Minecraft: Education Edition Available on Chromebooks for Back to School

As schools around the world prepare for Back to School and transition to remote, hybrid, and in-person learning models, educators are using Minecraft: Education Edition to keep learners connected and engaged. As part of our mission to support teachers, students, and families during this unique transition, the Minecraft: Education Edition app is now available for Chromebooks. 

Since Minecraft: Education Edition first became available to schools in 2016, educators around the world have been asking when the platform would be extended to Chromebooks. We are glad to welcome Chromebook educators to the world of Minecraft and our global teaching community in partnership with the Google Education team! 

This release of Minecraft: Education Edition also includes new features for users on all device types, including Chromebooks, Windows, Mac, and iPads, to support remote and hybrid learning for Back to School. We’ve launched eleven new STEM lessons with a special Minecraft world developed with the American Beekeeping Federation’s Kids and Bees program to introduce students to honeybees and pollination, showcasing some of the fun features that are part of this update. These include new mobs like bees and foxes, beehives and honey blocks, and an improved lesson library with tagged learning activities to make searching for lessons easier.  

How to get Minecraft: Education Edition for Chromebooks 

Chromebook, iPad, and Windows users will be automatically upgraded to the latest version of Minecraft: Education Edition, while Mac users need to install the updated version manually. Visit the Help Center for everything you need to know about getting started with Minecraft: Education Edition on Chromebook. The Chromebook version of Minecraft: Education Edition offers the same set of features as other versions, including multiplayer with other platforms—students using the app on Chromebooks can collaborate with students on PCs or iPads, for example. If you’d like to deploy Minecraft: Education Edition to a fleet of managed Chrome devices, consult this Chromebook deployment guide. 

If your school is licensed through Microsoft 365 for Education (A3 or A5), you already have access to Minecraft: Education Edition. Minecraft: Education Edition is licensed via yearly subscriptions that are purchased through the Microsoft Store for Education via volume licensing agreements and through partner resellers. While logging in currently requires a Microsoft account, we’re working on enabling users to log in with a Google account as well. 

Educators trying Minecraft: Education Edition for the first time on Chromebook can get started here with online trainings, starter lessons and onboarding resources. 

Minecraft for Remote and Hybrid Learning 

Minecraft: Education Edition is a game-based learning platform that helps build key 21st-century skills like coding and creative problem-solving. Hundreds of free standards-aligned lessons, design challenges, and STEM curricula are available in-game and online, along with flexible templates for teachers to design their own learning activities. In a time when staying connected to the classroom is of extra importance, Minecraft supports collaboration and meaningful student-led learning. Visit our distance learning page to download special lesson toolkits and other resources for remote and hybrid learning with Minecraft: Education Edition. 

Educators work hard to create inclusive classrooms, which is challenging when students are having to adapt to learning at home, away from the predictable and social school environment. Minecraft: Education Edition supports social-emotional learning by giving educators and students alike the opportunity to socialize with one another in-game and work on projects together. 

“We’ve built new relationships with students in this remote learning time,” explains Welsh educator and Minecraft Mentor James Protheroe. “They’re helping one another in new ways, and it’s strengthening the relationships between teachers and students. Minecraft is helping them make sense of what’s happening. They can share their thoughts and reasoning, offload stress, and learn in a safe environment.” 

Thousands of teachers in more than 115 countries use Minecraft: Education Edition to inspire their students to learn STEM, tell stories, explore history, and solve problems. Professional development and free online trainings are available, and certified Minecraft Mentors and Microsoft Innovative Educator Experts (MIEEs) provide peer support on teaching with Minecraft and classroom management. Through features like in-game coding, multiplayer, and Immersive Reader, Minecraft: Education Edition presents a unique learning experience that meets students in a familiar game environment with inspiring learning content and opportunities to express their creativity. 

Minecraft: Education Edition is committed to supporting educators and students on the platforms they use as schools transition to new models of teaching and learning. The Chromebook release extends access to Minecraft: Education Edition to many more classrooms and homes around the world, bringing the power of game-based learning and magic of Minecraft to educators, students, and families when it matters most.

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Learn how to deploy the Chromebook release and download the app for Chromebook here. 

Access remote learning resources for Minecraft: Education Edition for educators and families here. 

Read about how Minecraft: Education Edition has sparked connections in schools and classrooms around the world, and share your story here.