activate experimental gameplay minecraft

• Experimental Gameplay

The disclaimer that appears when toggling Experimental Gameplay in the world settings.

Example of a world with the experimental tag on Bedrock Edition.

Experimental Gameplay (also known in-game as Experiments ) is a game option exclusive to Bedrock Edition . In Java Edition , experimental features are available behind separate data packs . When enabled, it allows players to test some unfinished or work-in-progress features that will eventually be released in future updates.

Example of a world with the experimental tag on Java Edition .

• 3.1 Additional content
• 3.2 Gameplay
• 3.3 Internal Testing (Developer Edition only)
• 4 Features (Java Edition)
• 6 References

Toggling [ ]

Experimental Gameplay is found in the world options when creating or editing a world. When turning the option on in an existing world, a copy of the world will be created automatically. Turning the option on disables achievements after the world is created. Once the experimental world is created, it cannot be turned off again. Worlds with the experimental on will have an "Experimental" tag right next to the game mode name in the world menu.

Warnings [ ]

The warning message when attempting to play on an experimental world.

The point of Experimental Gameplay is for the player to look at some not-quite-finished features, which could crash, break, or stop working at any point in future updates. When the player attempts to load the experimental world, it will show a warning message before loading it. Attempting to disable experimental gameplay toggle via external tools could also crash and break the world.

The experiment selection screen on Java Edition.

It is recommended to create back up copies of the world when playing on experimental, or not enabling experimental toggle on to avoid breaking the world and having issues in future updates.

Features (Bedrock Edition) [ ]

There are 8 different toggles of Experimental Gameplay on Bedrock Edition. [1] [2] These are:

Additional content [ ]

• Enables add-ons features added on the holiday update and some further updates that include the creation of custom blocks and items, Molang enhancements and the run_command method. This toggle will soon be removed from Bedrock Edition entirely, thus breaking add-ons using these features, mostly block and item events.
• Enables custom biomes by using add-ons.
• Used for Volume Driven Fog and entity properties and permutations.
• Enables the usage for "-beta" versions of API modules in add-on packs.
• Enables experimental Molang features.
• Enables the / camera command and its features.
• Introducing new experimental cross-platform graphics features for creators

Gameplay [ ]

• Overhauled trades for Villager and Wandering Trader
• Internal (staff only) experimental features (NON_LOC)
• Enables the experimental bundle item.

Internal Testing ( Developer Edition only) [ ]

• loc_description MISSING FROM EXPERIMENTS JSON!
• the next big update
• just a test for whether text is working
• Allow changing seed
• Load Blocks generated by the Minecraft Explorer (NON_LOC)

Features (Java Edition) [ ]

There are two data packs of experimental features on Java Edition:

• While this data pack is selectable during world creation, it will not be found within the datapacks folder of the save.

History [ ]

References [ ].

• ↑ "Experimental Features Toggle in Minecraft Bedrock Edition" – feedback.minecraft.net.
• ↑ "Experimental Features in Minecraft: Bedrock Edition" – docs.microsoft.com.
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• Planned versions
• Minecraft Preview
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• sound_definitions.json
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• 3 Smithing Template

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Experimental Features in Minecraft: Bedrock Edition

• 5 contributors

To see full documentation about experimental features and APIs, select the Minecraft Bedrock Experimental APIs option or use this link .

With each retail version of Minecraft: Bedrock Edition, there are a few features that are currently in an experimental state. Experimental Features can be toggled on for creators who are interested in testing the latest features offered in the preview, and retail versions of Minecraft.

The Experiments toggle list is subject to frequent changes and could have entirely different options from the ones in your own version of Minecraft. Also, the screen shots shown here might look different.

Experimental Features available in Minecraft: Bedrock Edition

There are two sets of experimental features available, depending on whether you are using a retail version of Minecraft or the latest version of Minecraft Preview.

These are the currently available Experimental toggles in the 1.21.20 retail build at the time of this writing.

GAMEPLAY - Change the way your world works

ADD-ON CREATORS - For creators of game packs and other add-ons

These are the currently available Experimental toggles in the 1.21.20.23 preview build at the time of this writing.

How do I activate an Experimental Features toggle for my world?

You can activate an experimental toggle for any of your new or existing worlds.

Activating experimental features that are still under development means that your world might crash, break, or not work with future updates.

If you're planning to build content that you want to share with the community, it would be best to do it in a non-experimental world.

Toggle Experimental Features in a New World

If you are building a new world from scratch to test experimental features, you can toggle which features you want enabled in the Game Settings.

Under Game settings, navigate down to Experiments and select a toggle to enable the feature.

When you get the popup asking if you're sure, select Turn on Experiments anyway .

Toggle Experimental Features in an Existing World

If you want to add experimental features to an existing world, open that world's game settings and activate the toggles just like you would for a new world.

A copy of your world will be generated automatically after you activate an experimental feature toggle. You can also manually create copies of your world as an extra precaution, in case something goes wrong.

After you select Activate Experiments , a copy of your existing world will be created. The copy will have the same name as the original world with "Copy of..." added in front of it.

Verify that the World has Experimental Features Enabled

After you've created a world that has an experimental feature toggle enabled, your world will get a tag next to the game mode in your Worlds list that says Experimental .

Another way to identify if your world is using experimental toggles is to visit the settings for your world. In the Game world settings, scroll down to the Experiments section to see which experiments are enabled.

Worlds that use experimental features cannot be restored to a non-experimental state.

What's Next?

If you like experimenting and testing things in Minecraft, you could learn more about the GameTest Framework.

Introduction to the GameTest Framework

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TESTING NEW MINECRAFT FEATURES

Wanna help us make Minecraft? Help us test our latest unreleased features!

Most weeks we release early versions of Minecraft updates to test out new features, shake out the wrinkles and squish the bugs before they reach a wider audience. It’s a cool way for players such as yourself to check out the new stuff that we’re working on before it officially releases!

If the prospect of seeing new things first has you excited, and you don’t mind potentially running into a few bugs along the way, then take a look at your preferred platform here below !

But be aware : 

These versions are by their nature a bit unstable, and things are likely to be weird, wonky, or just plain wrong.  

The game may crash and things you build might get corrupted. It’s a small risk, but a risk nonetheless!

These versions do not have access to Realms or Featured Servers, and can only play in multiplayer worlds with other players on the same version of the game.

Windows 10/11

macOS & Linux

Disclaimer: You need to own the original Minecraft game to try out upcoming Minecraft features on Android.

Android has a Beta program that you can join at any time. Please note that by joining this Beta you replace your standard version of Minecraft with the Beta version. 

To join the Android Beta, find the official Minecraft app in the Google Play store. Scroll down to the “Join the Beta” section and click on “Join”. Wait a few minutes and launch your regular Minecraft app. Note that this may take a while, but eventually your app will switch to the beta version. If you later decide to leave the Beta, simply go back to the Google Play store and scroll down to “You’re a beta tester” and click “Leave”. Your app will eventually switch back to the regular Minecraft version.

Additionally, you may need to activate experimental features in the game to test the latest Minecraft features.

Enter the “Create New World” or “Edit World” setting. If you are creating a new world, go to the “Game” setting, scroll down to “Experiments” and click on the toggle you want to activate. You will get a popup asking if you want to "Activate Experimental Gameplay?". Click on "Activate Experiments". If you are using an existing world, this will create a copy of your world that will get the same name as the original world with “Copy of...” added in front of it.

You can find more information about feature toggles for Bedrock Edition here .

WINDOWS 10 & 11

Disclaimer: You need to own the original Minecraft game, subscribe to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate or PC Game Pass to try out upcoming Minecraft features on Windows. 

Java Edition

In the Java Edition, we put out regular test versions known as Snapshots. In the Minecraft Launcher, select the latest snapshot by clicking the arrow next to the Play button on the main tab and then click the Play button.

You may need to activate experimental features in the game to test the latest Minecraft features. 

Enter the “Create New World” setting. Click on “Data Packs” and select the data pack you want to play. Click on “Done” and when you get to the next screen, click on “Create New World”.

You can find more information about feature toggles for Java Edition here .

Bedrock Edition

In the Bedrock Edition, test versions are regularly put out in Minecraft Preview. You can download and access Minecraft Preview by selecting the “Minecraft Preview” tab in the Minecraft Launcher and clicking the “Install” or “Play” button. 

Disclaimer: You need to own the digital version of the Minecraft game to try out upcoming Minecraft features on Xbox, it is included in Xbox Game Pass. Unfortunately, Preview is not available to use for Disc owners. 

In the Bedrock Edition, test versions are regularly put out in Minecraft Preview. Search for Minecraft Preview in the Microsoft Store and click Install on the resulting product page. Now you can open Minecraft Preview and click “Play Preview” to get started. 

You may need to activate experimental features in the game to test the latest Minecraft features.

iPhones and iPads now have Minecraft Preview, which players can opt into via this link , download and install the Testflight app and follow the instructions when slots are available. While the slots are limited, we will open more up periodically, and we’ll remove inactive players to let new folks in.

When a slot becomes available, make sure you have installed the Testflight app and click on “Start Testing” under Step 2: Join the Beta. This will open the Testflight app, where a menu for Minecraft Preview will open automatically. Click on “Accept” and then “Install”. When it is finished installing, click on “Open”. Sign in with your Microsoft Account and click on “Play Preview”.

MACOS & LINUX

Disclaimer: You need to own the original Minecraft game to try out upcoming Minecraft features on MacOS and Linux.

In the Java Edition, we put out regular test versions known as Snapshots. In the Minecraft Launcher, select the latest snapshot by clicking the arrow next to the Play button on the main tab and the click the Play button.

You can find more information about feature toggles for Java Edition  here .

FEEDBACK AND BUGS

Please report all your bugs at bugs.mojang.com & please let us know what you think about the beta by pressing the feedback button in the game or visiting feedback.minecraft.net .

That’s it! Have fun and test away!

Learn more about Minecraft Bedrock Preview version on the Minecraft Preview FAQ !

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Community creations.

How to Turn On Experimental Gameplay in Minecraft PE / Bedrock

• Matthew Flores
• Wilson Westwood

This YourGlobalGamer guide contains information on how to turn on experimental gameplay in Minecraft PE and Bedrock.

Experimental gameplay is a feature that is exclusive to Bedrock Edition. However, in Minecraft Java Edition, experimental gameplay is available with separate data packs.

When the feature is enabled, it allows players to test features that are unfinished or are a work in progress that will eventually release to the public in the near future.

Additionally, experimental gameplay is often enabled when players create a new world, but it can also be enabled on pre-existing worlds in the game. 

• How to Enable Experimental Gameplay on a New World 

How to Enable Experimental Gameplay in an Existing World

How to enable experimental gameplay on android, how to enable experimental gameplay on xbox one, how to enable experimental gameplay on ios, how to enable experimental gameplay on a new world.

The first step is to open Minecraft Bedrock Edition and click on Create New World. Then head to the game settings and scroll down until you see the Experiments tab. Then click on Activate Experiments on the prompt. 

Also, ensure that you give the world an exciting and memorable name, making it easier to identify later. Go ahead and stop your server.

Despite its possibility, enabling the experimental feature on an existing world can result in the save file becoming extremely corrupted. 

The first step is to stop the server and create a backup server. After this, relaunch the game and tap the Edit icon in the relevant world. Go ahead and enable experiments in your world. Doing this will make you create a copy with the experiments being enabled. 

Tap on the Edit on the generated copy of the world which has been generated. 

After doing this, enable any different experiments you wish to have on your world and click Play. When the world has fully loaded, click on Save and then Quit. Then proceed to upload the world into your server and then restart it.

The server will now be running smoothly with the experiments you have selected. 

Android platforms have a beta feature, which players can join anytime. It is also important to note that once players join the beta program, their standard version of the game will be replaced by the beta version. 

For players to join the beta version, head to the official Minecraft app in the Google Play Store. Scroll down until you see the Join the Beta option at the bottom (or click this link) . Select the option and tap on Join. Wait for some minutes and then go ahead and launch your Minecraft application. The beta version will appear after a while, and the standard version will now be replaced with the beta one.

Additionally, if you wish to leave the beta version after a while, you can head to the Google Play Store and move down to the You’re a Beta Tester option. There, tap on Leave. By doing this, your application will switch back to the standard version. 

Players may also be required to activate additional experimental features in the game to test the latest features. 

Head to the Create New World or Edit World option to do this. For players who are creating a new world, go to the Game setting and scroll down to the Experiments option, where you will see a toggle for activation.

A pop-up will appear that will ask you whether you would like to activate experimental gameplay. Tap on the Activate Experiments option. For players using an existing world, it will create another copy of the world which will have the same name as the original world. 

The first step is to head to the Create New World or Edit World setting. When players create a new world, go to the Game setting and move down to Experiments. Click on Activate, and the experimental feature will be activated. If you are using an existing world, activating experimental features will create another copy of the existing world, which will be similar to the original world. 

The first step is downloading the Testflight app and installing it on your device. Follow the instructions when the slots are available. When the slots become available, ensure you install the Testflight app and be ready on your device. Go ahead and open the app to see a menu for the game’s preview. Tap on the Accept icon and then choose Install. 

After it has finished installing, click Open and then sign in to the game using your Microsoft Account. When you are done, click on Play Preview and then go ahead and activate the experimental features, which is the same procedure similar to Android devices.

Matthew Flores plays games for a living... what a life! He began with World of Warcraft when he was just a young man; nowadays, he has evolved to play every genre—grand strategies, RPGs, shooters, MMOs, and everything else! With this being his passion, he dreams of sharing his 1000s of hours of knowledge and expertise with others by creating YourGlobalGamer.

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Wilson Westwood is a seasoned gaming writer passionate about exploring the latest titles and emerging trends in the industry. With a particular focus on cross-platform gameplay, he has spent countless hours diving into some of the biggest titles of recent years, from Minecraft to PUBG. Always on the lookout for the next big thing, he also dives deep into the world of Elden Ring and is eager to share his insights with readers. Whether breaking down the latest updates or providing tips and tricks for players, Wilson's love for gaming is always on full display in his writing.

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