Launching Old versions

Vanilla Launcher
To launch old versions on the vanilla launcher, first go to the settings button at the bottom left and enable "Show historical versions of Minecraft: Java Edition in the launcher". Then go back to Java Edition and select the installations tab. Make sure releases, snapshots and modded are toggled on. You can now press the new installations button and see all the versions the vanilla launcher has available.

However, you may notice that a lot of versions are missing. To add more versions download the jar and json from the Minecraft Wiki and place it in its own folder in %appdata% .minecraft\versions and restart the launcher.

To hear sounds and see skins in old Minecraft versions use the betacraft proxy in JVM arguments of the instance you created. -Dhttp.proxyHost=betacraft.uk


 * The vanilla launcher does not have a way to join classic servers.

Minecraft Launcher

Betacraft (Recommended)
Betacraft has every single archived version available up to 1.5.2. It also comes built in with its own proxy that allows you to hear skins and sounds. You will need to install java 1.8 to use this launcher and it only has versions up to 1.5.2. It also comes with useful addons such as window resizing for classic versions.

Betacraft Java 8

Codex-Ipsa Launcher (Recommended)
Codex-Ipsa launcher contains every single archived version up to modern release. You can also use the Betacraft Proxy by enabling its toggle in the edit instance menu. However, this launcher is still in development so issues may be present. Make sure you use the correct java version too.

Codex-Ipsa Launcher

MultiMC (Recommended for Modded)
To launch old versions in MultiMC, press the "Add Instance" button and make sure you have all the different categories of versions enabled in the filter. If the version you need isnt present, select the version closest to the version you need. Once you have created the instance, go to settings and make sure you are using the correct java version for the version you are using. You can also add the betacraft proxy so you can hear sounds and see skins in old Minecraft versions. -Dhttp.proxyHost=betacraft.uk

If you need to add a version that isn't in MultiMC, download the jar file from the Minecraft Wiki and use the replace jar button on the Version tab. You can then select the jar you need.

To join classic servers, you need to go to Settings>Miscellaneous under the edit instance menu. Then you can type the IP where it says "Set a server to join on launch"

MultiMC Prism Launcher