Updated 25 October 2026. Facts on this page come from minecraft.wiki, minecraft.net and the live Artemis PvP server; sources are listed at the bottom.
Minecraft on Phones and Tablets (Android and iOS)
Minecraft on Android, iPhone and iPad is Bedrock Edition, US$6.99, with full crossplay against consoles and Windows. It began as Pocket Edition in 2011, became Bedrock in 2017, and now needs Android 9.0 or newer, or iOS/iPadOS 14 or newer. Touch controls can be swapped for a controller, and phones can join servers, Realms and friends' worlds.
How do you play Minecraft on a phone?
- Buy Minecraft in the Google Play Store or App Store and sign in with a free Microsoft account to play online.
- Touch controls by default; Bluetooth controllers and keyboards also work.
- Join servers from the Servers tab, or add one by address; see how to join a server.
- Play with friends through invites, Realms or LAN on the same Wi-Fi.
Where did mobile Minecraft come from?
It started as Pocket Edition, first on the Xperia PLAY in August 2011, then Android in October and iOS in November 2011, and merged into Bedrock Edition in 2017. See Pocket Edition history.
How do you make it run better on a phone?
- Lower render distance and turn off fancy graphics and beautiful skies.
- Close other apps and keep the phone cool; heat lowers speed.
- Vibrant Visuals needs a strong device; see Vibrant Visuals.
Is mobile Minecraft different?
It is the same Bedrock game as Xbox or Windows, with the same updates, usually released on all platforms at about the same time, but phones have no splitscreen. See Bedrock vs Java and splitscreen.
Can phone players join ArtemisPvP?
Frequently asked questions
How much is Minecraft on mobile?
US$6.99 in the Google Play Store and App Store.
Can mobile players play with PC players?
Yes, with Bedrock on Windows and consoles, through crossplay.
Sources
Every fact on this page was checked against these pages; the wording is ours.