There are various '''types of versions''' of ''[[Minecraft]]''.

There are a multitude of variations of how ''Minecraft'' names its various types of versions. See [[Version formats]] for more information.

== Release versions ==
A '''release''' version is an update to the game that is fully released to all players on the main release channel. Release versions typically have a varying number of [[#Development versions|development versions]].

=== Named updates ===
Since [[Java Edition 1.4.2]] and [[Bedrock Edition 1.14.0]], all major updates to the game on both {{editions|java|bedrock}} have had an associated update name. Before, only substantial updates received version names: the Alpha [[Halloween Update]] and the [[Adventure Update]]s for example.

=== Game Drops ===
With the release of [[Java Edition 1.20.5]] and [[Bedrock Edition 1.20.80]], [[Mojang Studios]] introduced the concept of a "'''game drop'''"<ref>{{tweet|CornerHardMC|1833203939426373917|"Bats and Pots" and "Armored Paws" are both considered "game drops"|September 9, 2024}}</ref> (or simply "'''drop'''"<ref>{{Mcnet|armored-paws|Shy Friends and Armored Paws|April 23, 2024|Cristina Anderca}}</ref>) which is a minor update with a substantial amount of content. [[Java Edition 1.20.3]] and [[Bedrock Edition 1.20.50]] were additionally retroactively classified as game drops.

=== Seecret Updates ===
The [[Seecret Updates]] were a series of ten updates released by [[Notch]] during the [[Infdev]] and [[Java Edition Alpha|Alpha]] development stages of ''[[Minecraft]]'', often without announcement. They were named after the day of the week on which they were released.

=== Holiday Updates ===
Refers to the [[April Fools' Day jokes|April Fools' Day jokes updates]], Launcher Halloween event and Christmas texture updates.

== Development versions ==
A '''development version''' is a version of the game which is publicly released with the intent of testing new features, changes and bug fixes that are to make their way into the [[#Release versions|full release]] of a major or minor update. They are experimental (some types more so than others) and may break the game.

=== ''Java Edition'' ===
{{see also|Java Edition version history/Development versions}}

==== Snapshots ====
{{main|Snapshot}}
{{for|how snapshots are named|Version formats#Snapshots}}

A "snapshot" is a term used to describe unstable development versions for ''Java Edition'' updates. Every major update, and many minor updates, have snapshots released roughly weekly for player feedback on in-development features and changes.

Snapshots use a unique [[Version formats|naming format]]. The first number is the two-digit year, the second number is the two-digit week number, and the last letter increments alphabetically for each snapshot release within a week.

The first ever snapshot was [[11w47a]] for [[Java Edition 1.1|1.1]] in 2011.

==== Experimental snapshots ====
{{for|how experimental snapshots are named|Version formats#Experimental snapshots}}

"Experimental snapshots" are a specific type of snapshot Mojang uses very early in the development cycle, before the standard snapshot cycle of development. These versions include even more unstable changes than standard snapshots have.

Experimental snapshots were first used for [[Java Edition 1.18|1.18]], with [[1.18 Experimental Snapshot 1]], and since 1.18 they have only been used once for [[Java Edition 1.19|1.19]]. This type of snapshot is seemingly obsolete since Mojang now includes [[Experiments]] in standard snapshots.

==== Pre-releases ====
{{about||how pre-releases are named post-1.0.0|Version formats#Pre-releases|how pre-releases were named in Beta|Version formats#Beta}}

A pre-release is a more stable development version of the game than a snapshot. Once development reaches the pre-release phase, the update is deemed feature complete, and subsequent pre-releases focus on fixing bugs and improving the stability of the features to be added in that update. The final pre-release may be functionally identical to the full release (for instance [[Java Edition 1.4.7|1.4.7]]).

Pre-releases were first used for development of [[Java Edition Beta 1.8]], with the first ever pre-release being [[Beta 1.8 Pre-release]]. At this time, snapshots did not exist yet, so this pre-release was the first development version for Beta 1.8.

==== Release candidates ====
{{about||how release candidates are named post-1.0.0|Version formats#Release candidates|how release candidates were named in Beta|Version formats#Beta}}

A release candidate is a development version of the game that is intended to be the last version before the full release, unless a major game-breaking bug is discovered.<ref>{{Mcnet|minecraft-1-16-release-candidate|Minecraft 1.16 Release Candidate 1|June 18, 2020}}</ref> Often, the full release of a version is identical to its last release candidate, differing only in the version name string.

The first release candidate was [[RC1]] for [[Java Edition 1.0.0|1.0.0]] in 2011. After 1.0.0, there were no release candidates until [[1.16 Release Candidate 1]] in 2020.

==== Previews ====
A preview was a development version of the game, privately given to Hat Films for the creation of the official update trailer. These previews were released for [[Java Edition Beta 1.6 (preview)|Beta 1.6]], [[Java Edition Beta 1.7 (preview)|Beta 1.7]] and [[Java Edition Beta 1.8 (preview)|Beta 1.8]].

==== Test Build ====
A test build was a development version of the game. The only ever-released Test Build was [[Java Edition Beta 1.6 Test Build 3|Beta 1.6 Test Build 3]].

=== ''Pocket Edition'' ===
==== Builds and alphas ====
{{for|how alphas are named|Version formats#Alpha 2}}

Builds were development versions used in ''Pocket Edition'', available on Android. Once the [[Pocket Edition Alpha]] phase was complete, the name "alpha" was then reserved for development versions for [[Pocket Edition 1.0.0]] and [[Pocket Edition 1.1.0|1.1.0]].

=== ''Bedrock Edition'' ===
{{see also|Bedrock Edition version history/Development versions}}

==== Betas and previews ====
{{About|development versions in Bedrock Edition|the app|Minecraft Preview|section=1}}
{{for|how betas are named|Version formats#Betas/Previews}}

Development versions {{in|bedrock}} are known as '''betas''' and '''Previews'''.

Since the release of the [[Better Together Update]] to {{BE}}, development builds subsequently took the form of "beta" builds, released for Android, Xbox and Windows 10.

Once development versions became available on Apple platforms, development builds were now known as Previews on those devices, while retaining the name of "beta" on Android.

Usually, betas/Previews are released on Wednesday or Thursday.

== Developer versions ==
{{main|Developer version}}

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== Navigation ==
{{Navbox Minecraft|general}}

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