Minecraft 1.5.2
The original classic build. The lightest client — best for old laptops and locked-down Chromebooks.
Play 1.5.2 →Guides & help
Learn the game, then master it
Short, practical walkthroughs written for the browser client — everything from your first night to hosting a world for friends.
From opening the page to your first shelter
Open the play page
Pick a version on the play page. The client downloads once and is cached, so the next launch is near-instant.
Click into the canvas
Clicking locks the mouse pointer to the game. Press Escape to release it and get your cursor back.
Punch a tree
Hold left click on wood to collect logs, then open the crafting grid with E to turn them into planks and sticks.
Make tools
A crafting table gives you the full 3x3 grid. Wooden pickaxe first, then stone as soon as you find any.
Build a shelter before dark
Four walls, a roof and a door is enough for night one. Torches stop mobs spawning inside with you.
Come back to it
The world saves as you play and appears in your dashboard, so you can continue in this browser any time.
Controls
The same bindings as Minecraft Java Edition, all rebindable in-game under Options → Controls.
- Move
- WASD
- Jump
- Space
- Sneak
- Shift
- Change block
- 1–9
- Inventory
- E
- Drop item
- Q
- Chat
- T
- Commands
- /
- Change view
- F5
- Fullscreen
- F11
- Pause · release mouse
- Esc
- Break · attack
- L-Click
- Place · use
- R-Click
- Look around
- Mouse
Minecraft 1.8.8
RecommendedThe sweet spot. Modern combat, skins and most servers run 1.8.8 — smooth on nearly any device.
Play 1.8.8 →Minecraft 1.12
Newer blocks and features. A bit heavier, but the most up-to-date sandbox to build in.
Play 1.12 →
Playing singleplayer
From the game menu choose Singleplayer → Create New World. Pick creative to build with unlimited blocks and flight, or survival to gather resources and fend off mobs. Worlds save automatically to your browser as you play, and you can keep as many as your storage allows.
Want a specific map? Enter a custom seed when creating the world — the same seed always generates the same terrain, so you can share a seed with friends and all start in the same place.
Joining multiplayer servers
Browse the server listand press Join, or copy a server's wss:// address and, in-game, open Multiplayer → Direct Connect, paste it and press Join Server. Eaglercraft servers run a proxy that translates the browser's WebSocket connection into the normal Minecraft protocol, so most of them accept browser and Java players side by side.
Match your client version to the server's. Almost every listed server runs 1.8.8, which is why that is the default here.
Playing together without a server
You do not need a server to play with friends. Open one of your singleplayer worlds as a shared world and everyone else joins it directly — your browser runs the world and they connect straight to you.
- In your world press Esc, then Invite and Start shared world on the MinePlay relay. The game shows a five-character join code.
- Publish it on the shared worlds page so others can find it, or just send the code to a friend.
- They open Multiplayer → Direct Connect → Join Shared World, paste the code, and they are in your world.
Two things to remember: the world only stays up while your tab is open — close it and everyone is disconnected — and you get a fresh code every time you reopen it. The world itself is safe either way; it is saved in your browser and backed up to your account.
Playing Minecraft unblocked at school
Because MinePlay loads as a normal web page with nothing to install, there is no software for a school filter to block — which is why browser Minecraft is one of the most reliable ways to play on a managed Chromebook. A few tips:
- Use the 1.5.2 or 1.8.8 client for the smoothest performance on school hardware.
- Your worlds are stored in the browser, so they can be wiped if the device cache is cleared — export backups regularly.
- Always follow your school's acceptable-use policy. Play during free time, keep it appropriate, and do not disrupt class.
Importing & exporting worlds
Your singleplayer worlds live in your browser, so it is worth backing them up:
- Export: from your worlds, choose a world and export it as an
.mpsvfile — a complete backup of your terrain, builds and inventory. - Import: drop that file back in on any machine and continue exactly where you left off.
- Vanilla worlds: the 1.8.8 client can also import standard Minecraft 1.8 worlds as
.zipfiles, via Load World Backup in the game.
A free MinePlay account adds automatic cloud backups, so your worlds survive even if your browser data is cleared.
Troubleshooting
Game will not load? Refresh the page, make sure WebGL is enabled, and try the 1.8.8 client. Low FPS? Lower the render distance in Options, or switch to the lighter 1.5.2 client. Lost a world? Restore from a cloud backup or re-import your last .mpsv. Cannot join a server? Check it is online in the server list and that your client version matches it.
Still stuck? Tell us which browser, which version and what the world was called — that triage detail gets a fix out days sooner.
Questions people actually ask
Is MinePlay free?
Yes. Playing is completely free and no account is required. A free account only adds cloud backups, world sync across devices and a dashboard.
Do I need to download or install anything?
No. The client is delivered as a web page — open it and a world loads in seconds. There is no launcher, no Java runtime and nothing written outside your browser storage.
Is this the real Minecraft?
It is Eaglercraft, an open-source browser port of Minecraft Java Edition that compiles the game to JavaScript and WebAssembly. It plays like the real thing. MinePlay is a fan project and is not affiliated with Mojang Studios or Microsoft.
Where are my worlds saved?
In your browser storage on this device. Clearing site data deletes them, which is why you can export any world as a single file — and why signing in adds cloud backups.
Can I play with friends?
Yes, two ways. Join the same server from the server list, or open one of your singleplayer worlds as a shared world and hand out the five-character join code.
Which version should I play?
1.8.8 unless you have a reason not to — it is the fastest of the three on modest hardware and the version most servers run. Pick 1.5.2 for very old machines, or 1.12 for the newer blocks.
Can I play on a school Chromebook?
Usually, yes — there is nothing to install, so there is no software for a filter to block. Follow your school's acceptable-use policy and play during free time.
It runs slowly — what can I do?
Lower the render distance in Options, switch to the lighter 1.5.2 client, close other tabs, and make sure hardware acceleration is enabled in your browser settings.
Ready to jump in?
Pick a version and start building in seconds.