Minecoins are the official in-game currency for Minecraft: Bedrock Edition and Minecraft Legends, used exclusively within the Minecraft Marketplace to buy skins, texture packs, worlds, adventure maps, and Character Creator items. The only two legitimate ways to get Minecoins are by purchasing them directly through the Marketplace or your platform’s official store, or by redeeming a prepaid Minecoin gift card, you cannot earn them through gameplay, achievements, or community events.
What are minecoins and how to get them
Minecoins are the premium currency in Minecraft: Bedrock Edition, designed for spending inside the Minecraft Marketplace. This is where creators and Mojang Studios sell cosmetic and gameplay content, including skins, texture packs, worlds, and adventure maps. Unlike some games that reward currency for playing, Minecoins are strictly a paid currency, there is no way to earn them by completing challenges, unlocking achievements, or participating in in-game events. If you want them, you must either buy them directly or redeem a prepaid card. This makes understanding your options straightforward: you can purchase them through the in-game store on any compatible device, or you can buy a physical gift card from a retail store and redeem its code online. Both methods are official, safe, and supported by Mojang and Microsoft.
How to buy minecoins in the Minecraft Marketplace
The most direct way to get Minecoins is to buy them inside the game itself. This works on any device that runs Minecraft: Bedrock Edition, including Android, iOS, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, and Windows 10/11. Here is the step-by-step process:
- Launch Minecraft: Bedrock Edition on your device.
- Sign in with your Microsoft account if you aren’t already signed in.
- Select “Marketplace” from the main menu.
- Look for the plus button (+) next to your Minecoin balance display, usually in the top-right corner of the screen.
- Choose a Minecoin package from the available options.
- Follow the on-screen prompts in your platform’s store to complete the purchase using your preferred payment method.
Once the transaction processes, the Minecoins are added to your balance instantly. You can then spend them immediately on any Marketplace item. This method is ideal if you want the convenience of buying directly without leaving the game, and it works across all compatible Bedrock platforms as long as you use the same Microsoft account.
How to redeem a prepaid minecoin gift card
If you prefer to pay with cash or want to give Minecoins as a gift, prepaid Minecoin cards are sold at many retail stores. These cards come with a 25-digit code that you redeem online. This method gives you the flexibility to control your spending and is a great option if you don’t want to link a credit card to your gaming account. Here’s how to redeem one:
- Scratch off the protective coating on the back of the card to reveal the 25-digit code.
- Go to Microsoft.com/redeem or Minecraft.net/redeem in your web browser.
- Sign in with the Microsoft account you use for Minecraft.
- Enter the 25-digit code exactly as printed.
- Follow the on-screen instructions to confirm the redemption.
After you complete these steps, the Minecoins are added to your account balance. You can then access them in-game across any compatible device where you’re signed in with that same Microsoft account. This is a reliable method because it doesn’t require a bank card or payment app, and it works for players of all ages.
Understanding your minecoin wallet and cross-platform use
Your Minecoins are tied to your Microsoft account, not to any single device. This means that when you buy or redeem Minecoins on one platform, they appear in your wallet on every other compatible Bedrock platform where you sign in, Android, iOS, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, and Windows 10/11. For example, if you purchase Minecoins on your Xbox, you can spend them on your phone or PC as long as you use the same Microsoft account. This cross-platform flexibility is one of the main advantages of the system, as it lets you build a single wallet that follows you across devices.
However, there is an important policy change coming that you need to know about. Starting October 27, 2026, Minecoins purchased in Minecraft on a Nintendo device (Nintendo Switch or Switch 2) will only be usable on those Nintendo systems. Similarly, Minecoins purchased on other devices will no longer be usable for Minecraft Marketplace purchases on Nintendo devices from that same date onward. This means that if you buy Minecoins on your phone today, you won’t be able to spend them on a Nintendo Switch after October 2026, and vice versa.
The good news is that any Minecoins you own before October 27, 2026, will move to a “Legacy Wallet.” This Legacy Wallet will continue to work across all compatible platforms without an expiration date, and the funds in it will be spent before any newly purchased Minecoins. So, if you’re a cross-platform player who uses a Nintendo Switch alongside other devices, you have a clear window to stock up on Minecoins before the policy change, and those coins will remain usable everywhere indefinitely. After that date, just be mindful that new purchases will be locked to the platform family where you bought them, unless you stick to the Legacy Wallet.
