Mojang is working on the next version of Minecraft Java Edition, 26.4. Testing started with Snapshot 1 on September 22, 2026, and Snapshot 7 came out on November 3. According to Mojang it contains the final gameplay features of the upcoming drop. There is no release date and no name for 26.4 yet.
What the snapshots have brought so far
| Snapshot | New |
|---|---|
| Snapshot 1 (Sep 22) | Vulkan becomes the default graphics API on the client, new server.properties settings |
| Snapshot 2 | Render-distance fog, a new celestial occluder, a redesigned F3 debug screen |
| Snapshot 3 (Oct 6) | Ice caves as a new cave biome, the Frostbite zombie variant, the Freezing effect, Ice Crystal and Icicle |
| Snapshot 4 (Oct 13) | Brittle Ice with crevasses in the ice caves, and Jukebox Playlists |
| Snapshot 5 (Oct 20) | Packed Ice Bricks, a related advancement and a changed login flow in the network protocol |
| Snapshot 6 (Oct 27) | Snow Bricks, a new Cold Sulfur Cube archetype, changed default memory settings in the launcher |
| Snapshot 7 (Nov 3) | Calcite block set and a new music disc, "Flurry" by Hyper Potions |
Much of the new content revolves around snow and ice. Mojang has not said yet whether that will be the official theme of the drop.
The key changes in detail
Ice caves and the Frostbite: Ice caves generate beneath cold biomes and are made mostly of packed ice and calcite, along with icicles and glowing ice crystals. They are home to the Frostbite, a zombie variant that throws ice balls. Zombies turn into Frostbites in powder snow. The new Freezing effect deals damage over time and slows you down. Leather armor protects against it, and since Snapshot 7 being on fire does too.
Brittle Ice: This fragile ice covers the crevasses and cracks as soon as a player or mob stands on it. Eventually it breaks, with water waiting below. It does not melt and can only be collected with Silk Touch.
Jukebox Playlists: If a chest sits directly above a jukebox, the jukebox plays the music discs inside it in order and then starts over. Handy for a spawn area with background music.
New building blocks: Packed Ice Bricks, Snow Bricks and, in Snapshot 7, the calcite set with pillar, slab, stairs and wall, plus polished variants and bricks.
In Snapshot 7, the "Default" graphics API setting picks OpenGL or Vulkan at random on each startup, as a temporary test. Like all graphics changes, this only affects the client, not your server.
What this means for your server
Snapshots are test versions. For your regular server, there is nothing to change yet: stay on the current version 26.3 until 26.4 is officially released.
A few points are worth knowing already:
- Java 25: All 26.4 snapshots require at least Java SE 25.
- New server settings: Snapshot 1 adds three new
server.propertiesentries.allowed-connection-idsonly lets connections with specific IDs through,status-contact-detailsadds a contact to the status response, andenable-legacy-statusturns the old status query for versions before 1.7 on or off (default: on). - Same version for everyone: Every snapshot has its own protocol version. Players must launch exactly the same snapshot as your server, otherwise they cannot connect.
- Data packs: In Snapshot 7 the data pack format is 126.0 and the resource pack format is 102.0. Older packs may need an update.
- Memory settings: According to the changelog, the Snapshot 6 change lives in the launcher metadata. The launcher now sets the game's memory based on system memory, using at most 25 percent and no more than 4 GB. Your server's startup parameters are not affected.
If you want to try the new features with your community early:
-
Back up your world
Create a backup and download your world. -
Test with a copy
Only play snapshots with a copy or a new world, never with your main world. Upload the copy again if needed. -
Switch the version
Change the version as described in our guide. -
Tell your players
Let your friends know which snapshot to select in the launcher, for example26.4-snapshot-7.
Once 26.4 is officially released, make a fresh backup of your main world before switching. Also check whether your data packs have been updated for the new version.
Want to play the new version with friends? You can find your Minecraft server with us.
