How to play Minecraft without a premium account

No premium? Here's how you play.

Premium means a paid Minecraft: Java Edition account. Without one you can still play with an offline profile, a username the launcher plays under without signing in to Microsoft. It covers singleplayer, LAN and servers that allow offline players, with every version, loader and modpack.

All downloads

What can you do with an offline profile?

Minecraft: Java Edition has an offline mode built in. It's how LAN worlds work, and how many community servers run.

Singleplayer: Every Minecraft release, every world, every modpack. Nothing about the game changes.
LAN with friends: Open your world to LAN, and friends on the same network join with their own offline profiles.
Offline-mode servers: Servers that run with online-mode switched off accept offline players. Many community servers do.
Mods and modpacks: Fabric, Forge, Quilt, NeoForge and all of Modrinth work exactly the same on an offline profile.

What needs a premium account?

Anything that checks with Microsoft who you are. When you want these, sign in on the same launcher.

Online-mode servers: Most big public servers check every player with Microsoft, so they need an account that owns Minecraft.
Official skin and capes: These live on your Microsoft account. doki shows them once you sign in.
Realms: Minecraft Realms is Mojang's paid server service, tied to a Microsoft account.
Friend Zone and chat: doki's friends and chat need a Microsoft sign-in.

How do you set it up in doki?

Four steps, and the first one is the only download.

1. Download doki: The MSI for Windows, or the AppImage, DEB or RPM for Linux, from the download page.
2. Make an offline profile: Open doki, choose an offline profile and pick a username. There's no account to make.
3. Pick a version: Any Minecraft release, on Vanilla, Fabric, Forge, Quilt or NeoForge. doki installs the loader and the right Java.
4. Press play: Want online servers later? Add a Microsoft account and switch between the two without signing out.

Does doki give you Minecraft?

No, and it's worth being clear about.

It doesn't sell the game: doki doesn't sell, include or unlock Minecraft. It's a launcher: it sets the game up and starts it.
It doesn't bypass anything: Online-mode servers still check with Microsoft. An offline profile plays where offline players are allowed.
It keeps both ready: If you buy Minecraft later, sign in on the same doki and keep every instance and modpack you made.

No premium? Play anyway.

One download, an offline profile, and every version of Minecraft.