What Minecraft Bedrock Edition is and where it runs

Minecraft: Bedrock Edition is the edition of Minecraft that runs on Windows 10 and 11, Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, and phones and tablets. Mojang's help centre defines it as any non-Java Edition of the game. It gets the same major updates as Java Edition, but has its own add-ons, Marketplace and cross-play.

Which devices run Bedrock Edition

Mojang lists Bedrock on far more hardware than Java Edition, which is limited to Windows, Mac and Linux. Bedrock is also the edition you get on a Chromebook. The table shows where Mojang's help page sends buyers for each device.

On PC, Java and Bedrock are sold together as one bundle, and Mojang says owning one entitles you to the other for free. What the bundle includes is covered separately. For Windows, Mojang's store page lists a minimum of 4 GB of memory and Windows 10 version 19041.0 or higher. The system requirements page sets Bedrock against Java.

What Bedrock shares with Java Edition and what it does not

Mojang says both editions receive the same major updates consistently. The core game is the same, and both let you join a Realm, host a server and play over LAN. The differences sit around the edges.

• Bedrock has controller and touch support. Java has no native controller support, according to Mojang's store page.
• Bedrock has achievements or trophies in Survival mode, and split screen on consoles only.
• Bedrock connects to Xbox services for moderation and parental controls through a Microsoft account.
• Bedrock has a Minecraft Marketplace, Marketplace Pass and add-ons. Java has mods instead.
• Bedrock can only play the latest stable release or a beta or preview. Java lets you pick older releases, according to Mojang.

Mojang's store page also says Bedrock does not need powerful hardware and will often run more smoothly than Java. That is Mojang's own claim, and we did not benchmark either edition. For the choice between them, see Minecraft Java vs Bedrock Edition.

How Bedrock gets add-ons and Marketplace content

Mojang defines an add-on as Marketplace content for Bedrock that contains a resource pack, a behavior pack, or both. A resource pack changes textures and sounds. A behavior pack changes how the game behaves, including entities and rules. Mojang's help page says add-ons work in single-player, multiplayer and Realms worlds, but not on personal servers that are not Realms.

Mojang advises using at most three add-ons at once, because more can cause lower performance or other issues. Our add-ons explainer covers the format, and the Bedrock install guide covers the steps. Every add-on we list is in the Bedrock add-ons listing.

Marketplace content is paid. Minecoins and purchases roam across Windows, Xbox, mobile and Switch. On PlayStation 5 the store uses Tokens, which work only on PlayStation, and Minecoins do not work there. Marketplace Pass is a separate monthly subscription for a library of content.

How cross-platform play works on Bedrock

Bedrock players can play online with other Bedrock players on Windows 10, Windows 11, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4 and 5, and mobile. Mojang's store page also names Nintendo Switch 2. Java and Bedrock use different servers, so a Java player and a Bedrock player cannot join the same world, according to Mojang. Is Minecraft cross platform has the full device picture.

What this means if you use mods, packs or shaders

Mojang states that mods are exclusive to Java Edition and that add-ons are the Bedrock route. A Java mod file will not load on Bedrock, and an add-on will not load on Java. What carries over from Java mods and shaders to Bedrock sorts out which ideas have a Bedrock equivalent. Bedrock also has its own shader steps.

Limits and what the sources do not say

Mojang says its Marketplace is curated, which limits the selection. Add-ons do not work on personal servers outside Realms. Realms are capped at 10 players at a time. Mojang's pages here do not give a Bedrock release schedule, and they say nothing about future platform support. Check the latest Minecraft version for current numbers.