How to play Minecraft Pocket Edition in 2024

Minecraft: Pocket Edition is the affectionate (and technically erroneous) title for the mobile versions of Mojang's beloved sandbox game for phones and other handheld devices. Playable primarily through touch controls, "Pocket Edition" allows fans to enjoy the world of building and crafting from anywhere, and the mobile version of the game persists to this day and is enjoyed by many.

However, while the game is still referred to as "Pocket Edition" by many fans due to how it is played, the original Pocket Edition was officially discontinued by Mojang. The current version of "Pocket Edition" is a mobile port of Minecraft: Bedrock Edition, which can also be found on consoles and Windows PCs.

Regardless, if you're hoping to enjoy Minecraft on a mobile device, you can do so with most Android/iOS devices as well as Amazon Fire platforms. Since this is the case, it doesn't hurt to examine how to do so.

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How to download Minecraft on your mobile device

Minecraft is available on mobile devices across three app stores (Image via Mojang/Amazon)

In its current state, Minecraft Pocket Edition/Mobile is supported by most current-day mobile devices running the Android or iOS operating systems, and the app is also available via Amazon for Amazon Kindle devices. No matter which operating system or modern device you're using, you'll be able to enjoy the same gameplay since all three options run the same iteration of Bedrock Edition.

You can download Minecraft on your mobile device with the following steps. Keep in mind that you'll need to purchase the game even if you've done so on other platforms, so some form of payment information will also be necessary:

1. Open the Google Play Store (Android), App Store (iOS), or Amazon App Store (Fire) app depending on your operating system.
2. Navigate to the games section of your app store, or open the search field and enter "Minecraft" to find the game's store page.
3. There should be a button on the store page to purchase the game. Tap this and provide your requested payment information. The game should automatically begin installing to your device if you have a stable internet/data connection, and once it finishes, you can open the app and enjoy!

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Playing the modern version of Minecraft Pocket Edition/Mobile

The mobile version of Mojang's sandbox game does have a few things that set it apart (Image via Mojang)

As you might expect, the version of Minecraft that players still affectionately call Pocket Edition is set up a bit differently from the Java and Bedrock Editions seen on other platforms. While the mobile version of the game does run on the Bedrock Engine, it is set up for touch controls by default instead of using a keyboard and mouse or a console controller.

Fortunately, because this iteration of the game runs on Minecraft Bedrock, it is cross-compatible with other Bedrock platforms like consoles, Windows 10/11 PCs, and other Android/iOS/Fire devices. If you have a Microsoft account, you can sign in with it when you reach the main menu and the content you purchase (as well as other things like your avatar) will carry over across platforms.

Nonetheless, you can get started just like in other Minecraft Bedrock platforms by pressing the play button and then creating a world to your liking or joining a multiplayer server or realm via their corresponding buttons on the main menu. However, when you spawn in, you'll have a different UI compared to how the game is set up on other devices. You can find a rundown of the control schemes below:

• Joystick and Tap: Drag the joystick to the left to move, drag anywhere else to look around. Tap the screen to use your hands or any item/tool/weapon within them. Aim at a block and highlight it then tap and hold to mine it. There are also jump (up arrow), crouch (down arrow), and sprint (horizontal arrows) buttons to the right of the screen for added movement control.
• D-Pad and Tap: Provides a conventional directional pad to the left of the screen for movement with a button in its center that can be double-tapped to crouch. A jump button rests on the right. Turning is still handled by tapping and dragging an empty part of the screen, and blocks are broken/attacks are made the same as Joystick and Tap.
• Joystick and Crosshair: Works similarly to the Joystick and Tap scheme, but provides buttons for jumping, crouching, sprinting, as well as attacking (sword icon) and placing blocks (crosshair icon) to the right of the UI. A crosshair is also placed in the UI in front of the player's vision to help them coordinate their positioning and aim.

It's also important to note that this mobile version of Minecraft still offers controller and keyboard/mouse support if these peripherals are connected to your mobile device.

Aside from the control and UI differences, the gameplay of the modern version of Minecraft: Pocket Edition is identical to Bedrock Edition found on other platforms. If you're playing Survival Mode, you'll be tasked with harvesting resources, and surviving long enough to brave the Nether and End dimensions to defeat the Ender Dragon and "complete the story," though you're free to do as you want.

In Creative Mode, you're provided with a massive collection of in-game blocks and items as well as being given invulnerability and the ability to fly by double-tapping your jump button. In this mode, you can create any structure or build you can imagine with very few limitations aside from those imposed by the engine.

For additional assistance on Minecraft's mechanics and the different game modes, you can access the How to Play menu by opening your settings either from the main menu or in-game by pressing the pause button at the top of the UI while playing.