Learning is one of the most important things you can do. What if we told you there’s a better and more fun way to learn that does not use textbooks or tests? That way is through Minecraft Education Edition! Once you learn the ins and outs of Minecraft Education Edition (MEE) you'll know how to get started with Minecraft coding, how to download MEE, and the tech requirements for doing so. You will even discover some of MEE's most incredible features.
Would your child like to learn how to code to place and break blocks, build structures, spawn animals, develop mini-games, and a lot more within Minecraft? Enroll them in our live online small-group class Minecraft Modding Quest led by an expert, and designed by professionals from Google, Stanford, and MIT. Begin with a free Minecraft modding event.
What Is Minecraft Education Edition?
Minecraft: Education Edition is a version of Minecraft designed for education in a classroom setting. It's a game-based learning platform that makes it easy to provide all sorts of learning experiences within the popular Minecraft environment that kids already love. MEE includes hundreds of pre-made Minecraft worlds. And players can build their own worlds, allowing them to engage in and explore an instructive virtual environment.

How To Download Minecraft Education Edition
Start by downloading the app and exploring online tutorials and lessons for learning with Minecraft. Here's how to download Minecraft Education Edition in a few simple steps.
Step 1: Download Minecraft Education Edition (MEE Download)
Step 2: Click the downloaded MEE installer.

Step 3: Follow the instructions prompted on your screen! (Hit next a bunch of times and accept the terms and conditions.)

You have successfully downloaded Minecraft Education Edition!
Minecraft Education Edition Technical Requirements
MEE does not require a very powerful computer. But it does have minimum hardware and software requirements to make sure everything runs as smoothly as possible. Make sure your equipment meets these specifications:
Operating System Requirements:
- Chromebook - Chrome OS 83
- Mac - Catalina 10.15
- PC- Windows 7
- Android Phone/ Tablet - Android 8.0
- iPhone/ iPad - IOS 11/ iPadOS 11
Hardware Requirements:
-
Chomebook, Mac, Windows PC:
CPU: Intel Core i3-3210 3.2 GHz AMD A8-7600 APU 3.1 GHz or equivalent
RAM: 2GB
GPU: Integrated: Intel HD Graphics 4000 (Ivy Bridge) or AMD Radeon R5 series (Kaveri line) with OpenGL 4.4
Discrete: Nvidia GeForce 400 Series or AMD Radeon HD 7000 series with OpenGL 4.4
HDD: Minimum of 1 GB for game core, maps, and other files -
iPhone/iPad/Android Phone/Android Tablet:
CPU: 32 or 64 bit
RAM: 1GB
HDD: Minimum of 1 GB for game core, maps, and other files
Is Minecraft: Education Edition Free?
Minecraft: Education Edition is available to try out for free! You can either use the free trial offered, or try it out using their demo lessons (which you don't even need an account for). The free trial is fully functional and contains all the features of the paid version.
The free trial requires you to have a Entra ID account, either an Office 365 Education account or a Microsoft 365 account. However Personal versions of Office 365 or Microsoft 365 do not provide access nor trial access to Minecraft Education.
Each demo lesson has limited functionality: for example worlds and progress cannot be saved, and it is not possible to join or host a multiplayer game. Playing a demo lesson allows you the opportunity to experience a real lesson in Minecraft Education. There is no limit on the number of times you play each demo lesson.
After the trial expires and you complete the demo lessons you will need to buy the full game for your student to continue playing, and experience the full set of features Minecraft Education Edition has to offer.
Is Minecraft: Education Edition The Full Game?
Yes and no. Minecraft: Education Edition is designed with teachers and a classroom setting in mind. It has plenty of concepts that Minecraft Java/bedrock has, but with additional features to promote a better learning experience. MEE also gives special features to teachers that grant them access to an easier-to-control environment.
How To Play Minecraft Education For Free With Demo Lessons
Step into the theater to save the day in Minecraft Hour of Code: The Show Must Go On! Find the show's missing star, unlock hidden gags, and interact with an ensemble cast. Help the Agent overcome stage fright as you solve coding puzzles backstage. Watch your coding skills shine in an epic final performance! Check out our free Minecraft modding tutorial for more lessons.
Discover Minecraft Education Edition Features
- NPCs (Non-playable characters): Teachers can use characters to help students out while playing the game and completing challenges.
- Camera: The camera feature allows students and teachers to take pictures and collect evidence that they are completing projects. This is an easy way to document the learning experience.
- Chalkboard: This is just like a chalkboard in the classroom! Teachers can use this to help out students and give instructions within the game.
- Allow and Deny Blocks: These blocks create areas where students can or cannot place blocks based on if allow or deny is used. The deny blocks will stop them from building while the allow blocks grant access.
- Border Blocks: These allow players and students to stay within a confined space. This can help teachers keep track of all of their students.
- Code Builder and Agent: The Minecraft Education Edition code builder allows students to code programs. Agents are small robots that can execute the code for you!
Cool Things Only In Minecraft Education Edition
Minecraft Education Edition offers so many cool features that cannot be found in the regular base game of Minecraft. Here we'll take you through a few fun examples.
1. Chemistry
These chemicals found on the periodic table can be used inside Minecraft to make hundreds of new items and can be used in the Element Constructor, Lab Table, and Compound Creator interactive blocks.

2. Colored Torches
Colored torches are just what you would expect: a torch that is a different color! You can get these fancy torches by combining a regular torch with different types of metal chlorides. This will mimic the scientific reaction that would happen in real life in turn making your torches glow in these cool colors.
3. Medicine
If you have ever been in the unfortunate situation of acquiring bad potion affects this is the thing for you. They give you the capability to cure effects instead of giving you them. You have antidotes that cure poison, a tonic that will cure nausea, an elixir that cures weakness, and eyedrops that cure blindness!

4. Balloons
Balloons are one of the most entertaining things that can be found in MEE. To craft them you just need 6 latex, helium, a lead, and the dye of your choice!

Balloons are fully functional and must be tied down to a fence to keep them from flying away. If you tie a balloon to a passive mob it will begin to fly away so be careful!

5. Ice Bomb
Ice bombs are one of the easiest things to create inside of Minecraft Education Edition. All you need to do is combine four Sodium Acetate compounds and it will appear in your inventory. This block acts like an ender pearl and an egg as it is a projectile that turns water into ice!

Get Started With Free Minecraft Education Edition
Now you know about the awesome features of Minecraft Education Edition, what it is all about, and how you can download it on your own devices. To get started using MEE explore fun Minecraft Education mods.
Enroll your child in an award-winning live online class that can help them create their own games within Minecraft Education Edition: Minecraft Modding Quest. They'll even earn a certificate!
Written by Create & Learn instructor Gabrielle Cindric. Gabrielle is a Computer Science student by day and a STEM instructor by night. In her free time, she enjoys playing video games and hanging out with her poodle Bailey and cat Asphalt.