How much data does Minecraft use?

Playing online games like Minecraft can be an enjoyable hobby – but not when they are demanding more data than you can afford. It is helpful to know its bandwidth demands especially if you are on a tight limit.

Minecraft is among the online sandbox games, and its creative power lies entirely in your hands. Using its well-populated multiplayer servers during gameplay guarantees you an immersive experience, but at the cost of your mobile data if you are not careful. Therefore, aiming to limit your data usage involves taking active steps to know this information when playing, especially if you are using a mobile broadband connection.

The average data you should expect to use on the game is between 80 and 200 MB per hour, depending on the server you use. For servers that host fewer players, you will use less bandwidth overall, while bigger and more populated servers demand more data. For instance, a standard multiplayer setup can use an average of 40 MB per hour, while hosting a Minecraft game (such as on Twitch) will demand much more bandwidth, even up to 300 MB per hour.

If you want to find the specific data amounts you use during Minecraft gameplay sessions, check with your specific carrier (including T-Mobile, AT&T, or Verizon) both before and after playing the game. Additionally, you can also check your Xbox bandwidth usage or your router data in its network settings.

If your aim is minimizing data usage, you can adjust the game settings or change the server you join to a less populated one.

How much data do you use when downloading Minecraft?

When comparing it to other online games, Minecraft is not particularly demanding of your bandwidth – in fact, it will use 1 GB or less on most platforms. Note that the initial download size is less due to compression, and will increase over time as the developer releases updates and patches.

Platform	Bandwidth demand
PlayStation 4	230 MB
Nintendo Switch	900 MB
PC (Java or Microsoft Windows)	150 MB
Wii U	600 MB
Xbox One	1 GB

How much data do you use when updating Minecraft?

Unlike most games that have smaller updates, most Minecraft updates will be as large as the initial game download. This is because the developer designs the updated files to replace the older ones entirely. The only smaller files are the patches though, such as the 1.13.1 patch to the Update Aquatic only 2.2 MB.

Useful tips when playing Minecraft on a 4G LTE network connection

The good news today is that all wireless internet connections are enough to support satisfactory online gaming sessions. If you are using a 4G LTE connection, a faster speed allows you to access more opportunities for multiplayer games.

Minecraft has specific standards it demands from your network to provide you with an immersive gaming experience. In the comparison table below, we compare the usual 4G LTE speed with the minimum speeds of Xbox One when participating in online games:

	The minimum speed needed for online games	4G LTE internet speeds (on average)
Download speed	3 Mbps	5 to 12 Mbps
Upload speed	500 Kbps	2 to 5 Mbps
Latency		70 milliseconds

Is there a difference in data usage if I use different consoles?

No, there is none. The differences in bandwidth demands are from Minecraft itself rather than whether you play it on Xbox One or Microsoft PC. Additionally, there may be different download sizes depending on the console, though these are minor.

Are there additional factors that affect your data usage?

When playing Minecraft or any other online game, the ideal is to always use a stable Wi-Fi connection to access it and enjoy all the perks it offers. However, mobile data is still an option, though some aspects may decrease or increase your data usage.

One factor may be the time you are connecting to the game servers, depending on the user traffic. Most users tend to log in during the night and evening hours, so joining servers in the morning or afternoon can reduce data consumption.

If you want to limit bandwidth use, you should also reduce the background activities your device is doing, as these can consume more data than you want.

Conclusion

Even though you can play Minecraft comfortably through a 4G LTE connection, it is more common to find data limits applying when you use a mobile broadband connection.

FAQs

Can I play Minecraft using my mobile data?

Yes, you can, especially in recent versions of the game. Previously, you could not play multiplayer setups (Realms or servers) without a Wi-Fi connection, but this changed from version 0.15.1 and later.

How can I play Minecraft on my phone while traveling?

This is achievable through Bluetooth. When you switch off Wi-Fi and switch on Bluetooth, you can connect to other phones that have the game through Bluetooth. Alternatively, you can use a third-party app such as Air Chat to connect to other phones.