How to Install Minecraft Maps

Java and Bedrock handle maps differently. Java uses a saves folder and extracted ZIPs. Bedrock uses .mcworld files that import when you double-click them. This guide covers both.

Java Edition

  1. Download the map. Java maps usually come as a .zip archive [citation:2].
  2. Extract the ZIP. Right-click and select "Extract All" (Windows) or use 7-Zip. You need the folder inside that contains level.dat [citation:2].
  3. Open the saves folder. Press Win + R, type %appdata%\.minecraft\saves, and press Enter [citation:2]. On macOS: ~/Library/Application Support/minecraft/saves. On Linux: ~/.minecraft/saves.
  4. Move the extracted folder into saves. The folder you move must contain level.dat directly inside it. If you see another folder inside, go one level deeper [citation:2].
  5. Launch Minecraft. The map appears in Singleplayer.

Bedrock Edition

  1. Download the map. Bedrock maps are usually .mcworld files [citation:2].
  2. Double-click the file. Minecraft should launch and import the map automatically. Wait for the confirmation message [citation:2].
  3. If double-click does not work, rename the .zip to .mcworld and try again. Or extract it into minecraftWorlds [citation:2].

Bedrock worlds folder:

Windows: %localappdata%\Packages\Microsoft.MinecraftUWP_8wekyb3d8bbwe\LocalState\games\com.mojang\minecraftWorlds

Android: storage/emulated/0/games/com.mojang/minecraftWorlds

iOS: Minecraft/games/com.mojang/minecraftWorlds [citation:2]

If the map does not appear

  • Wrong folder depth. The folder in saves must contain level.dat directly. If there is another folder inside, you extracted one level too high [citation:2].
  • Launcher was open. Close Minecraft and the launcher completely before moving files. The game may not detect the map if files changed while it was running.
  • Version mismatch. A map built for 1.19 may load in 1.20 but break custom command blocks. Use the version the map page specifies [citation:2].

Related guides

How to Install Mods — for Fabric and Forge setup.

How to Install Shaders — for Iris and OptiFine.