[Guide] Easy Ways How To Uninstall And Reinstall Minecraft Beginner’s Guide

(Last Updated On: May 4, 2023)

Even if you enjoy a game, you may need to uninstall it from time to time, and Minecraft is no exception. We’re here to help you keep your game data safe during this process, whether you’re trying to fix a stubborn bug or want to temporarily free up some storage.

This guide will show you how to reinstall Minecraft Bedrock and Java on different devices while retaining your saves. In addition, we’ll provide instructions for a clean reinstallation and answer a few frequently asked questions about backing up your Minecraft data.

Maintain PC Saves Uninstall and reinstall Minecraft: Bedrock

Let’s get started – find your device’s Minecraft Bedrock reinstallation instructions below.

Saves Windows Bedrock

Follow the steps below to uninstall Minecraft Bedrock from a Windows PC while keeping your saves and reinstall it:

1. Before you begin the uninstallation process, keep in mind that the Minecraft Launcher should not be deleted.
2. Press the Windows + R keys at the same time, then type “%appdata%” into the window that appears.
3. Press the Enter key or click the Ok button to open the Roaming folder.
4. Navigate to the.minecraft folder in the Roaming folder. Then, right-click the saves folder, select Copy, and save the folder to any safe location on your computer.
5. Return to the Roaming folder and right-click the.minecraft folder, then choose Delete. This will remove Minecraft from your computer.
6. Launch Minecraft Launcher to reinstall Minecraft. This will begin the installation procedure.
7. Follow the on-screen instructions – you should only have to click Next a few times and sign in with your Minecraft account once the installation is finished.
8. Copy your saves folder from the safe location you’ve chosen.
9. Return to the Roaming folder, open the.minecraft folder, and paste your saves folder there.

Saved by Mac Bedrock

The steps for reinstalling Minecraft Bedrock on a Mac computer differ slightly from those for Windows; here’s how:

1. Before you begin the uninstallation process, keep in mind that the Minecraft Launcher should not be deleted.
2. Launch the Finder app, which has a blue square face as its icon.
3. At the top of the Finder window, click Go, then Go to Folder…
4. In the search window, type “/Library/Application Support/minecraft” and press the Enter key. The.minecraft folder should now be visible.
5. Right-click the saves folder and choose Copy from the dropdown menu. Save the folder somewhere safe, such as the desktop.
6. Right-click the entire.minecraft folder and choose Delete, then confirm. This should remove Minecraft from your computer.

To reinstall Minecraft, follow these steps:

7. Launch Minecraft Launcher to begin the installation process.
8. Follow the on-screen instructions, wait for the process to finish, and then exit Launcher.
9. Copy the saves folder from your backup location.
10. Return to the.minecraft folder and paste your saves folder there.

Linux Foundation with Savings

There is only one script required to remove Minecraft Bedrock from a Linux device. To delete and reinstall the game, follow the steps below:

1. Before you begin the uninstallation process, keep in mind that the Minecraft Launcher should not be deleted.
2. Open your File Manager and navigate to the.minecraft folder.
3. Right-click the saves folder and choose Copy, then save it somewhere other than the “.minecraft” folder.
4. Use the Ctrl + Alt + T keyboard shortcut to open the Terminal.
5. In the Terminal, type “rm -vr /.minecraft/*” and press the Enter key. Enter your password if prompted. This command will clear all Minecraft files.
6. To reinstall Minecraft, launch the Minecraft Launcher, which will begin the installation process. To finish it, follow the on-screen instructions.
7. Move the saves folder to a safe location.
8. Return to the.minecraft folder and paste your saves folder there.

Keep Mobile Minecraft: Bedrock PE Saves Uninstall and Reinstall

If you’re playing Minecraft on a mobile device, you can keep your saves even if you reinstall the game. You can find detailed instructions for both Android and iPhone devices below.

Saves for IOS Bedrock PE

Follow the steps below to reinstall Minecraft PE on an iPhone:

1. Download and install iExplorer from the official website. You’ll also need the iTunes app if you’re using a Windows PC.
2. Connect your phone to your computer using a USB cable.
3. Navigate to Apps in your phone’s file management window.
4. Select Minecraft PE, followed by Documents, Games, and com.mojang.
5. Copy the MinecraftWorlds folder and save it somewhere other than the main Minecraft folder.
6. Tap and hold the Minecraft app icon on your phone. When it begins to wiggle, tap the minus icon and confirm your action. This should remove the game.
7. Download and reinstall Minecraft PE from the AppStore.
8. Reopen the com.mojang folder on your PC and rename the MinecraftWorlds folder.

Saves for Android Bedrock PE

To reinstall Minecraft PE on your Android device, follow the steps below:

1. On your phone, launch the File Explorer (the exact name may vary) app.
2. Navigate to the Games folder, then to the com.mojang folder.
3. Copy the MinecraftWorlds folder and save it somewhere other than the main com.mojang folder.
4. Remove the Minecraft PE app. Tap and hold the Minecraft icon, then drag it to the upper-right corner of your screen to reveal the Uninstall option (for newer Android phones). If this method does not work on your device, use the Settings app.
5. Go to the Google Play Store and reinstall Minecraft PE.
6. Reopen the com.mojang folder in File Explorer and rename the MinecraftWorlds folder.

Keep Console Saves When Uninstalling and Reinstalling Minecraft: Bedrock

It is far easier to keep your Minecraft data safe during reinstallation on a console than it is on a computer. Continue reading for instructions for specific console models.

Saves for PS4 Bedrock

PS4 saves your Minecraft data to cloud storage automatically, so you don’t have to do anything to back up your worlds. To reinstall the game, follow the steps below:

1. Open the Games Menu from the main console menu.
2. Navigate to Minecraft Bedrock, then press the Options button on your controller (a small oval button to the right of the touchpad).
3. Click the Delete button. Minecraft will be uninstalled, but your saves will be saved somewhere else. When prompted to remove the application’s saved data, select No.
4. Log in to your PlayStation Store account and go to the Library.
5. Locate Minecraft Bedrock in the Library and click Download – you should be able to install it for free. Then, as usual, follow the PS4 installation instructions.
6. Your saves should appear in the game automatically after installation.

Saves for Xbox One Bedrock

If you have an Xbox Live account, your Minecraft data is saved in the cloud. To reinstall the game, follow these steps:

1. Start your Xbox by pressing the Xbox button on your controller.
2. Go to My Games and Apps and search for Minecraft.
3. On your controller, press the Menu (Start) button.
4. Select Uninstall from the menu. If you use Xbox Live, your saves should be kept in the cloud.
5. Return to the main menu, then select My Games and Apps.
6. Select Full Library, then All Owned Games. Minecraft should still be in this folder; simply highlight the game title and choose Install. The game should install with all of your saved game data.

Bedrock for Nintendo Switch with Saves

On the Nintendo Switch, you must first manually backup your data. Follow the steps below to do so and reinstall the game:

1. Highlight Minecraft in the main menu, then press the + button on your Switch to open game Settings.
2. Select Save Data Cloud from the left sidebar, then select a user and confirm your action.
3. Select Manage Software, then Delete Software, and confirm to uninstall Minecraft from the left sidebar.
4. Return to the main menu and select the Nintendo Shop, which is represented by a yellow shopping bag icon at the bottom of the screen.
5. Select Redownload from your profile icon to view the games you already own.
6. Wait for Minecraft to install by clicking the cloud icon next to it. Your saves should be automatically restored.

Keep Legacy Console Minecraft Saves: Uninstall and Reinstall

Of course, you can reinstall Minecraft on older consoles such as the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. Continue reading to learn how.

Saves for PS3 Legacy Bedrock

Reinstalling Minecraft on a PS3 is the same as reinstalling it on a PS4. You cannot, however, transfer your Minecraft data from an older PS version to a PS4 or PS5. Follow the steps below to reinstall the game on the same console:

1. Open the Games Menu from the main console menu.
2. Navigate to Minecraft Bedrock, then press the Options button on your controller (a small oval button to the right of the touchpad).
3. Click the Delete button. Minecraft will be uninstalled, but your saves will be saved somewhere else. When prompted to remove the application’s saved data, select No.
4. Log in to your PlayStation Store account and go to the Library.
5. Locate Minecraft Bedrock in the Library and click Download – you should be able to install it for free. Then, as usual, follow the PS3 installation instructions.
6. Your saves should appear in the game automatically after installation.

Saves for PS Vita Legacy Bedrock

You can’t transfer Minecraft data from PS Vita to PS4, just like you can’t from PS3, but you can keep your data if you reinstall the game on the same device. Here’s how you do it:

1. Open Content Manager from the main menu, then navigate to Online Storage.
2. Go to PlayStation Vita System -> Online Storage.
3. Check the box next to Minecraft Legacy and then tap Copy.
4. Return to the main menu and look for the Minecraft icon. Hold it for a few seconds after tapping it. When it begins to wiggle, tap the three-dot icon next to it.
5. Click Delete and then confirm.
6. Open PS Store from the main menu and tap the three-dot icon in the corner of your screen. Then, choose Download List.
7. Locate Minecraft and select Download. It should be free to download and install.
8. Return to Online Storage and choose Online Storage -> PS Vita System.
9. Check the box next to Minecraft Legacy and then tap Copy.

Saves for Xbox 360 Legacy Bedrock

The steps for reinstalling content on Xbox 360 are identical to those for Xbox One.

Keep Minecraft Java Saves: Uninstall and Reinstall

Learn how to keep your saves while reinstalling Minecraft Java Edition on your PC in this section.

Minecraft Java for Windows with Saves

The steps for uninstalling and reinstalling Minecraft Java are identical to those for Minecraft Bedrock. Except for the Minecraft version, follow the instructions above.

Minecraft Java for Mac with Saves

Reinstalling Minecraft Java is identical to reinstalling the Bedrock edition. So, for Mac, follow the steps outlined above.

Minecraft Java for Linux with Saves

Reinstalling Minecraft Java on Linux is similar to reinstalling Minecraft Bedrock – simply follow the steps outlined above for Linux.

Complete Uninstall and Reinstall for Minecraft Bedrock

If you want to permanently delete your Minecraft data, read this section to learn how to do so on your device.

Windows in the Bedrock

Follow the steps below to delete all Minecraft data from your Windows PC:

1. Before you begin the uninstallation process, keep in mind that the Minecraft Launcher should not be deleted.
2. In the window that appears, press the Win + R keys simultaneously, then type in%appdata%.
3. Press the Enter key or click the Ok button to open the Roaming folder.
4. Right-click the.minecraft folder in the Roaming folder.
5. Click Delete. This will remove Minecraft from your PC, including any saved games.
6. Launch the Minecraft Launcher. This will begin the installation procedure.
7. Follow the on-screen instructions – you should only have to click Next a few times and sign in with your Minecraft account once the installation is finished.

The foundation of MacOS

You can easily delete all of your Minecraft files from your Mac by following these steps:

1. Before you begin the uninstallation process, keep in mind that the Minecraft Launcher should not be deleted.
2. Launch the Finder app, which has a blue square face as its icon.
3. At the top of the Finder window, click Go, then Go to Folder…
4. In the search window, type “/Library/Application Support/minecraft” and press the Enter key. The.minecraft folder should now be visible.
5. Right-click the entire.minecraft folder and choose Delete, then confirm. This should remove Minecraft from your Mac, including any saved games.
6. Launch Minecraft Launcher to begin the installation process.
7. Follow the instructions on the screen and wait for the process to finish.

Linux as a foundation

Deleting Minecraft files from a Linux device is as simple as four steps, which are outlined below:

1. Before you begin the uninstallation process, keep in mind that the Minecraft Launcher should not be deleted.
2. Open the Terminal by pressing Ctrl + Alt + T on your keyboard.
3. In the Terminal, type “rm -vr /.minecraft/*” and press the Enter key. Enter your password if prompted. This command will delete all Minecraft files, including saves.
4. Launch Minecraft Launcher to begin the installation process. To finish it, follow the on-screen instructions.

Complete Uninstall and Reinstall for Minecraft PE (Bedrock)

Follow the steps below to permanently uninstall Minecraft PE from your phone.

Using Android to Play Minecraft PE

To remove all Minecraft files from your Android phone, do the following:

1. Hold the Minecraft icon in your hand and drag it to the upper-right corner of your screen to the Uninstall option, then confirm (for newer Android phones). If this method does not work on your device, use the Settings app. This should remove Minecraft from your computer without saving your data.
2. Download and install Minecraft PE again from the Google Play Store.

Using iOS to Play Minecraft PE

Follow the two simple steps below to uninstall Minecraft from your iPhone without saving your data:

1. Tap and hold the Minecraft app icon on your phone. When it begins to wiggle, tap the minus icon and confirm your action. This will remove the game without saving your data.
2. Download and reinstall Minecraft PE from the AppStore.

Minecraft Java Reinstall: Complete Uninstall and Reinstall

If you don’t want to keep your Minecraft Java data, learn how to permanently uninstall the game below.

Minecraft Java Clean Install on Windows

To reinstall Minecraft Java on a Windows device, follow the steps outlined above, with the exception of copying the saved data folder.

Minecraft Java Clean Install on Mac

You can reinstall the game on your Mac without saving your worlds if you follow the instructions for Minecraft Bedrock but do not copy the Minecraft saved data folder.

Minecraft Java Clean Install on Linux

Uninstalling all of your Minecraft Java data from Linux and reinstalling the game is simple – just follow the instructions for Minecraft Bedrock above, minus copying and pasting the saved data folder.

Questions and Answers

Learn more about reinstalling Minecraft in this section.

Keep Your Worlds Apart

Every Minecraft player understands how frustrating it is to lose a world you’ve worked so hard to create! Fortunately, now that you know how to properly reinstall Minecraft, you can rest assured that your saves will not be lost. If you’re playing Minecraft on a computer or a mobile device, you should back up your game data ahead of time, even if you don’t intend to reinstall Minecraft in the near future. Use a memory stick, another device, or cloud storage to save your worlds in case something goes wrong with your device.

Which method do you prefer for backing up your game data? Please share your thoughts in the comments section below.