Java Edition version history/Development versions

Starting in the period between Beta 1.7.3 and Beta 1.8, Mojang began to publicly release testing versions of full updates in order to get major feedback, especially for bug reporting. This enabled the official updates to be considerably more stable.

Mojang generally releases snapshots on Wednesday. The day had been Thursday, until the release of 14w26a on June 25, 2014, in the middle of development for 1.8.

Availability
These versions are publicly available, though they are not auto-installed by the launcher unless the Enable snapshots checkbox is ticked in the profile editor, and then it will only download the current version's development's set of snapshots and pre-releases. The player is able to change to other snapshots through the profile editor.

Naming
The day before Beta 1.6 was released, Mojang created a Test Build version that was never released, but was nonetheless a development version for Beta 1.6. Between Beta 1.7.3 and Beta 1.8, Mojang began to issue pre-release versions, specifically for Beta 1.8 and what then was known as Beta 1.9. As Beta 1.9 came to be re-designated as release version 1.0.0, candidates subject to release were designated with the prefix "RC#".

The weekly snapshots for release 1.1 and onward are named by using the format YYwWWn. "YY" is the two-digit year, "w" simply stands for "week", "WW" is the two-digit week number within the year, and "n" is a unique letter identifier – starting with "a", then "b", and so on – for when there is more than one release per week. Currently the highest letter reached is "e", a tie between 12w30e, 13w47e and 15w35e. The naming convention is, however, broken by 13w12~. The update that has the most snapshots is release 1.9, with a total of 56 snapshots. The update that has the most pre-releases is release 1.13, with 10 pre-releases.

Pre-releases were originally named as version number Pre-release x, where x was either blank or a revision number; this format was used during development of Beta 1.8 (e.g., Beta 1.8 Pre-release 2). Pre-releases for 1.0.0 removed the hyphen in the word "Pre-release" (e.g., Beta 1.9 Prerelease 3). Release versions until 1.7.4 were released as full versions and incremented the minor version number for each pre-release (for example, 1.4 and 1.4.1 were both pre-releases for 1.4.2, and the pre-release for 1.4.7 is identical to the full release of 1.4.7). From 1.7.6 to 1.13.2, pre-releases had the format version number-prex, where x is the revision number (e.g., 1.12-pre2). 1.14 started naming pre-releases as version number Pre-Release x (where the word "release" may or may not be capitalized), where x is the revision number (e.g., 1.14.1 Pre-Release 2).

Release candidates were re-introduced with 1.16 Release Candidate 1. These are intended to be the last version before the full release, unless a major game-breaking bug is discovered. Release candidates are formatted as version number Release Candidate x, where x is a revision number.

Promotional screenshots
Erik Broes (Grum) appeared in promotional screenshots on the Mojang blog for a number of snapshots and pre-releases. He was often hiding, and occasionally simply his player head was present. These were:
 * 1.6.1 snapshots 13w19a, 13w21a, 13w22a, 13w23a, 13w24a, 13w25a, 13w26a and the 1.6 pre-release
 * 1.7.2 snapshots 13w36a, 13w37a, 13w38a, 13w39a, 13w41a, 13w42a and 13w43a, and 1.7.4 snapshot 13w47a
 * 1.8 snapshots 14w02a, 14w03a, 14w04a, 14w05a, 14w06a, 14w08a, 14w10a, the 1.8 pre-release and the 1.8.2 pre-release
 * 1.9 snapshot 16w04a
 * Release 1.10.
 * 1.11 snapshots 16w40a, 16w41a, 16w43a, 16w44a and 1.11-pre1.
 * 1.11.1 snapshot 16w50a.
 * 1.12 snapshot 17w06a.
 * 1.13 snapshot 17w50a.

Jens Bergensten (Jeb) has appeared in several promotional screenshots as well:
 * Snapshot 12w23a for 1.3.1, snapshot 12w37a for 1.4.2, the 1.6 pre-release, the 1.8 pre-release, the 1.10, 1.11.1 and 1.11.2 releases, and snapshot 17w16a for 1.12.

Nathan Adams (Dinnerbone) has appeared in:
 * The 1.6 pre-release, snapshot 14w03a for 1.8 and the 1.8 pre-release.

Michael Stoyke (Searge) has appeared in:
 * The 1.8 pre-release and the 1.10 release.

Ryan Holtz (TheMoogle) has appeared in:
 * The 1.8 pre-release.

Thomas Guimbretière (ProfMobius) has appeared in the 1.10 release.

Maria Lemón (Excited) has appeared in:
 * 1.11 snapshots 16w40a and 16w42a.
 * 1.11.1 snapshot 16w50a.
 * 1.12 snapshots 17w13a and 17w15a.

Agnes Larsson (LadyAgnes) has appeared in 1.11 snapshot 16w43a.

1.16
Nether Update

1.16.4

 * View all
 * 1.16.4-pre1 • 1.16.4-pre2

1.16.3

 * 1.16.3-rc1

1.16.2

 * View all
 * 1.16.2-rc1 • 1.16.2-rc2
 * 1.16.2-pre1 • 1.16.2-pre2 • 1.16.2-pre3
 * 20w30a
 * 20w29a
 * 20w28a
 * 20w27a

1.16

 * View all
 * 1.16-rc1
 * 1.16-pre1 • 1.16-pre2 • 1.16-pre3 • 1.16-pre4 • 1.16-pre5 • 1.16-pre6 • 1.16-pre7 • 1.16-pre8
 * 20w22a
 * 20w21a
 * 20w20a • 20w20b
 * 20w19a
 * 20w18a
 * 20w17a
 * 20w16a
 * 20w15a
 * 20w14a
 * 20w13a • 20w13b
 * 20w12a
 * 20w11a
 * 20w10a
 * 20w09a
 * 20w08a
 * 20w07a
 * 20w06a

1.15
Buzzy Bees

1.15.2

 * View all
 * 1.15.2-pre1 • 1.15.2-pre2

1.15.1

 * 1.15.1-pre1

1.15

 * View all
 * 1.15-pre1 • 1.15-pre2 • 1.15-pre3 • 1.15-pre4 • 1.15-pre5 • 1.15-pre6 • 1.15-pre7
 * 19w46a • 19w46b
 * 19w45a • 19w45b
 * 19w44a
 * 19w42a
 * 19w41a
 * 19w40a
 * 19w39a
 * 19w38a • 19w38b
 * 19w37a
 * 19w36a
 * 19w35a
 * 19w34a

1.14
Village & Pillage

1.14.4

 * View all
 * 1.14.4-pre1 • 1.14.4-pre2 • 1.14.4-pre3 • 1.14.4-pre4 • 1.14.4-pre5 • 1.14.4-pre6 • 1.14.4-pre7

1.14.3

 * View all
 * 1.14.3-pre1 • 1.14.3-pre2 • 1.14.3-pre3 • 1.14.3-pre4

1.14.2

 * View all
 * 1.14.2-pre1 • 1.14.2-pre2 • 1.14.2-pre3 • 1.14.2-pre4

1.14.1

 * View all
 * 1.14.1-pre1 • 1.14.1-pre2

1.14

 * View all
 * 1.14-pre1 • 1.14-pre2 • 1.14-pre3 • 1.14-pre4 • 1.14-pre5
 * 19w14a • 19w14b
 * 19w13a • 19w13b
 * 19w12a • 19w12b
 * 19w11a • 19w11b
 * 19w09a
 * 19w08a • 19w08b
 * 19w07a
 * 19w06a
 * 19w05a
 * 19w04a • 19w04b
 * 19w03a • 19w03b • 19w03c
 * 19w02a
 * 18w50a
 * 18w49a
 * 18w48a • 18w48b
 * 18w47a • 18w47b
 * 18w46a
 * 18w45a
 * 18w44a
 * 18w43a • 18w43b • 18w43c

1.13
Update Aquatic

1.13.2

 * View all
 * 1.13.2-pre1 • 1.13.2-pre2

1.13.1

 * View all
 * 1.13.1-pre1 • 1.13.1-pre2
 * 18w33a
 * 18w32a
 * 18w31a
 * 18w30a • 18w30b

1.13

 * View all
 * 1.13-pre1 • 1.13-pre2 • 1.13-pre3 • 1.13-pre4 • 1.13-pre5 • 1.13-pre6 • 1.13-pre7 • 1.13-pre8 • 1.13-pre9 • 1.13-pre10
 * 18w22a • 18w22b • 18w22c
 * 18w21a • 18w21b
 * 18w20a • 18w20b • 18w20c
 * 18w19a • 18w19b
 * 18w16a
 * 18w15a
 * 18w14a • 18w14b
 * 18w11a
 * 18w10a • 18w10b • 18w10c • 18w10d
 * 18w09a
 * 18w08a • 18w08b
 * 18w07a • 18w07b • 18w07c
 * 18w06a
 * 18w05a
 * 18w03a • 18w03b
 * 18w02a
 * 18w01a
 * 17w50a
 * 17w49a • 17w49b
 * 17w48a
 * 17w47a • 17w47b
 * 17w46a
 * 17w45a • 17w45b
 * 17w43a • 17w43b

1.12
World of Color Update

1.12.2

 * View all
 * 1.12.2-pre1 • 1.12.2-pre2

1.12.1

 * View all
 * 1.12.1-pre1
 * 17w31a

1.12

 * View all
 * 1.12-pre1 • 1.12-pre2 • 1.12-pre3 • 1.12-pre4 • 1.12-pre5 • 1.12-pre6 • 1.12-pre7
 * 17w18a • 17w18b
 * 17w17a • 17w17b
 * 17w16a • 17w16b
 * 17w15a
 * 17w14a
 * 17w13a • 17w13b
 * 17w06a

1.11
Exploration Update

1.11.1

 * 16w50a

1.11

 * View all
 * 1.11-pre1
 * 16w44a
 * 16w43a
 * 16w42a
 * 16w41a
 * 16w40a
 * 16w39a • 16w39b • 16w39c
 * 16w38a
 * 16w36a
 * 16w35a
 * 16w33a
 * 16w32a • 16w32b

1.10
Frostburn Update

1.10

 * View all
 * 1.10-pre1 • 1.10-pre2
 * 16w21a • 16w21b
 * 16w20a

1.9
Combat Update

1.9.3

 * View all
 * 1.9.3-pre1 • 1.9.3-pre2 • 1.9.3-pre3
 * 16w15a • 16w15b
 * 16w14a

1.9.1

 * View all
 * 1.9.1-pre1 • 1.9.1-pre2 • 1.9.1-pre3

1.9

 * View all
 * 1.9-pre1 • 1.9-pre2 • 1.9-pre3 • 1.9-pre4
 * 16w07a • 16w07b
 * 16w06a
 * 16w05a • 16w05b
 * 16w04a
 * 16w03a
 * 16w02a
 * 15w51a • 15w51b
 * 15w50a
 * 15w49a • 15w49b
 * 15w47a • 15w47b • 15w47c
 * 15w46a
 * 15w45a
 * 15w44a • 15w44b
 * 15w43a • 15w43b • 15w43c
 * 15w42a
 * 15w41a • 15w41b
 * 15w40a • 15w40b
 * 15w39a • 15w39b • 15w39c
 * 15w38a • 15w38b
 * 15w37a
 * 15w36a • 15w36b • 15w36c • 15w36d
 * 15w35a • 15w35b • 15w35c • 15w35d • 15w35e
 * 15w34a • 15w34b • 15w34c • 15w34d
 * 15w33a • 15w33b • 15w33c
 * 15w32a • 15w32b • 15w32c
 * 15w31a • 15w31b • 15w31c

1.8
Bountiful Update

1.8.8

 * 1.8.8-pre

1.8.2

 * View all
 * 1.8.2-pre1 • 1.8.2-pre2 • 1.8.2-pre3 • 1.8.2-pre4 • 1.8.2-pre5 • 1.8.2-pre6 • 1.8.2-pre7

1.8.1

 * View all
 * 1.8.1-pre1 • 1.8.1-pre2 • 1.8.1-pre3 • 1.8.1-pre4 • 1.8.1-pre5

1.8

 * View all
 * 1.8-pre1 • 1.8-pre2 • 1.8-pre3
 * 14w34a • 14w34b • 14w34c • 14w34d
 * 14w33a • 14w33b • 14w33c
 * 14w32a • 14w32b • 14w32c • 14w32d
 * 14w31a
 * 14w30a • 14w30b • 14w30c
 * 14w29a • 14w29b
 * 14w28a • 14w28b
 * 14w27a • 14w27b
 * 14w26a • 14w26b • 14w26c
 * 14w25a • 14w25b
 * 14w21a • 14w21b
 * 14w20a • 14w20b
 * 14w19a
 * 14w18a • 14w18b
 * 14w17a
 * 14w11a • 14w11b
 * 14w10a • 14w10b • 14w10c
 * 14w08a
 * 14w07a
 * 14w06a • 14w06b
 * 14w05a • 14w05b
 * 14w04a • 14w04b
 * 14w03a • 14w03b
 * 14w02a • 14w02b • 14w02c

1.7
(1.7.2) The Update that Changed the World

1.7.10

 * View all
 * 1.7.10-pre1 • 1.7.10-pre2 • 1.7.10-pre3 • 1.7.10-pre4

1.7.6

 * View all
 * 1.7.6-pre1 • 1.7.6-pre2

1.7.4

 * View all
 * 1.7.4-pre
 * 1.7.3-pre
 * 13w49a
 * 13w48a • 13w48b
 * 13w47a • 13w47b • 13w47c • 13w47d • 13w47e

1.7.2

 * View all
 * 1.7.2-pre
 * 1.7.1-pre
 * 1.7-pre
 * 13w43a
 * 13w42a • 13w42b
 * 13w41a • 13w41b
 * 13w39a • 13w39b
 * 13w38a • 13w38b • 13w38c
 * 13w37a • 13w37b
 * 13w36a • 13w36b

1.6
(1.6.1) Horse Update

1.6.4

 * 1.6.3-pre

1.6.2

 * 1.6.2-pre

1.6.1

 * View all
 * 1.6.1-pre
 * 1.6-pre
 * 13w26a
 * 13w25a • 13w25b • 13w25c
 * 13w24a • 13w24b
 * 13w23a • 13w23b
 * 13w22a
 * 13w21a • 13w21b
 * 13w19a
 * 13w18a • 13w18b • 13w18c
 * 13w17a
 * 13w16a • 13w16b

1.5
Redstone Update

1.5.2

 * 1.5.2-pre

1.5.1

 * View all
 * 1.5.1-pre
 * 13w12~
 * 13w11a

1.5

 * View all
 * 1.5-pre
 * 13w10a • 13w10b
 * 13w09a • 13w09b • 13w09c
 * 13w07a
 * 13w06a
 * 13w05a • 13w05b
 * 13w04a
 * 13w03a
 * 13w02a • 13w02b
 * 13w01a • 13w01b

1.4
Pretty Scary Update

1.4.7

 * 1.4.7-pre

1.4.6

 * View all
 * 1.4.6-pre
 * 12w50a • 12w50b
 * 12w49a

1.4.5

 * 1.4.5-pre

1.4.4

 * 1.4.4-pre
 * 1.4.3-pre

1.4.2

 * View all
 * 1.4.2-pre
 * 1.4.1-pre
 * 1.4-pre
 * 12w42a • 12w42b
 * 12w41a • 12w41b
 * 12w40a • 12w40b
 * 12w39a • 12w39b
 * 12w38a • 12w38b
 * 12w37a
 * 12w36a
 * 12w34a • 12w34b
 * 12w32a

1.3.2

 * 1.3.2-pre

1.3.1

 * View all
 * 1.3.1-pre
 * 1.3-pre
 * 12w30a • 12w30b • 12w30c • 12w30d • 12w30e
 * 12w27a
 * 12w26a
 * 12w25a
 * 12w24a
 * 12w23a • 12w23b
 * 12w22a
 * 12w21a • 12w21b
 * 12w19a
 * 12w18a
 * 12w17a
 * 12w16a
 * 12w15a

1.2.5

 * 1.2.5-pre

1.2.1

 * View all
 * 1.2-pre
 * 12w08a
 * 12w07a • 12w07b
 * 12w06a
 * 12w05a • 12w05b
 * 12w04a
 * 12w03a

1.1

 * View all
 * 12w01a
 * 11w50a
 * 11w49a
 * 11w48a
 * 11w47a

1.0.0
Adventure Update
 * View all
 * RC2
 * RC1
 * Beta 1.9 Prerelease 6
 * Beta 1.9 Prerelease 5
 * Beta 1.9 Prerelease 4
 * Beta 1.9 Prerelease 3
 * Beta 1.9 Prerelease 2
 * Beta 1.9 Prerelease

Beta 1.8
Adventure Update
 * View all
 * Beta 1.8 Pre-release 2 ;)
 * Beta 1.8 Pre-release

Beta 1.6

 * Beta 1.6 Test Build 3

Alpha v1.2.0

 * Alpha v1.2.0-preview