The Minecraft Java requirements for 2026 increased to better represent the hardware needed at 1080p and prepare for the future transition from OpenGL to Vulkan. The new values took effect on July 21, 2026. A below-spec PC may still launch the game today, but Mojang no longer guarantees its performance or visual quality.
Real minimum and recommended requirements
| Component | Minimum | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| Target | 1080p, 30 FPS, Fast preset | 1080p, 60 FPS, Fancy preset |
| System | 64-bit Windows 10, Windows on ARM, macOS 12+, or 64-bit Linux | 64-bit Windows 11, macOS 14+, or 64-bit Linux |
| System RAM | 8 GB with a discrete GPU or 12 GB with integrated graphics | 16 GB |
| CPU | Intel Core i3-10100, Ryzen 3 3100, Snapdragon X, or Apple M1; at least 4 physical cores | Intel Core i5-12400, Ryzen 5 5600, or Apple M2 Pro |
| GPU | Vulkan 1.3 and 2 GB VRAM: GTX 950, RX 460, or Arc A310 as reference points | RTX 2060, RX 5600 XT, Arc A580, or Apple M2 Pro; 6 GB VRAM |
Allocated memory is not total system RAM
After 26.1 Snapshot 2, the launcher increased Java Edition's default allocation from 2 to 4 GB. That does not make a 4 GB PC sufficient: Windows, Java, mods, and background processes also use memory. With shaders or modpacks, measure actual usage before raising -Xmx; assigning all available RAM can cause pauses or instability.
Give Minecraft Java the hardware it needs
Scale CPU and RAM for players, plugins, or modpacks without the hassle.
Is Vulkan already mandatory?
The minimum GPU must support Vulkan 1.3, but OpenGL remains the default in current builds and Vulkan is still marked experimental. It may work well on compatible hardware, but it can also cause instability or lower performance. Update your drivers and test it before leaving OpenGL.
What changes for a server?
The official table describes the client, not hosting. A server does not need a gaming GPU, but it benefits from strong per-core CPU performance, fast storage, and enough RAM for the world, plugins, and mods. Paper 26.1 or newer requires Java 25 and shows -Xms4G -Xmx4G as a basic startup example, not a universal amount for every player count.
See the official Minecraft requirements and the Paper documentation. For scalable resources, explore Teramont Host Minecraft hosting.
