Players are required to log in to this app with their Microsoft account. Older Windows OS releases are not supported (including popular Windows 7 and 8.1), and the official installer is hosted only on Windows Store and Xbox marketplace where they can be downloaded for free. This application is available only for Windows 10 and 11 users. Customization of the dashboard functioning can be accessed via the Settings icon located in the bottom left corner of the app.

The dashboard consists of the game selector on the very left part of the app (with tabs for Minecraft: Java Edition, Minecraft for Windows, Minecraft Dungeons, and an additional News section), a game showcase in the remainder of the dashboard, and a quick command listing on the top of the app (Play, Installations/DLC, Skins and Patch Notes). Once ready to run, players are welcomed with an eye-catching dashboard that can detect all local versions of Minecraft. To get Minecraft Launcher up and running on any modern Windows 10 and 11 Windows desktop or laptop PC (due to their system requirements, all of them are perfectly capable of running Minecraft games), players simply have to download and run the automated installer. This includes the ability to play them in a cross-play environment, no matter what platform the player is using.

The launcher does not include the games themselves (which still have to be individually purchased) and it does not restrict their functionality.

Minecraft Launcher is an optional game utility that allows Windows 10 and Windows 11 players to have one unified dashboard from which they can start modern Minecraft titles such as Minecraft for Windows, Minecraft: Java Edition, and Minecraft Dungeons.

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