The '''pause menu''' is one of ''Minecraft''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s multiple [[menu screen]]s. Activated during gameplay, it provides a portal to configure game options, quit out of a world, and more. This menu can be accessed anytime (when not in a [[GUI]]) by pausing the game with the {{Key|Esc}} key by default.

{{IN|je}}, the game completely freezes when the pause menu is opened in single player. {{IN|be}}, the game continues to run regardless.{{until|BE 1.21.60}}

== Buttons ==
=== ''Java Edition'' ===
[[File:Game Menu.png|right|thumb|The pause screen {{in|je}} in singleplayer.]]
[[File:1.20.5 Multiplayer Pause Menu.png|right|thumb|The pause screen {{in|je}} in multiplayer.]]
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Option
!Description
|-
|style="font-size: large; text-align: center;" | {{Btn|Back to Game|20em}}
|Closes the pause menu and allows the player to continue playing Minecraft.
|-
|style="font-size: large; text-align: center;" | {{Btn|Advancements|9em}}
|Shows all of the [[advancement]]s the player has and hasn't completed.
|-
|style="font-size: large; text-align: center;" | {{Btn|Statistics|9em}}
|Shows the player's [[statistics]].
|-
|style="font-size: large; text-align: center;" | {{Btn|Give Feedback|9em}}
|Provides a link to the [[feedback site]].
|-
|style="font-size: large; text-align: center;" | {{Btn|Report Bugs|9em}}
|Provides a link to the Java Edition page on [[bug tracker]].
|-
|style="font-size: large; text-align: center;" | {{Btn|Server Links...|9em}}
|Opens the server links screen. Server links can point to the server's website, forums, bug tracker, feedback site, and more. See {{section link||Server links}}.

If the server sends out the server links, the "Report Bugs" and "Give Feedback" buttons are moved into a sub-screen.<ref>https://feedback.minecraft.net/hc/en-us/articles/27547857163917-Minecraft-Java-Edition-1-21-Tricky-Trials</ref>
|-
|style="font-size: large; text-align: center;" | {{Btn|Options...|9em}}
|Opens the [[options]] menu, which can change the [[difficulty]], controls, settings, [[resource pack]]s, music, sounds, and more.
|-
|style="font-size: large; text-align: center;" | {{Btn|Open to LAN|9em}}
|Provides an option to allow players from the local network to play in this world.
|-
|style="font-size: large; text-align: center;" | {{Btn|Player Reporting|9em}}
|Opens the [[social interactions]] screen. Note that it is only accessible in multiplayer worlds.
|-
|style="font-size: large; text-align: center;" | {{Btn|Save and Quit to Title|20em}}
|Saves the game's progress and goes back to the menu screen.
|}

=== ''Bedrock Edition'' ===
[[File:Bedrock Edition Pause Menu.png|thumb|The pause screen {{in|bedrock}}.]]
[[File:Bedrock Edition Pause Menu with screenshot button.png|thumb|The pause screen {{in|bedrock}} with the [[screenshot]] button.]]
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Option
!Description
|-
|style="font-size: large; text-align: center;" | {{Btn|Resume Game|15em|be=1}}
|Closes the pause menu and allows the player to continue playing Minecraft. The pause menu does not actually pause the game; it continues running even in single-player mode.
|-
|style="font-size: large; text-align: center;" | {{Btn|Settings|15em|be=1}}
|Opens the [[Options#Bedrock_Edition|settings]] menu, which allows the player to configure controls, difficulty, sounds, and more.
|-
|style="font-size: large; text-align: center;" | {{Btn|Marketplace|15em|be=1}}
|Opens the [[Marketplace]].
|-
|style="font-size: large; text-align: center;" | {{Btn|Save and Quit|15em|be=1}}
|Saves the game's progress and goes back to the menu screen.
|-
|style="font-size: large; text-align: center;" | {{Btn|Dressing Room|be=1}}
|Allows the player to change their skin and access the [[Character Creator|character creator]].
|-
|style="font-size: large; text-align: center;" | [[File:BedrockFeedback.png|frameless|Feedback button|40px]]
<small><i>Feedback</i></small>
|Opens the [[Feedback site|Minecraft Feedback]] site.
|-
|style="font-size: large; text-align: center;" | [[File:BedrockScreenshot.png|frameless|Screenshot button|40px]]
<small><i>Screenshot</i></small>
|[[Screenshot]]s the current in-game perspective. This feature is only available on players with Microsoft account.
|-
| style="font-size: large; text-align: center;" | [[File:BedrockProfile.png|frameless|Profile button|80px]]
|Shows the player's ''Minecraft'' profile, including their [[statistics]], [[screenshot]]s, and [[achievement]]s, Xbox gamertag, online status, friends, and followers.
|-
|style="font-size: large; text-align: center;" | [[File:BedrockPlayerPermissions.png|frameless|Player Permissions button|40px]]
<small><i>Player Permissions</i></small>
|Manages the [[permission level]] of the respective player.
|-
|style="font-size: large; text-align: center;" | {{Btn|Invite to Game|be=1}}
|Opens a list of friends to invite to join the game.
|}

== Server links ==
{{Exclusive|Java|section=1}}
[[File:Pause Menu with Server Links.png|thumb|right|The pause screen {{in|je}} in multiplayer with server links.]]
[[File:Server Links.png|thumb|right|The server links screen with built-in and custom links.]]

Server [[operator]]s can provide '''server links''' to their website, forums, bug tracker, feedback site, and more. These server links are accessible to the players in the pause menu.

Each of the server links is customizable: built-in server links have predefined labels, while custom server links allow custom labels using [[raw JSON text format]]. Operators can set custom links for their built-in and custom server links.

There are ten built-in server links that operators can use:

<!-- source and ordered by https://wiki.vg/Protocol#Server_Links_(configuration) -->
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Option
!Description
|-
|style="font-size: large; text-align: center;" | {{Btn|Bug Report|20em}}
|Provides the server's bug tracker website, where players can report a server-specific bug. This link will also be displayed on the players' connection error screen, and included as a comment in the disconnection report.
|-
|style="font-size: large; text-align: center;" | {{Btn|Community Guidelines|20em}}
|Provides the server's community guidelines for players.
|-
|style="font-size: large; text-align: center;" | {{Btn|Support|20em}}
|Provides the server's help and support page for players.
|-
|style="font-size: large; text-align: center;" | {{Btn|Status|20em}}
|Provides the server's uptime status for players to check if the server is online, or offline under specific reasons.
|-
|style="font-size: large; text-align: center;" | {{Btn|Feedback|20em}}
|Provides the server's feedback page for players to post their feedback and participate.
|-
|style="font-size: large; text-align: center;" | {{Btn|Community|20em}}
|Provides the server's community page for players to interact with the community.
|-
|style="font-size: large; text-align: center;" | {{Btn|Website|20em}}
|Provides the server's website.
|-
|style="font-size: large; text-align: center;" | {{Btn|Forums|20em}}
|Provides the server's forums.
|-
|style="font-size: large; text-align: center;" | {{Btn|News|20em}}
|Provides the server's news page.
|-
|style="font-size: large; text-align: center;" | {{Btn|Announcements|20em}}
|Provides the server's announcements, where players can read important news or events for the server.
|}
Server links can only be specified through custom server-sent packets to the client. The [[vanilla]] [[server.jar|server software]] does not provide any settings nor utilities for this, and thus cannot be configured without [[modification]]s to the software or third-party utilities. The {{cd|[[server.properties]]}} provides no settings for server links.

== Sounds ==
{{edition|java}}:
{{SoundTable
| type = java
| {{SoundLine
|sound =Click stereo.ogg
|subtitle=''None''
|source=master
|description=When a menu button is clicked
|id=ui.button.click
|translationkey=''None''
|volume=0.25
|pitch=1.0
| distance = 16
}}
}}

{{edition|bedrock}}:
{{SoundTable
| type = bedrock
| {{SoundLine
| sound =Click stereo.ogg
|source=sound
|description=When a menu button is clicked
|id=random.click
|volume=0.2
| pitch = 1.0
}}
}}

== History ==
{{more images|Comparison of button texture scaling before and after 23w31a.}}
{{HistoryTable
|{{HistoryLine|java classic}}
|{{HistoryLine||0.0.13a|[[File:0.0.13a-launcher menuscreen.png|48px]] Added the pause menu, which, like today, could be opened by pressing {{key|ESC}}.}}
|{{HistoryLine||0.0.13a_03|[[File:0.0.13a_03 menuscreen.png|48px]] Added "Game menu" title.}}
|{{HistoryLine||0.0.14a|[[File:0.0.22a_05 menuscreen.png|48px]] Changed "Generate new level" to "Generate new level..." button.}}
|{{HistoryLine||unknown|[[File:0.0.22a_05 server menuscreen.png|48px]] The "Generate new level...", "Save level.." and "Load level.." buttons are unclickable and a different color on a server.}}|{{HistoryLine||0.0.23a|[[File:0.0.23a_01 menuscreen.png|48px]] Added "Options..." button.
|Menu buttons now have a stone like texture.}}
|{{HistoryLine|java indev}}
|{{HistoryLine||20100206-1437|Pause menu now stops the game.}}
|{{HistoryLine|java infdev}}
|{{HistoryLine||20100327|[[File:Infdev march 27 menuscreen.png|48px]] Added "Change world..." and "Quit game" buttons.
|Removed "Generate new level...", "Save level..", and "Load level.." buttons.}}
|{{HistoryLine||20100608|[[File:Infdev 20100608 Game menu.png|48px]] Changed background overlay.}}
|{{HistoryLine||20100624|[[File:Infdev 20100624 Game menu.png|48px]] Changed "Quit game" to "Save and quit to title.." button and background overlay.
|Removed "Change world..." button.}}
|{{HistoryLine||20100629|[[File:Infdev 20100629 Game menu.png|48px]] Moved buttons closer to center and swapped "Back to game" and "Options..." buttons.}}
|{{HistoryLine|java alpha}}
|{{HistoryLine||v1.0.9|[[File:Alpha v1.0.9 Game menu.png|48px]] The background overlay has now been darker.}}
|{{HistoryLine||v1.0.12|Changed "Save and quit to title.." to "Save and quit to title".}}
|{{HistoryLine|java beta}}
|{{HistoryLine||1.5|[[File:Beta 1.5 menuscreen.png|48px]] Added "Achievements" and "Statistics" buttons.}}
|{{HistoryLine|java}}
|{{HistoryLine||1.1|dev=11w49a|[[File:11w49a menuscreen.png|48px]] Changed "Back to game" to "Back to Game" and "Save and quit to title" to "Save and Quit to Title" buttons.}}
|{{HistoryLine||1.3.1|dev=12w18a|The "Saving level..." text no longer appears in the pause menu among [[Java Edition 12w18a/List of broken features|several other features broken by this version]].{{check the code|May have been intentionally removed, it did appear in multiplayer before 12w18a.}}}}
|{{HistoryLine|||dev=12w25a|[[File:12w25a menuscreen.png|48px]] Added "Open to LAN" button.}}
|{{HistoryLine||1.11|dev=16w38a|Capitalized "Game menu" to "Game Menu" title.}}
|{{HistoryLine||1.12|dev=17w13a|[[File:17w13a menuscreen.png|48px]] Changed "Achievements" to "Advancements" button.}}
|{{HistoryLine||1.14|dev=18w43a|[[File:18w43a menuscreen.png|48px]] Added the "Give Feedback" and "Report Bugs" buttons.}}
|{{HistoryLine||1.19.1|dev=22w24a|Added a "Player Reporting" button, which is only visible while on a server.}}
|{{HistoryLine||1.19.3|dev=22w43a|[[File:22w43a menuscreen.png|48px]] Moved down title and buttons.}}
|{{HistoryLine|||dev=pre1|[[File:18w43a menuscreen.png|48px]] Reverted 22w43a changes.}}
|{{HistoryLine||1.20.2|dev=23w31a|Buttons now use a proper nine-slice system.{{info needed|how exactly did the texture scaling work before?}} The appearance of the buttons has now slightly changed.<ref>{{bug|MC-264573}}</ref>}}
|{{HistoryLine||1.20.5|dev=24w09a|The overlaid background is now less dark and is handled as a texture file that can be configured via resource packs.
|A configurable box blur effect is now applied to the game while paused.}}
|{{HistoryLine|||dev=24w11a|A linear blur is now applied to the game while paused.}}
|{{HistoryLine||1.21|dev=24w21a|Added server links button and menu.}}
|{{HistoryLine|bedrock}}
|{{HistoryLine||1.2.0|dev=beta 1.2.0.2|Player permissions are configurable in the pause menu.}}
|{{HistoryLine||1.9.0|dev=beta 1.9.0.2|Added "Feedback" button to the pause menu.}}
|{{HistoryLine||1.13.0|dev=beta 1.13.0.15|Replaced the hanger button with a "Profile" button.}}
|{{HistoryLine||1.17.30|dev=beta 1.17.30.20|The feedback button now appears at the down left as an icon.
|The options, achievements, or invite button now appear beside the feedback button.}}
|{{HistoryLine|||dev=beta 1.17.30.22|The "Profile" button menu to Character Creator has been renamed to "Dressing Room".}}
|{{HistoryLine||1.21.30|dev=Preview 1.21.30.23|Added a button to the pause menu that takes a screenshot.}}
|{{HistoryLine|bedrock upcoming}}
|{{HistoryLine||1.21.60|dev=Preview 1.21.60.21|The game now completely freezes when the pause menu is opened in single player. This feature can be turned on/off from the [[setting]]s in the general section.}}
|{{HistoryLine|console}}
|{{HistoryLine||xbox=TU1|xbone=CU1|ps3=1.00|psvita=1.00|ps4=1.00|wiiu=Patch 1|switch=1.0.1|Added the pause menu.}}
}}

== Gallery ==
=== ''Java Edition'' ===
<gallery>
File:0.0.22a_05_menuscreen.png|[[0.0.22a 05]]
File:Infdev_20100629_Game_menu.png|[[Infdev 20100629]]
File:11w49a_menuscreen.png|[[11w49a]]
File:12w25a_menuscreen.png|[[12w25a]]
File:1.20.5_Multiplayer_Pause_Menu.png|[[1.20.5]]
</gallery>

=== ''Pocket Edition'' ===
<gallery>
Pocket Edition Pause Menu v0.7.2 alpha.png|[[Pocket Edition v0.7.2|v0.7.2]]
Pocket Edition Pause Menu 1.1.5.jpg|[[Pocket Edition v0.16.0 alpha build 1|v0.16.0 alpha build 1]] - [[Pocket Edition 1.1.5|1.1.5]]
</gallery>

=== ''Bedrock Edition'' ===
<gallery>
Bedrock Edition Pause Menu beta 1.13.0.13.png|[[Bedrock Edition beta 1.2.0.2|1.2.0.2]] - [[Bedrock Edition beta 1.13.0.13|1.13.0.13]]
Bedrock Edition Pause Menu beta 1.17.30.20.png|[[Bedrock Edition beta 1.17.30.20|1.17.30.20]] - [[Bedrock Edition beta 1.17.30.21|1.17.30.21]]
</gallery>

== See also ==
* [[Options]]
* [[Tutorial:Menu screen]]

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== Navigation ==
{{Navbox Minecraft|General}}

[[Category:Menu screens]]

[[es:Menú de pausa]]
[[fr:Menu de pause]]
[[ja:一時停止メニュー]]
[[pt:Menu de pausa]]
[[zh:暂停菜单]]
