Snapshot of the source text at fetch time — not a live mirror of the policy page.
Plain-English summary
The Minecraft EULA outlines several important points regarding user conduct, modifications ('Mods'), and the Realms subscription service. Users are prohibited from distributing, selling, or monetizing company-made content without permission (gotchas-1). Selling or making money from user-created Mods is also forbidden (gotchas-4). The company retains the right to change or withdraw permissions in its Usage Guidelines without notice (gotchas-2) and has the final say on what constitutes a 'Mod' (gotchas-3). If game updates affect Mods, the company is not responsible (gotchas-5). Furthermore, users cannot sell or commercially benefit from access to their Realms (gotchas-6), and any suggestions made to the company are free and uncompensated (gotchas-7). Privacy terms are primarily governed by the Microsoft Privacy Statement, except for the Minecraft Shop which has its own terms (data_use-1, data_use-2). The company is not responsible for and does not monitor user content in Realms (data_use-3, data_use-4). Cancellation of Realms subscriptions is subject to platform rules (cancellation_renewal-2).
92% confidence
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Risk Flags
Clauses that indicate potential high-severity risks to the user.
Not clearly stated: There are no explicit risk flags such as mandatory arbitration, class action waivers, or broad indemnification clauses in the provided text.
Data Use and Privacy
How the service collects, uses, shares, and protects your data.
Not clearly stated: The document does not detail how specific types of user data (e.g., gameplay data, communication data) are collected, used, or shared, beyond referencing the Microsoft Privacy Statement for overall services and a separate set of terms for the Minecraft Shop.
low95% confidence confidence
Privacy Governed by Microsoft Privacy Statement
The Microsoft Privacy Statement applies to all Minecraft Services, with the Minecraft Shop being the sole exception.
Why it matters: Your personal data collected through Minecraft Services (excluding the Minecraft Shop) is subject to the terms outlined in the Microsoft Privacy Statement.
The[Microsoft Privacy Statement](https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=521839)applies to all Minecraft Services. The sole exception is the[Minecraft Shop](https://shop.minecraft.net/), which is managed by our friends at Snow Commerce, who are not part of us or Microsoft. Please review their terms and conditions, as their terms will apply to your usage of the Minecraft Shop.
The Minecraft Shop is managed by Snow Commerce, and its usage is subject to Snow Commerce's terms and conditions, not the Microsoft Privacy Statement.
Why it matters: When using the Minecraft Shop, your data will be governed by Snow Commerce's privacy terms, not Microsoft's.
The sole exception is the[Minecraft Shop](https://shop.minecraft.net/), which is managed by our friends at Snow Commerce, who are not part of us or Microsoft. Please review their terms and conditions, as their terms will apply to your usage of the Minecraft Shop.
Company not responsible for user content in Realms
The company states it is not responsible for user content, including comments, views, or remarks expressed within Minecraft Realms.
Why it matters: The company explicitly disclaims responsibility for the content created or shared by users within Realms, meaning you bear the risk for interactions and content from other users.
we are not responsible for (and, subject to and to the extent allowed by applicable law, we make no warranty or representation in relation to and disclaim all liability for) all user content including any comments, views or remarks expressed in it;
The company acknowledges it has no responsibility to monitor or review user content within Minecraft Realms.
Why it matters: The company states it does not monitor or review user-generated content in Realms, which may result in exposure to undesirable content or interactions.
by using Minecraft Realms you acknowledge that we have no responsibility to monitor or review the content of any user content and that all user content is made available on the basis that we are not required to and do not exercise any control or judgment over it;
Terms related to subscription cancellations, auto-renewal, and refunds.
Not clearly stated: The document does not explicitly state auto-renewal terms for services, how to cancel the main Minecraft game purchase if applicable, or general refund policies beyond Realms.
low95% confidence confidence
Minecraft Realms is a subscription service
Minecraft Realms is an add-on subscription service, and its cost is outlined on the purchase pages or platform at the time of purchase.
Why it matters: Access to Minecraft Realms requires a subscription payment, the details of which are provided at the point of purchase.
Realms is a subscription service and the cost is as detailed on the applicable purchase pages and / or platform at the time of purchase, or the purchase price of the redeemable card or gift code.
Cancellation of Realms subscription is subject to external platform rules
If you decide to cancel your Realm after purchasing it, the cancellation process will be subject to the rules of the applicable store or platform.
Why it matters: The ability to cancel your Minecraft Realms subscription and any associated refunds are determined by the policies of the platform where you made the purchase, rather than directly by Minecraft's EULA.
If you decide to cancel your Realm after you have already purchased it, your cancellation will be subject to the applicable store or platform rules.
Potentially overlooked clauses that could be disadvantageous or restrictive to the user.
Not clearly stated: The document does not clearly state any 'gotchas' regarding automatic renewals beyond the Realms subscription, or specific clauses on liability limits for user negligence.
high95% confidence confidence
Prohibition on commercial use or distribution of company content
Users are prohibited from distributing, making commercial use of, or trying to make money from anything the company has made, unless expressly agreed to.
Why it matters: You cannot sell, distribute, or monetize any game software, content, updates, or other creations made by the company without their specific permission, which could limit monetization of user-created content that incorporates company assets.
However, you must not distribute anything we've made unless we specifically agree to it. By "distribute anything we've made" what we mean is:
**what you can and can’t do with Minecraft software and content**, paragraph 2 · Citation strength: strong
medium90% confidence confidence
Company retains full control over Minecraft Usage Guidelines
The company reserves the right to change or withdraw permissions granted in the Minecraft Usage Guidelines at any time without notice, especially if abuse or exploitation is observed.
Why it matters: Permissions given for creative use through the Minecraft Usage Guidelines can be revoked or altered by the company at any time without prior notice, potentially impacting modding or content creation freedom.
These Minecraft Usage Guidelines are extra permissions that we give to the community to encourage creativity and community, but we reserve the right to change them or withdraw permissions, especially if we see people exploiting or abusing these permissions. The Minecraft Usage Guidelines often change, and we have the right to withdraw the permissions given in them at any time without notice.
**what you can and can’t do with Minecraft software and content**, paragraph 5 · Citation strength: strong
medium90% confidence confidence
Company has final say on what constitutes a 'Mod'
The company states it has the final say on what constitutes a "Mod" within Minecraft: Java Edition.
Why it matters: The company determines what modifications qualify as an acceptable 'Mod', which affects what users can create and distribute without violating terms.
We have the final say on what constitutes a Mod and what doesn't.
Prohibition on selling or monetizing user-created Mods
Users may not sell their created Mods for Minecraft: Java Edition or attempt to make money from them.
Why it matters: You are explicitly forbidden from commercializing any Mods you create for Minecraft: Java Edition, restricting potential revenue streams from your original work.
Any Mods you create for Minecraft: Java Edition from scratch belong to you (including pre-run Mods and in-memory Mods) and you can do whatever you want with them, as long as you don't sell them for money / try to make money from them and so long as you don’t distribute Modded Versions of the game.
Company not responsible for incompatible Mods after updates
The company does not take responsibility if game updates cause Mods or other software to no longer work well.
Why it matters: If a game update breaks your Mods, the company explicitly states it is not responsible, and suggests running an older version as a workaround.
When we update our games, some changes might not work well with other software, such as Mods. This is unfortunate, but it is something we don’t take responsibility for. If that is the case, try running an older version.
Users are prohibited from selling, leasing, renting, transferring, giving away, or otherwise dealing in access to their Realm, or receiving financial or commercial benefits for allowing others to play on their Realm.
Why it matters: You are not allowed to monetize access to your Minecraft Realm or receive any commercial benefits for letting other people play on it.
* sell, lease, rent, transfer, give away, or otherwise deal in access to your Realm or receive financial, commercial or other benefits for letting other people play on your Realm.
Any suggestions for Minecraft provided by a user are made for free, and the company has no obligation to accept, consider, or pay for them, unless a specific written agreement for compensation is made beforehand.
Why it matters: If you submit a suggestion for Minecraft, the company can use it without compensating you, unless you explicitly request payment in writing and they agree before you submit the suggestion.
If you come to us with a suggestion for Minecraft, that suggestion is made for free and we have no obligation to accept or consider it. This means we can use or not use your suggestion in any way we want and we don't have to pay you for it. If you think you have a suggestion that we would be willing to pay you for, please do not tell us your suggestion unless you have first told us you want to be paid**and**we have responded in writing by asking you to submit the suggestion.
Commitments and features that benefit and protect the user.
Not clearly stated: The document does not explicitly state protections such as data minimization commitments, specific data deletion rights (beyond what a referenced privacy policy might contain), or granular user controls over data sharing.
Protection95% confidence confidence
User-created content remains user's property
The company states that original content created by users, such as worlds, remains the property of the user.
Why it helps: This clause confirms that original creations by users within the game, like custom worlds, are owned by the user, not the company, protecting intellectual property rights.
The[Microsoft Services Agreement](https://www.microsoft.com/servicesagreement)says “Your Content remains Your Content”, and that applies to Minecraft. We don't own the original stuff that you create.
Cautionary advice on sharing personal information in games
The EULA explicitly advises users to be cautious about giving out personal information when talking to others in games.
Why it helps: This warning helps users protect their personal information by encouraging caution when interacting with others in the game due to the uncertainty of online identities.
**Please watch out if you are talking to people in our games. It is hard for either you or us to know for sure that what people say is true, or even if people are really who they say they are. You should think twice about giving out information about yourself.**
The company will inform users of EULA changes before they take effect, either by posting a notice on their website or by other reasonable means.
Why it helps: This clause ensures users are notified of important changes to the terms, allowing them time to understand and adapt to new policies before they are enforced.
In that case we'll inform you of the change before it takes effect, either by posting a notice on our website or by other reasonable means.