How to download Minecraft Bedrock 1.21.40.23 beta and preview

Minecraft preview 1.21.40.23 for Bedrock Edition debuted on September 25, 2024. The experimental build makes multiple tweaks to Experimental Features like bundles while also fixing a litany of bugs, improving performance, and adding some accessibility features, like voice narration for the in-game marketplace. But how can you download this preview and see the changes for yourself?

The process is fairly simple, but it's important to note that Minecraft Bedrock previews are currently only available on Xbox One and Series X|S consoles, PlayStation 4 and 5 consoles, Windows 10/11 PCs, and Android/iOS mobile devices.

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How to download the Minecraft 1.21.40.23 preview for compatible platforms

Xbox One and Series X|S

Previews on Xbox are handled pretty quickly and easily (Image via Mojang)

On Xbox One and Series X|S, downloading Minecraft preview 1.21.40.23 is as simple as pressing a few buttons. The process is easy as long as you have a stable internet connection and you've either purchased the base game or have an active Xbox Game Pass subscription.

You can download the preview on the consoles using the steps below:

1. Open either the store application or the Game Pass Library.
2. Search for "Minecraft Preview" and open the resulting store page.
3. Click on Install.

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PlayStation 4 and 5

Previews on PlayStation have a slightly different download approach compared to Xbox (Image via Mojang/Sony)

Minecraft previews recently arrived on PlayStation consoles. To download previews on these devices, you'll need to enter the base game. Then, you must access the preview you need from the settings menu.

Fortunately, this is easily accomplished with the steps below:

1. Start Minecraft and open your settings from the main menu.
2. At the bottom of the sidebar to the left, select Preview.
3. Click on either "Get PlayStation 4 Preview" or "Get PlayStation 5 Preview" (differs based on your console).
4. Select Download.

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Windows 10/11 PCs

Downloading previews on Windows can be carried out in a few ways (Image via Microsoft)

If you're playing Bedrock on PC, also known as Minecraft for Windows, downloading a preview is dependent on whether you have one installed already. If so, you can update it with the Microsoft Store app, but otherwise, you can download the preview directly via the game's official launcher. Both methods are detailed below:

1. If you already have a preview installed, open your Microsoft Store application and select your library. Then, click on the Games button. Find the listing for Minecraft Preview and hit "Update." Click on the "Get Updates" button in the top right of the window if the preview isn't listed.
2. If you're downloading the preview for the first time, open your launcher client and select the Windows version of the game. Click on the button that reads "Latest Release," choose "Latest Preview," and then hit the green Install button.

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Android/iOS mobile devices

Previews on mobile are handled via the device's app store (Image via Apple)

If you're enjoying Minecraft on mobile devices, sometimes still referred to as Pocket Edition, previews can be downloaded from your operating system's respective app store, which comes down to the Google Play Store or the Apple App Store.

You can download the preview using either option with the steps below:

1. On Android, open the Google Play Store and navigate to the game's store page. Scroll down the store page and find a section that reads "Join the Beta." Tap the accompanying text link. This will replace your base game app with one that runs previews instead.
2. On iOS, download the TestFlight app and then head to the preview's TestFlight page. Sign up for the preview using your Apple account information, and you should receive an email to your account's email address. Open this email, select "View in TestFlight," and then tap Accept if you're a new tester. Hit the Install button, and if you're a returning tester, tap Update or Open.

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That's all there is to it! It's worth noting that once you've downloaded preview 1.21.40.23, it should update automatically in most cases while it's installed on your device. However, you'll likely still need to use the Microsoft Store to update your preview on Windows.