Does my Microsoft Store Account and Minecraft Launcher account *HAVE* to be the same?

Hi, my name is Oskayra, I'm a freelance consultant and gamer like you.

No, your Microsoft Store account and your Minecraft Launcher account do not have to be the same. You can use different accounts for the two platforms. However, there are some advantages of using the same account for both.

Advantages of using the same account

1. You can log in to Minecraft Launcher with a single click. You won't have to enter your username and password every time you want to play.

2. You can access your Minecraft purchases on any device. If you buy a new device, you can log in to Minecraft Launcher with the same account and access all your games and add-ons.

3. You can sync your progress across all your devices. If you start playing a world on one device, you can pick up where you left off on another.

I hope my answer was helpful, if you have any other questions let me know.

Oskayra

Hi Skye,

Thank you for posting in Microsoft Xbox Community. I understand that you are still prompted that you have to buy the game, even if you already purchased Minecraft.

As part of our initial troubleshooting, kindly make sure that you are logged in using the same Microsoft account where you purchased the game. If you purchased it from Microsoft store, you may check it by going to https://account.microsoft.com/billing/orders

If Minecraft does not show on your order history even after selecting "All available" from the ordered within drop down, this means that Minecraft was purchased in a different account.

Once confirmed that you are using the correct account, please follow my recommendations below.

If you play Java edition:

1. Delete the Minecraft launcher that exists on your computer.

2. Restart your computer.

3. Install legacy Minecraft launcher for Windows.

https://aka.ms/minecraftClientWindows

Once reinstalled, continue with these instructions.

1. Open Minecraft launcher.

2. If you are already logged in, click on your image and Gamer tag in the upper left corner of the screen and then on "Logout".

3. After logging out, delete all accounts registered in the launcher by clicking on the "X" next to each account.

4. In the Minecraft launcher, enter the Microsoft email and password.

If you play Bedrock edition, you have to go to Microsoft Store>My Library then look for Minecraft and install.

Make sure you're signed into the Store app with the same Microsoft account that you used to buy the game.

If the above steps did not work, please clear the cache of the Microsoft store. Go to Settings> System> Apps & features> Click Store> Advanced options> Reset.

After the reset, log in with the Microsoft account that has Minecraft Java and reinstall Launcher.

Hope this solves your issue, please do let me know how it goes.

Regards,

Alvaro

Are you sure you are logged into the Microsoft Store with the same Microsoft Account used to sign in to Minecraft Launcher?

Hi Brian,

Thank you for posting in Microsoft Xbox Community. I am sorry that you are having issues with your Minecraft. I understand that the launcher does not open. Please follow my recommendations below.

1. Delete the Minecraft launcher that exists on your computer.

2. Restart your computer.

3. Install legacy Minecraft launcher for Windows.

https://aka.ms/minecraftClientWindows

Once reinstalled, continue with these instructions.

1. Open Minecraft launcher.

2. If you are already logged in, click on your image and Gamer tag in the upper left corner of the screen and then on "Logout".

3. After logging out, delete all accounts registered in the launcher by clicking on the "X" next to each account.

4. In the Minecraft launcher, enter the Microsoft email and password.

If you bought Minecraft from Microsoft Store, you have to go to Microsoft Store>My Library then look for Minecraft and install.

Make sure you're signed into the Store app with the same Microsoft account that you used to buy the game.

If the above steps did not work, please clear the cache of the Microsoft store. Go to Settings> System> Apps & features> Click Store> Advanced options> Reset.

After the reset, log in with the Microsoft account that has Minecraft and reinstall Launcher.

Hope this solves your issue, please do let me know how it goes.

Regards,

Alvaro

Hello, Msrg98. Thanks for reaching out. I'm Lucas, an Independent Advisor and a Microsoft user just like you. I'll be glad to help you out.

For some games, signing in to the Microsoft store with the account that purchased the game (in this case, yours) and on the game launcher or the Xbox app with the account that wants to play the game (in this case, your sister) works.

But I'm almost completely sure this doesn't work with Minecraft since it connects to your Microsoft account on the launcher. You can test, but I think it will not work.

If this method does not work, unfortunately your little sister would need to purchase Minecraft on her account.

Feel free to ask back any questions.