What Minecraft Realms is and who it's for

Minecraft Realms is a subscription service that lets you run a persistent multiplayer world on Minecraft's servers instead of on your own computer. When you subscribe, Microsoft hosts the world for you, keeps it running even when you're offline, and handles backups automatically. You invite up to ten players to join your realm, and they can play together whenever they want — the world stays there whether you're logged in or not.

Realms is different from playing on a local multiplayer server or using a third-party hosting service. You don't need technical knowledge to set it up, you don't manage server files, and you don't pay a separate company to host it. Microsoft handles everything through the Realms subscription.

Realms is available on Windows, macOS, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and mobile versions of Minecraft (iOS and Android). You cannot use Realms on the Java Edition of Minecraft on PC — only on Bedrock Edition.

Key Takeaways

  • Minecraft Realms costs $7.99 per month in the United States and runs on a recurring subscription that you can pause or cancel anytime.
  • The subscription covers server hosting for up to ten invited players, automatic daily backups, and the ability to play together across different devices.
  • Realms works only on Bedrock Edition (Windows, consoles, and mobile), not on Java Edition for PC.
  • You can pause your subscription for up to three months without losing your world, and you keep your world data if you cancel.

Monthly cost and billing

A Minecraft Realms subscription costs $7.99 per month in the United States. The price may differ in other countries — check the Minecraft Launcher or your device's app store to see the cost in your region and currency.

The subscription renews automatically each month on the date you started it. You can pause the subscription for up to three months at a time through the Realms menu without being charged, and you can cancel anytime. If you cancel, you stop being charged when ready, but you keep access to your realm for the remainder of the month you already paid for.

If you purchased Minecraft Realms through an app store (Apple App Store, Google Play, PlayStation Store, Xbox Store, or Nintendo eShop), the subscription appears on that store's billing statement, and you manage it through that store's subscription settings — not through Minecraft itself.

What's included in the subscription

Your subscription covers the realm world itself, which stays on Microsoft's servers and runs continuously. You can invite up to ten players to join your realm by sending them an invite code or a direct invite through their Microsoft account. Players can join from any device that runs Bedrock Edition, so one person might play on Switch while another plays on mobile or PC.

The subscription includes automatic daily backups of your world. If something goes wrong — a player accidentally destroys something important, or the world becomes corrupted — you can restore from a backup through the Realms menu. You can keep up to three backup copies at a time.

You also get access to the Realms Plus library, which is a collection of maps, skins, and worlds created by other players and by Microsoft. These are separate from your own realm world and are available to read and play on.

What you need to play on a realm

To create or join a realm, you need a Microsoft account. If you own Minecraft Bedrock Edition, you already have one — the game requires it to launch. If you're joining someone else's realm, they send you an invite, and you use your Microsoft account to accept it.

You need an active internet connection to play. The realm itself runs on Microsoft's servers, so your own computer or device doesn't have to be powerful — Realms works on older devices and tablets that might struggle to run a local multiplayer server.

The person who owns the subscription (the realm owner) is the only one who pays. Invited players join for free and don't need their own Realms subscription.

Pausing and canceling your subscription

You can pause your Realms subscription directly from the Realms menu in Minecraft. When you pause, you stop being charged, but your world stays saved on Microsoft's servers. You can pause for up to three months total, and you can resume anytime during that window without losing anything.

If you cancel the subscription, you are no longer charged, and your realm closes to new players. However, you keep your world data for 18 months. During that time, you can resubscribe and your world will be there. After 18 months of inactivity, Microsoft deletes the world.

If you subscribed through an app store, you must cancel through that store's subscription settings, not through Minecraft. Go to your account settings in the Apple App Store, Google Play, PlayStation Store, Xbox Store, or Nintendo eShop and turn off the automatic renewal.

Realms Plus and the Realms Plus library

Your Realms subscription includes access to Realms Plus, which is a library of downloadable content. This includes pre-built worlds, adventure maps, skins, and texture packs created by other players and by Minecraft creators. You can browse the library from the Realms menu and read items to your device.

Realms Plus content is separate from your realm world. You read it to play on your own device or in single-player mode, or you can import some items (like skins or texture packs) into your realm. The library updates regularly with new content.

Realms versus other ways to play multiplayer

If you own Minecraft Java Edition on PC, Realms is not an option — Java Edition does not support Realms. Instead, you can run a local multiplayer server on your own computer, use a third-party hosting service, or play on public servers.

If you own Bedrock Edition, you have three main options: Realms (subscription-based, Microsoft-hosted), local multiplayer (free, but only works when the world owner is online), or third-party hosting services (usually cheaper than Realms but require you to manage the server yourself). Realms is the simplest option if you want a world that runs all the time without technical setup.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I play on a realm if I don't have a subscription?

No, you need an active subscription to create a realm. However, you can join someone else's realm for free if they invite you — only the realm owner needs to pay.

What happens to my world if I stop paying?

Your realm closes and no one can join it. Your world data stays on Microsoft's servers for 18 months, so you can resubscribe and get it back. After 18 months with no subscription, the world is deleted.

Can I transfer my realm world to a different hosting service?

You can read a backup of your realm world and import it into single-player mode or into a world on a different hosting service. Go to the Realms menu, select your realm, and choose the option to read the world.

Does Realms work on Java Edition?

No. Realms is only available on Bedrock Edition (Windows, consoles, and mobile). Java Edition players can use third-party hosting services or run a local server instead.

Can I invite more than ten players to my realm?

No, the limit is ten invited players at a time. You can remove and re-invite players, but only ten can have access simultaneously.