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How to Download Minecraft Snapshots and Receive Early Access To Beta Builds

Home Features Adventure Minecraft How to download Minecraft Snapshots and gain early access to beta builds

Published by Rachel Watts, 10 March 21,

Check out the some of the upcoming features in the Minecraft Caves and Cliffs 1.17 update prior to its 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 don't want to be patient, Mojang's Snapshots are an excellent way to experience new features that are coming out before.

Minecraft Snapshots are publicly-released test builds that are unpolished with features of upcoming updates for players to play with. It's an opportunity for Mojang to see how features work in the game before making them a permanent part of the official update. If players are interested, they can report bugs and give feedback to help Mojang with improvements.

Snapshots include anything the studio would like to try and could include new mobs, biomes, game mechanics, or blocks. Snapshots contain a range of features from Caves and Cliffs, such as glow squids (opens new tab) cave generation, caves, and abundant flora and fauna 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 prior to the update's official release. Here's what you need to know to take a peek at the future of Minecraft.

Minecraft Snapshot installation: How to access beta builds

Snapshots are available on the Java version of Minecraft, but there is an option to view early features on the Bedrock edition as well. These are the Bedrock betas for Android, Xbox One and Windows 10, which are not identical to Snapshots but they do include a number of new features.

Mojang has made jumping into early versions of Minecraft fairly simple Here's how you can do it:

Snapshots of Minecraft: Java Edition:

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

- Check the box titled Snapshots in the upper right corner

- The latest Snapshot will be available at the end of the list of installed applications

Beta version of Minecraft: Bedrock Edition:

- Go to the Microsoft Store app on Windows 10

- Find the Xbox Insider app and download it.

Start the app and then choose the Insider Content tab. It is located on the left

- Choose Minecraft and hit the join button

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

If you're after Xbox One or Android instructions for Minecraft, visit Mojang's beta page (opens in new tab) for additional instructions. To stay up to date with the latest Snapshots and betas, bookmark the Minecraft forum's news page (opens in new tab) that provides a list of all the versions that have been released.

Snapshots and betas are extremely unstable, and your system could be shaky or crash. Make sure to load into a world you aren't afraid of being a bit damaged. Also, it is best to keep your best Minecraft builds (opens in a new tab) safe in a different world.
MCNAMES

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Rachel had been playing around with various gaming websites as a freelancer and staff writer for three years before settling at PC Gamer back in 2019. She writes mostly reviews, previews, articles, but she'll occasionally add news and guides. When she's not taking hundreds of screenshots of the hottest indie craze or a new game, you can find her cultivating her parsnip empire in Stardew Valley and planning an axolotl revolt in Minecraft. She loves to'stop and smell the roses'. Her proudest gaming moment is the time she kept her virtual potted plants alive for the course of a year.