new features that are coming out before.

Minecraft Snapshots are publicly-released test versions that don't have polished features of the upcoming updates available for players to test. It's an opportunity for Mojang to test how features work in the game before making them a permanent part of the official update. Players can submit bugs and feedback to Mojang to improve the game.

Snapshots may contain any feature the studio wants to test out, and may include new mobs or biomes as well as game mechanics, blocks or even new mobs. Snapshots include a variety of features from Caves and Cliffs including glowing squids (opens new tab) cave generation, and the lush fauna and flora you'll encounter in the squishy caverns. If you're okay with a few hiccups here and there, Minecraft Snapshots are a great method to test new features before the update's official release. Here's everything you need to know in order to see a glimpse of the future of Minecraft.

Minecraft Snapshot installation: How to access beta builds

Snapshots are available for the Java edition of Minecraft, but there is an option to preview early features on the Bedrock edition, too. Test builds for Bedrock edition on Android, Xbox One, and Windows 10 are simply called Bedrock betas. Although they're not as good as Snapshots but they do contain several new features.

Mojang has made jumping into the early versions of Minecraft fairly simple So here's how to do it:

Snapshots on Minecraft: Java Edition:

- Open the Minecraft launcher - Select the tab 'Installations'

- Check the box that says Snapshots in the top right corner.

- The latest Snapshot will be displayed at the bottom of the list of installation options

Beta version of Minecraft: Bedrock Edition:

- Go to the Microsoft Store app for Windows 10

- Find the Xbox Insider app and download it.

- Launch the app and then select the Insider Content tab on the left

Choose Minecraft and hit the join button

The app could take you to Minecraft's product page if you do not have a digital copy the game

If you're looking for Xbox One or Android instructions for Minecraft, visit Mojang's beta site (opens in new tab) for additional instructions. To keep up with new Snapshots and betas, bookmark the Minecraft forum's news page (opens in new tab) that has a breakdown of all the released versions.

Snapshots and betas are pretty unstable, and the world you enter could become a bit sluggish or even crash. You shouldn't enter a world that you're not afraid of being corrupted. In other words, best keep your top Minecraft builds (opens in a new tab) safe in a different realm.

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Rachel was bouncing around different gaming websites as freelancer and staff writer for three years prior to settling at PC Gamer back in 2019. She mostly writes reviews previews, features, and previews occasionally, but she will change her focus to guides and news. When she's not taking hundreds of pictures of the hottest indie craze, you can find her nurturing her parsnip empire in Stardew Valley and planning an axolotl revolt in Minecraft. She is a fan of'stop and take a sniff of the roses' games, her most memorable gaming moment was the one time she kept her virtual potted plants alive for over a year.