Minecraft is a lego-like sandbox video game that was released by Mojang in 2011, which was then bought by Microsoft after three years. The game has sold more than 180 million copies all over the world, as of late 2019. It also has 112 million monthly active players worldwide. The game is basically a test of the players’ creativity —mining for resources, building structures, and defending one’s territory by placing and arranging blocks. You can even go on adventures and connect with other players, regardless of the platform they are using.

Minecraft is available for Windows, macOS, and Linux. Minecraft Console Edition (CE) is available for the Xbox platform and for the PlayStation platform (which costs $20), while Minecraft Pocket Edition (PE) is available for Android and iOS devices for $7.

However, because of the graphics requirements and building nature of the game, the best platform for this app is still the desktop computer. The Mac version, in particular, supports user-created skins and mods and is compatible with Realms for Java Edition. To download the game, just go to the website, choose your platform, and download the installer. Just follow the on-screen installation instructions and you’re good to go.

The dedicated Windows 10 version of Minecraft offers cross-platform play with other Bedrock Edition games on mobile devices and consoles, but with a starting price of $29.99, it's slightly more. After that go to the folder you opened in step 3 and on mac click 'Application Support' (skip this on windows). Then click 'minecraft' on mac or '.minecraft' on windows. There should be a folder called 'mods' open it and drag the pixelmon file in there. 5) Click on minecraft and make sure you have selected the profile 'forge' and click play.

Can’t Launch Minecraft on Mac

Unfortunately, the installation process is not as seamless for all Mac users. Months ago, several Minecraft gamers reported a Minecraft bug on Mac which prevents them from playing the app. Minecraft keeps on crashing on startup, even though the users have followed all the installation instructions. The screen even sometimes flickers or freezes before crashing. According to reports and comments, the Minecraft game fails to load every time they try to open it, and sometimes they get an error message along with the crash. In most cases, the Minecraft app was previously working when the error suddenly appeared.

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Here are some of the error messages that Minecraft gamers encountered on Mac:

• Minecraft Launcher quit unexpectedly.
• Exception in thread “main” java.lang.UnsupportedClassVersionError: net/minecraft/client/main/Main : Unsupported major.minor version 52.0
• Java HotSpot(TM) 64-Bit Server VM warning: Ignoring option PermSize; support was removed in 8.0
• Exception in thread “main” java.lang.ClassCastException: class jdk.internal.loader.ClassLoaders$AppClassLoader cannot be cast to class java.net.URLClassLoader (jdk.internal.loader.ClassLoaders$AppClassLoader and java.net.URLClassLoader are in module java.base of loader ‘bootstrap’)
• 51 FATAL ERROR in … org.lwjgl.opengl
• 56 Process crashed with exit code 6
• An unexpected issue occurred and the game has crashed. We’re sorry for the inconvenience.

This can be frustrating for users who are looking forward to playing the Minecraft app. Some of the players tried a lot of workarounds, but none of them seem to work. But what causes this Minecraft startup issue on macOS?

Why Does Minecraft Keep Crashing on Mac?

The error message that accompanies the crash should give you an idea about what caused the problem. For example, if you get this error:

Exception in thread “main” java.lang.UnsupportedClassVersionError: net/minecraft/client/main/Main : Unsupported major.minor version 52.0

Or this one:

Java HotSpot(TM) 64-Bit Server VM warning: Ignoring option PermSize; support was removed in 8.0

These messages tell you that the crash was probably related to the Java version installed on your Mac. It could be that you don’t have Java installed or the version on your Mac is already outdated. It is also possible that you have installed the latest version of Java, but the Minecraft app can’t detect it for some reason.

Another possible reason why you can’t launch Minecraft on your Mac is that your launcher has been corrupted. Incomplete downloads and malware infection can be behind the launcher’s corruption. You also need to consider other factors, such as incompatible drivers, unnecessary files, not enough storage space, or maybe it is simply a bug.

What Do I Do if Minecraft Won’t Open?

There are many problems that can lead to the Minecraft becoming unresponsive or inoperable. You can follow this troubleshooting guide if you can’t get the app to work on Mac.

Can I Play Minecraft Windows 10 On Mac

Try Alternative Minecraft Launcher

If you are having issues with the traditional Java launcher please consult the guide here and choose the alternative launcher or any other on the list that suits your needs.

Check for Incompatible Software

If you have this startup problem, check whether you have installed any incompatible software installed on your computer. If there is, uninstall it.

Look for any incompatible software listed on this site. The software listed on this page is known to be incompatible with Minecraft, and should be uninstalled from your system.

If any are found, uninstall them from your machine.

After you have uninstalled any incompatible software, restart your PC for the changes to apply.

Uninstall and Reinstall Minecraft Java Edition

When uninstalling Minecraft Java Edition, make sure to create or update a backup of your worlds in case your system’s uninstallation process removes all related files.

After you have uninstalled Minecraft, restart your PC for the changes to apply. Download the most recent version of Minecraft Java and restore any save data and other assets you’ve chosen for your game.

Minecraft Bug on Mac

If you’re using Minecraft 2.0.792 on macOS, then you’re probably affected by the Minecraft Launcher bug. Mojang has immediately worked on the issue and released a fix for the bug. But if you have installed the update with the bug fix and you still can’t launch Minecraft on your Mac, Mojang recommends doing the following:

1. Open Finder, then press Command + Shift + G to open the Finder search function.
2. Type this in the search window: ~/Library/Application Support/minecraft
3. Click on the Launcher.jar file.
4. The Minecraft launcher should now open as a Java tab and you should now be able to launchthe game.

If you’re running Minecraft 17w43a and Minecraft 17w43b, here are the steps to fix the bug:

1. On your Minecraft launcher, go to Launch Options.
2. Click on your Minecraft profile.
3. Uncheck Resolution.
4. Go to the News tab, then press Play.
5. Minecraft should now load and you should be able to play the game in the new snapshot.

If you’re not affected by these bugs yet you can’t open Minecraft on macOS, you should give the following solutions a shot.

Minecraft Crash on Launch on macOS: Common Fixes

If your version of Minecraft is not included in the versions affected by the bugs listed above, then the frequent crashing is probably caused by something else. But before you try any of the solutions below, make sure to do some house cleaning first to avoid complications and to improve the chances of these fixes to work.

Here are some basic troubleshooting tips you should follow:

• Disable your antivirus or other security software that might be interfering with the launching of Minecraft.
• Clean up your system using a Mac cleaning software. This should get rid of cached data and junk files that are cluttering your system.
• Uninstall apps that you no longer need to free up more space for your games.
• Restart your Mac. A fresh start can do a lot of wonders for your system.

Once your Mac has been prepped and ready, you can start to work your way down the list to see which solution works for you.

Fix #1: Update Your Minecraft App.

If you’re using an earlier version of Minecraft, it is best to upgrade to the latest version to enjoy new app developments and improve your gaming experience.

To update Minecraft, open the app launcher. The launcher should automatically show you the latest version of the application. If it is not updated, click the arrow located on the right side of the Play button. Click the Latest Release link to update your Minecraft to the latest version. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the update process.

Fix #2: Update Your Java Installation.

One of the common causes of Minecraft crashing on startup issue is an outdated Java installation. Having an updated Java is important, particularly for those playing the Java Edition of the game. It is also crucial that you install the Java version that is suitable for your macOS version. Install the 32-bit Java for the older macOS version and the 64-bit Java for Catalina and other recent macOS versions. If you don’t want the hassle of looking for the compatible software for your app, you can use a driver updater instead.

Keep in mind that starting from Minecraft 1.12, Minecraft will need Java 8 to run. If you don’t have it or you don’t know what Java version you have installed on your Mac, you don’t have to worry because the installer comes with its own Java version by default. Just make sure to uninstall your current Java installation to avoid conflicts because of multiple Java installations.

Can You Play Minecraft Windows 10 On Macbook Air

Fix #3: Set the Java Directory Manually.

If you have multiple Java installations and you want to use a specific version for the Minecraft game, you need to manually set the path for the game to avoid confusion.

To do this:

1. Click on the Apple Menu > System Preferences > Java.
2. Click on the Java tab, then select View.
3. Select and copy all of the text under Path. The path to the Java installation should look like this:
4. /Library/Internet Plug-Ins/JavaAppletPlugin.plugin/Contents/Home/bin/java
5. Open the Minecraft launcher, then click Launch options.
6. Click on the version of the Minecraft game you want to run.
7. Scroll down to Java executable and switch the feature on.
8. Paste the text you copied (under Path) into the box.

Close the window and try launching Minecraft once again.

Fix #4: Redownload the Launcher.

1. If you have a corrupted or incomplete launcher, you can download a good working copy from this link.
2. Install the launcher by double-clicking on the launcher file and dragging the Minecraft icon to the Applications folder.
3. Disregard any notifications about your Java installation being outdated.
4. Once the new launcher has been installed, try opening the application again and see if the new launcher works.

Fix #5: Use the Bootstrap.jar as Launcher.

If you’ve downloaded a new launcher and it doesn’t seem to work, you can try opening the application using the Bootstrap.jar file instead. To access the file, follow the steps below:

1. Double-click on the Minecraft application and choose Show package contents.
2. Navigate to Contents > Resources > Java.
3. Double-click on Bootstrap.jar to open it. This should work as the Minecraft Launcher.

Wrapping Up

Not being able to launch Minecraft because of startup issues can be annoying. If you ever come across any error or you can’t launch Minecraft on your Mac, you can refer to the guide above to make it work again. If all else fails, you can simply re-install the whole game to completely resolve the error.

Do I need to own Minecraft: Pocket Edition to play?¶

Yes. To download and update a compatible versions of the Game, the Google Play account you sign in with needs to own the game on the Play Store.Then you are able to download and play some previous versions of the game as well, althought not offically supported by Google Play.

The launcher cannot download the game from:¶

• The Amazon App store, althought may or may not work on arm devices. You have to extract the apk from an amazon device.

The launcher cannot download and cannot launch the game from:¶

This would require a completly different Launcher, if that would even possible

Can You Play Minecraft Windows 10 On Mac

• The Apple iOS App store
• The Microsoft Store, previously by redeeming a gift code for Minecraft: Windows 10 Edition

Does it work on Windows 7 / 8?¶

No, due to the amount of work required to get this running on Windows. Play the Windows 10 Edition instead if you can.Note that you can not play Minecraft in the current version of Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL), as the mouse input is broken due to an issue with its graphic stack.

How does it work?¶

The project runs the native libraries from the Android version directly on your computer. This is accomplished by fixing the incompatibilities between the libc used on Android and the one used on desktop Linux or OS X (Android - Bionic; Linux - glibc). This is a simple compatibility layer which doesn’t impact performance in any significant way; it’s similar to Wine, but much more lightweight and simple. Aditionally, all Android-specific code has been rewritten to run on Linux (AppPlatform, Store, Xbox Live, etc.).

Where are my worlds?¶

Linux: ~/.local/share/mcpelauncher/games/com.mojang/minecraftWorlds

Linux (Flatpak): ~/.var/app/io.mrarm.mcpelauncher/data/mcpelauncher/games/com.mojang/minecraftWorlds

How To Play Minecraft Windows 10 On Mac

Mac OS X: ~/Library/ApplicationSupport/mcpelauncher/games/com.mojang/minecraftWorlds

Each world has its own directory. If you have multiple worlds, you can identify them by their name in levelname.txt found in each world.

How To Play Minecraft For Windows 10 On Mac

The mcpelauncher-server creates and expects its world files in world.

Can I use resource packs?¶

Yes, put them in ~/.local/share/mcpelauncher/games/com.mojang/resource_packs.

(For Flatpak) ~/.var/app/io.mrarm.mcpelauncher/data/mcpelauncher/games/com.mojang/resource_packs

For Mac OS X, put them in ~/Library/ApplicationSupport/mcpelauncher/games/com.mojang/resource_packs.

Shaders are also resource packs. (Shaders must be GLSL based and must be compatible with your graphics drivers)

Note: You will probably need to extract .zip and .mcpack files into their own subdirectory for them to work properly.

Why would I want to use this projects server, instead of the official one?¶

If…

• the official one doesn’t work for you
• you need scripting on the server
• some rarely needed particular modding capabilities