A Guide to Minecraft: Tips for Beginners

In Minecraft, the world is at your feet. There are many ways to play this blocky sandbox. Whether you want to survive the night or build a work of art—how you experience it is all up to you! But learning the ropes of a new game can be overwhelming. To help you on your journey, we offer a library of resources that cover the fundamentals of Minecraft: from how you craft or use a controller, to how you play with friends. 

New to Minecraft? start here!

Use these tips and tricks to get started in Minecraft. A world of adventure awaits!

Turtles and turtle eggs on a sandy beach

Before You Begin

Everything you need to know before you start playing Minecraft.

START NOW

Steve charges forward with a pickaxe

Getting Started

Nifty tips and tricks for surviving and creating in the Overworld and beyond.

EXPLORE TIPS

Alex stands atop a mountain holding her sword to the sky

Level Up!

For players looking to take their experience to the next dimension.

LEARN MORE

Before you begin Minecraft

A journey of a thousand blocks begins with a single step – and it’s time you take yours! However, before you set out into the blocky world of Minecraft, there’s a few things you will have to sort out before you’re ready. Let’s explore the basic good-to-knows, as well as requirements for how to play Minecraft! 

Alex and Steve charge forward through the Overworld, surrounded by a variety of mobs

What is Minecraft?

Minecraft is a game made up of blocks, creatures, and community. You can survive the night or build a work of art – the choice is all yours.

Learn More
Illager parent and 2 illager children playing on tablets

Minecraft Parents' Guide

An overview for parents how Minecraft works, how players are kept safe, introduction to parental controls, and links other resources.

Learn more
A split image shows two scenes with Alex and Steve, both on top of a mountain and exploring a cave

Pick your platform

Minecraft is available for almost every current-gen platform (and more) but it also comes in two versions: Java Edition and Bedrock Edition.

Learn More
Alex and Steve on top of a mountain with friendly mobs, while hostile mobs pour out of a cave below them

How to create & log-in to your account

To play Minecraft on most platforms, you’ll need a Microsoft account.

Learn More
Three Minecraft characters folding hands

Parental controls

Minecraft is a game made up of blocks, creatures, and community. You can survive the night or build a work of art – the choice is all yours.

Learn More

Getting Started with Minecraft

The vast Overworld lies at your feet, but what happens now? What can you do and how do you do it? Here, we dive into the game and explore Minecraft’s different modes and features, as well as give you some tips and tools to set you on your journey. All to make your experience smoother and more enjoyable! 

A split image shows two scenes, with a detailed house interior on the left and a wild forest on the right

Creative vs. survival

There is no wrong way to play Minecraft (a fact that brings me great comfort each time I lose my inventory to a particularly persistent zombie).

Learn More
The moon rises over a dark, foreboding forest

How to survive your first night

The Overworld is a bright and carefree place. Well, at least during the day!

Learn More
A crafting table is placed next to a river

How to craft

Learn one of the fundamentals of Minecraft!

Learn More
A Minecraft menu screen says "You Died!" and asks if the player wishes to respawn

Spawning and dying

Dying and respawning is a natural part of Minecraft’s Survival mode. In this article, we take a closer look at how the mechanics work.

Learn More
A healing potion is being held by a player in the middle of a birch tree forest

Health in Minecraft

A closer look at the health mechanics in Minecraft and how you can best manage this bar of red hearts, so you can survive another day!

Learn More
A distant village is seen from above in the Minecraft Overworld

Exploration

What lies beyond the next biome? Is there a reason for you to venture out into the Overworld? Let’s explore it together through this guide!

Expore Minecraft
A horde of Minecraft zombies are reaching toward the screen

Minecraft mobs

Minecraft is full of both familiar and otherworldly creatures – ‘mobs’. In this guide, we introduce you to the most common ones.

Learn about Mobs
Nine player characters with a variety of skin tones and clothing designs

Changing your skin

What is a “skin”? Why does everyone keep talking about it? And should we be worried?

Learn about Minecraft Skins

Leveling up in Minecraft

Looking to take your experience beyond the comfortable life of solo play? Maybe you want to start your own server, become a redstone engineer, try a mod, or visit a different universe available on Minecraft Marketplace? Broaden your horizon and absorb the knowledge of one of our deep-diving guides! 

Two characters wearing custom skins are entering into a glowing doorway to a Minecraft world

What is Marketplace

Minecraft Marketplace is an ever-expanding library of content crafted by community creator partners that you can download to add variety to your gameplay on Minecraft: Bedrock Edition!

Explore the Marketplace
A variety of characters and mobs are shown above the Minecraft Realms logo

Realms - Java & Bedrock

A realm is usually something otherworldly, but in Minecraft, a Realm is simply a server you can use to play Minecraft with your friends!

Learn about Realms - Java & Bedrock
Alex and Steve on top of a mountain with friendly mobs, while hostile mobs pour out of a cave below them

How to play on a server

Playing Minecraft in single-player is fun, but playing with other people is fun too! 

Learn More
A list of chat commands are displayed on a black screen

Commands

Learn how to utilize chat commands, allowing you to make changes to your experience, from summoning mobs to adjusting the weather conditions.

Learn about Commands
Question mark image

Still have questions?

Find answers here

Frequently Asked Questions

What type of game is Minecraft?

Minecraft is an open-world sandbox video game. As a sandbox video game, the possibilities are endless! You can focus on being creative and using blocks to build things, or explore and try to survive the night.  

Does Minecraft have a free trial?  

You can try a free Minecraft trial on Windows, Android, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, and Vita. Your trial length will vary depending on the device you use.

What devices can you play Minecraft on?

You can play Minecraft on devices with Windows 10 and above, Mac/iOS, Linux, Android, Fire OS/TV, Xbox One, PlayStation, Samsung Gear VR, and Nintendo Switch.

What age is Minecraft for?

Minecraft has an ESRB rating of Everyone 10+.

Is Minecraft a multiplayer game?

You can play Minecraft single-player or multiplayer. To play multiplayer, you'll need an online Minecraft server, or you can play multiplayer on an LAN (Local Area Network) server.

Is Minecraft a cross-platform game?

Yes, Minecraft is a cross-platform game, meaning you can play Minecraft with your friends even if they have a different gaming device.

How can I stay up-to-date with the latest Minecraft news and updates?

You can stay up-to-date on the latest Minecraft news here.

What should you do in the beginning of Minecraft?

You can start Minecraft by crafting simple objects. Check out our article How to Survive Your First Day to get tips on what to do in the beginning of Minecraft.

Is there a guide for Minecraft?

View our Minecraft guide here.

What is the goal of Minecraft?

Since Minecraft is a sandbox game, there isn't one specific goal of the game, but that's what makes it exciting! In Minecraft, you can build, explore, or focus on survival.