Minecraft Preview Makes Beta Testing Easier and Available on More Platforms

Minecraft Preview is a separate app that enables us to test unreleased versions of Minecraft: Bedrock Edition without interfering with the standard game files. The project will expand beta testing of Minecraft updates to more platforms in the future.

March 23, 2022 14:48

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Minecraft Preview Makes Beta Testing Easier and Available on More Platforms.

Until recently, to try out the new updates to Minecraft: Bedrock Edition (this is the name of the multiplatform version of the game; on PCs it is known as Minecraft: Windows 10 Edition) before their release, you first had to download the Xbox Insider Hub app, and then put the game into beta test mode.

In order to leave the beta test and return to normal gameplay, a reinstallation of the game was required, and the worlds used during the beta test did not always work correctly in the latest stable version of Minecraft.
Constant reliance on backup copies of worlds and unclear testing rules made the the whole process anything but pleasant..

Warning! The app described below is not associated with snapshots for Minecraft: Java Edition (like this one here).

Minecraft Preview

Game Pass subscribers may have noticed that something called Minecraft Preview has appeared in the Xbox app recently. The changes it brings should make it significantly easier for players to access the beta tests.

Minecraft Preview is a completely fresh, separate app that enables us to test unreleased updates for Minecraft: Bedrock Edition.
It is available to Game Pass subscribers and owners of Minecraft: Bedrock Edition.

After its launch, you can easily play using the experimental features. When we feel like playing without them just launch the standard Minecraft app where the latest stable version of the game is installed.

Thus, we gain access to the beta testing of the game without having to give up normal gameplay.

Availability

In the past beta tests of Minecraft were only available on Xbox, Android and Windows. Thanks to Minecraft Preview they are set to come to other platforms as well.

Right now the app is available on iOS, Xbox and Windows 10/11 PCs.
Support for additional platforms will be added soon.
In order to launch Minecraft Preview on iOS devices, we need the TestFlight app.
On Windows, all we need to do is head to Microsoft Store, while on Xbox, we'll need to sign up for the Xbox Insider Hub and go to the titles made available in the Preview.
In the future Minecraft Preview will also appear in the Minecraft Launcher sidebar.

Worlds

After launching Minecraft Preview on Xbox consoles we have the ability to copy our worlds from the standard game. Changes made to them in Minecraft Preview will not transfer to their original versions in Minecraft: Bedrock Edition.

This feature will most likely also be made available in the future on other platforms supported by Minecraft Preview.
At this point, Windows users can only create new worlds in Minecraft Preview or manually copy them from the Minecraft: Windows 10 Edition files.

Restrictions

Minecraft Preview does not offer:

Cross-platform multiplayer,
Marketplace,
Minecraft Realms/recommended servers,
Achievements.

What about the beta itself?

The beta test option in Minecraft: Bedrock Edition is still available. However, it will be completely supplanted in the next few months by Minecraft Preview.