How to Update Minecraft Bedrock on Windows 11: Step-by-Step Guide

Keeping Minecraft Bedrock up to date is essential if you want to enjoy the latest features, bug fixes, and smooth performance. Updates bring new mobs, blocks, and improvements that keep the game fresh and exciting. If you’re using Windows 11 and want to make sure your game is running the newest version, this step-by-step guide will walk you through everything you need to know.

Table of Contents

What Makes Minecraft Bedrock Different

Minecraft Bedrock Edition is designed for multiple platforms — Windows 10/11, consoles, and mobile. Unlike the Java Edition, updates for Bedrock come directly through Microsoft services, making the process pretty straightforward. It also supports cross-play, meaning you can play with friends on Xbox, PlayStation, or mobile as long as everyone is running the same version.

Why Updating Minecraft Bedrock Matters

Think of updates as tune-ups for your game. They:

Unlock new content like mobs, blocks, and features.
Fix annoying bugs and crashes that slow you down.
Improve game performance so it runs more smoothly.
Keep you compatible with servers and realms that require the latest version.

Skipping updates means you could miss out on big features or get locked out of multiplayer worlds.

Back Up Your Worlds Before Updating

Before doing anything, back up your Minecraft worlds. Updates are generally safe, but if something goes wrong, you don’t want to lose hours of building.

Press Windows + R, type %LocalAppData%, and hit Enter.
Go to Packages > Microsoft.MinecraftUWP_... > LocalState > games > com.mojang > minecraftWorlds.
Copy your world folders to another location, like a USB drive or cloud storage.

How to Update Minecraft Bedrock Using Microsoft Store

This is the easiest and most common method:

Open the Microsoft Store from your Start menu.
Make sure you’re logged in with the account you used to buy Minecraft.
Click on Library (bottom-left corner).
Select Get updates to refresh the list.
If Minecraft shows up with an update, click Update and wait for it to finish downloading.
Launch Minecraft to confirm the new version is installed.

Updating Through the Xbox App (For Game Pass Users)

If you installed Minecraft via Xbox Game Pass, use the Xbox app instead:

Open the Xbox App on Windows 11.
Go to My Library and locate Minecraft.
If an update is available, you’ll see an option to install it.
Click Update, wait for the process to complete, and then launch the game.

Fixing Update Issues: Repair or Reset Minecraft

Sometimes updates don’t show up, or they fail. Instead of panicking, try this:

Open Settings > Apps > Installed apps.
Find Minecraft for Windows and click the three-dot menu.
Select Advanced options.
First, choose Repair — this fixes issues without deleting your data.
If the problem continues, choose Reset (back up your worlds first, just in case).

Reinstall Minecraft for a Clean Start

If repairing or resetting doesn’t solve the issue, reinstalling is your best bet:

Uninstall Minecraft from Settings.
Restart your computer.
Open the Microsoft Store or Xbox App and reinstall Minecraft.
Copy your saved worlds back into the minecraftWorlds folder.

Troubleshooting Common Problems

Update not appearing? Reset the Microsoft Store cache. Press Windows + R, type wsreset.exe, and hit Enter.
Game won’t launch after update? Update your graphics drivers and restart your PC.
Error messages during installation? Make sure you have enough storage and a stable internet connection.
Worlds missing after reinstall? Restore your backup — this is why you saved them first!

How to Keep Minecraft Updated Automatically

Want to avoid doing this manually?

In the Microsoft Store, enable automatic updates under Settings.
Keep Windows Update turned on so that system components and the Store stay current.
Check every few weeks to make sure you’re not missing a new version, especially after major announcements from Mojang.

Best Practices for Smooth Updates

Always back up your worlds before big updates.
Keep at least a few GB of free space on your drive.
Log in with the same Microsoft account you used to buy the game.
If you have mods or texture packs, make sure they are updated too — outdated packs can crash the game after an update.

Conclusion

Updating Minecraft Bedrock on Windows 11 is usually quick and painless — as long as you know where to look. Whether you use the Microsoft Store or the Xbox app, staying updated keeps your game running smoothly and lets you enjoy all the latest features Mojang releases. Make backing up your worlds a habit, so you never lose progress, and check regularly for updates to keep your gameplay experience fresh.

FAQs

Q1: Will updating Minecraft delete my saved worlds?
No, updates won’t delete your worlds. But it’s still smart to back them up just in case something goes wrong.

Q2: Why don’t I see an update even though Mojang released one?
Updates can roll out gradually. Try signing out and back in to the Microsoft Store, refresh the Library, or run wsreset.exe to reset the Store cache.

Q3: Can I downgrade to a previous version?
No, Mojang doesn’t officially support downgrading. The only way is if you have a backup of the game files or worlds before updating.

Q4: Is it safe to reset Minecraft from app settings?
Yes, but it may reset some in-game settings. Always back up your worlds before doing a reset just to be safe.

Q5: Do I need to update Minecraft manually every time?
Not if you enable automatic updates in the Microsoft Store — this way, Minecraft will stay current on its own.