Template:Infobox
The Minecraft launcher is the login and downloader front-end to the stand-alone client. It is responsible for downloading the main Java packages, including minecraft.jar and LWJGL, which holds the code and resources of the game such as textures. It also acts somewhat like a basic and easily bypassable copy-restriction by forcing the user to login to a paid account when running for the first time. It is possible to use the launcher to run versions of Minecraft from nearly any era, however some versions are still not included on the launcher, such as Indev, Minecraft 2.0 and any of the Beta 1.9 pre-releases. The current launcher is the fourth launcher for Minecraft, and the first that was built to automatically update itself.
Behavior
The login screen for launchers without already signed-in users.
Every time the launcher is executed, it checks a specific directory where Minecraft stores its files called .minecraft. It checks a file called "launcher_profiles.json" for login credentials. If the file does not exist, is corrupt, or no user is logged in, the user must login with a valid premium account, otherwise the user will be directed to play the Demo version or purchase the game.
When logging in, the launcher will first try to verify the login. If a valid "launcher_profiles.json" file exists but there is no Internet connection, the launcher will offer a "Play offline" mode if a player was logged in when it was last closed. If the connection is successful, the launcher will then, depending on profile options, compare the latest version in the latest "versions" directory to the latest version reported by the server. If the selected version does not exist or the latest installed version is outdated when "Use latest version" is selected in the profile, the launcher will download all Minecraft components and Java binary files. It will also synchronize everything in the Assets folder (see Resource pack)
Finally, upon a successful update or installation, the launcher will execute "minecraft.jar" (via "javaw.exe", Oracle's Java Virtual Machine executable.) It is possible however for there to be missing ".jar" files, in which case the launcher will attempt to replace the missing files automatically but will stop if there is no connection.
Currently, Minecraft launcher supports only English. Users cannot select their preferred language.
Features
- Manage multiple profiles (stored in "launcher_profiles.json"). Each profile can control:
- Game version. Includes access to outdated development builds and previous releases. You can also add older/custom versions manually[1]. See this video for instructions.
- Mojang account used to play the game
- Command line arguments for Java (such as heap size)
- Game Directory (where the game files are saved on disk)
- And so on.
- The launcher doesn't store your password locally. Instead of this, it uses a 'refresh token'.
- Automatic updates for launcher.
- Ability to update libraries, such as LWJGL.
- Offline mode. (The first time launch requires an Internet connection to download required resources)
- Currently only available in English.
- Crashes can be reported to Mojang, through Hopper.
- Crashes are indexed through a database for information on how to fix the issue.
Time Machine
A profile with Alpha and Beta versions enabled
The Minecraft launcher has the ability to play old Alpha and Beta versions of the game. Currently, Alpha, Beta, and all Release versions are available to play. Four Pre-classic versions, four Classic versions, and an Infdev version are already added under the names "old-alpha version".[2] However, Indev is still missing.
Progress *note: this list is missing at least one version that is on the launcher (infdev 2010-06-18, aka Seecret Friday 1)
To enable the old versions either click the "Edit Profile" button or, preferably, create a new one. Under the "Version Selection" section choose to allow use of Alpha and/or Beta versions by ticking the appropriate boxes. Next, select the desired version from the drop-down menu and save the profile.
However, these versions are very out of date and may be unstable. Any bugs, glitches, missing features, or crashes that result from instability will never be resolved as only later versions are supported. Mojang strongly recommends that you play them in separate directories than your other saves to avoid corruption.[3]
Command-line usage
MinecraftDev.jar (all systems):
java -cp Minecraft.jar net.minecraft.bootstrap.Bootstrap <username> <server:port>
As of the launcher released with Minecraft 1.6, there are other commands for the launcher. These are shown if you do
java -jar Minecraft.jar -help
History
| a | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.0.0 | Initial release. In this version users can choose not only the current version but also Infdev. | ||||
| The client requires an internet connection on the first run and for updates, but after that the game supports playing offline. | |||||
Command line arguments are accepted to launch the game. Using the format java -cp Minecraft.jar net.minecraft.LauncherFrame username password will allow login without joining a server, while the format java -cp minecraft.jar net.minecraft.LauncherFrame username password serveraddress:portnumber allows joining a server. | |||||
| 1.2.2 | Command line arguments format changed. | ||||
| b | |||||
| 1.3 | Released in February 21, 2011.[4] A technical sneak preview was published by Notch on February 18, 2011.[5]Added capability of automatic login to the game and/or server by command line arguments. | ||||
| Added smarter update system that only updates changed files, prompts the user to update, allows HTTPS logins for a more secure connection, and offers general UI improvements. | |||||
| Link to the Minecraft install directory for easy access. | |||||
| Add Force Update button under the Options dialog. | |||||
| The launcher also featured an inline "changelog" via a Tumblr called MCUpdate, and supports command-line arguments.[6] | |||||
| Added the new Minecraft logo. | |||||
| Added official links, community links and Mojang on Twitter links. | |||||
| r | |||||
| 1.2.1 | Properly selects 64-bit Java installations for Mac OS X users.[7] | ||||
| 1.3.2 | Added ability to launch demo mode for non-premium users. | ||||
| 1.6.1 | 13w16a | New launcher added. See launcher history below. | |||
Minecraft Launcher
| Launcher version | Launcher type | Release date | Summary of changes | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.6.19 | Installable / Executable | July 24, 2015 |
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| 1.6.13 | Installable / Executable | July 1, 2015 |
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| 1.6.11 | Installable / Executable | January 30, 2015 |
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| 1.6.5 | Installable / Executable | December 18, 2014 |
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| 1.6.3 | Installable / Executable | December 17, 2014 |
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| 1.5.5 | Executable | December 16, 2014 |
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| 1.5.4 | Executable | December 12, 2014 |
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| 1.5.3 | Executable | September 1, 2014 |
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| 1.5.2 | Executable | August 19, 2014 |
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| 1.5.1 | Executable | July 29, 2014 | |||
| 1.5 | Executable | July 28, 2014 |
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| 1.4.7 | Executable | July 25, 2014 |
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| 1.4.6 | Executable | July 25, 2014 |
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| 1.4.5 | Executable | July 25, 2014 |
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| 1.4.4 | Executable | May 19, 2014 | |||
| 1.4.2 | Executable | May 2, 2014 |
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| 1.3.11 | Executable | March 12, 2014 |
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| 1.3.10 | Executable | February 13, 2014 |
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| 1.3.9 | Executable | January 24, 2014 |
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| 1.3.8 | Executable | January 8, 2014 |
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| 1.3.7 | Executable | December 12, 2013 |
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| 1.3.6 | Executable | December 5, 2013 |
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| 1.3.5 | Executable | December 4, 2013 |
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| 1.3.4 | Executable | November 26, 2013 |
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| 1.3.3 | Executable | November 20, 2013 |
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| 1.3.2 | Executable | November 18, 2013 |
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| 1.3.1 | Executable | October 29, 2013 |
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| 1.2.8 | Executable | October 25, 2013[citation needed] |
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| 1.2.7[citation needed] | Executable | October 18, 2013 |
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| 1.2.6[citation needed] | Executable | October 17, 2013 |
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| 1.2.5[citation needed] | Executable | September 23, 2013 |
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| 1.2.4[citation needed] | Executable | September 19, 2013 |
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| 1.2.3[17] | Executable | September 12, 2013 |
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| 1.2.2[18] | Executable | September 3, 2013 |
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| 1.2.1 (Files uploaded)[19] | Executable | August 6, 2013 |
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| 1.2.1 (Files uploaded)[20][21] | Executable | August 6, 2013 |
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| 1.2.1 | Executable | August 2, 2013 | |||
| 1.2 | Executable | August 1, 2013 | |||
| 1.1.4 | Executable | July 31, 2013 |
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| 1.1.3[22] | Executable | July 27, 2013 |
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| 1.1.2 | Executable | July 22, 2013 |
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| 1.1.1 | Executable | July 19, 2013 |
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| 1.0.10 | Executable | July 12, 2013 |
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| 1.0.9 | Executable | July 10, 2013 |
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| 1.0.8 OS X (Re-upload)[24] | Executable | July 9, 2013 |
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| 1.0.8 OS X (Re-upload)[25] | Executable | July 8, 2013 |
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| 1.0.8 | Executable | July 2, 2013 |
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| 1.0.7 | Executable | July 2, 2013 |
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| 1.0.6 | Executable | July 1, 2013 |
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| 1.0.5 | Executable | July 1, 2013 |
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| 1.0.4 | Executable | June 28, 2013 |
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| 1.0.3 | Executable | June 27, 2013 |
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| 1.0.2 | Executable | June 27, 2013 |
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| 1.0.1 | Executable | June 26, 2013 |
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| 1.0.0 | Executable | June 26, 2013 |
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| 1.0.1 | Executable | June 26, 2013 |
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| 1.0 | Executable | June 25, 2013 |
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| 0.9.5 | Executable | June 18, 2013 |
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| 0.9.4 | Executable | June 18, 2013 |
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| 0.9.3 | Executable | June 14, 2013 |
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| 0.9.2 | Executable | June 13, 2013 |
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| 0.9.1 | Executable | June 10, 2013 |
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| 0.9 | Executable | June 10, 2013 |
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| 0.8.3 | Executable | June 7, 2013 |
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| 0.8.2 | Executable | May 27, 2013 |
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| 0.8.1 | Executable | May 21, 2013 |
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| 0.8 | Executable | May 20, 2013 |
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| 0.7.2 | Executable | May 15, 2013 |
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| 0.7 | Executable | May 13, 2013 |
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| 0.7.1 | Executable | May 4, 2013 |
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| 0.7 | Executable | May 2, 2013 |
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| 0.6 | Executable | April 25, 2013 |
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| 0.5 | Executable | April 23, 2013 |
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| 0.4 | Executable | April 23, 2013 |
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| 0.3 | Executable | April 22, 2013 |
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| 0.2 | Executable | April 19, 2013 |
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| 0.1 | Executable | April 18, 2013 |
|
Gallery
- Launcher-1.1.1.png
The fifth Minecraft launcher.
- 1.6DevLauncher Development Console.png
The Development Console tab after the Launcher starts
References
- ↑ https://twitter.com/Dinnerbone/status/344164561701724160
- ↑ https://twitter.com/Dinnerbone/status/364762596387205120
- ↑ https://help.mojang.com/customer/portal/articles/1475923-changing-game-versions
- ↑ http://notch.tumblr.com/post/3428176687/server-downtime-and-a-new-launcher
- ↑ https://twitter.com/notch/status/38621269331025921
- ↑ http://mcupdate.tumblr.com/post/3427294253/welcome-to-the-new-minecraft-launcher
- ↑ http://www.mojang.com/2012/03/minecraft-1-2-is-out/
- ↑ https://twitter.com/Dinnerbone/status/561096640086700032
- ↑ https://www.reddit.com/r/Minecraft/comments/2pkxpx/we_need_your_help_testing_the_new_minecraft
- ↑ https://www.reddit.com/r/Minecraft/comments/2p31cu/we_need_your_help_testing_a_new_launcher
- ↑ https://twitter.com/Dinnerbone/status/494220782244208640
- ↑ https://twitter.com/Dinnerbone/status/492715318645882880
- ↑ https://twitter.com/Dinnerbone/status/408246271921901568
- ↑ https://twitter.com/Dinnerbone/status/405366855785021440
- ↑ https://twitter.com/Dinnerbone/status/403111179859812352
- ↑ https://twitter.com/Dinnerbone/status/402434001451098112
- ↑ https://twitter.com/Marc_IRL/status/378280823180361729
- ↑ https://twitter.com/Dinnerbone/status/374887108932288512
- ↑ https://twitter.com/Dinnerbone/status/365040968644296705
- ↑ https://twitter.com/Dinnerbone/status/364699262233223169
- ↑ https://twitter.com/_grum/status/364699271708151808
- ↑ https://twitter.com/_grum/status/361126093777936384
- ↑ http://hopper.minecraft.net/
- ↑ https://twitter.com/Dinnerbone/status/354595929925496832
- ↑ https://twitter.com/Dinnerbone/status/354351963288248321
- ↑ https://twitter.com/Dinnerbone/status/352109843731070976
- ↑ MCL-590
See also
| Help | |||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Menu screens |
| ||||||||||||||||||
| Game customization | |||||||||||||||||||
| Editions |
| ||||||||||||||||||
| Miscellaneous |
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