Install the official Launcher
The official Minecraft page offers downloads of the launcher, and on Windows, installation via the Microsoft Store. Choose the option for your system and save the name of the installed application. After opening, make sure you are logged into the correct Microsoft account. Don't confuse a launcher application with separate server software: they have different purposes. If Launcher is already installed, check its status first before repeating the installation.
How to update the launcher on Windows
According to the official FAQ, Launcher should be updated upon launch. If this does not happen, open the Microsoft Store and check for the update in the Library section. This route applies to the Windows launcher, not all applications on other systems. After the update, open it again and try again. Note whether the error message has changed: the same external result may refer to a different stage.
Separate login error from game error
Conduct three separate checks: Launcher opens; sign-in succeeds; the selected edition is launched. If the stop occurs before the list of games, the graphics settings within the world do not yet answer the reason. If the launcher works and the problem appears only after the launch button, indicate the specific edition and version. When contacting support, please include the exact text of the message and the sequence of actions. Don't post your password or include it in a screenshot.
Versions and test world
The official Launcher allows you to get new versions and try snapshots. An experimental release and a regular release should be distinguished in the issue entry. For comparison, use a separate test world, and first save the valuable world in a backup copy. Don't open a single copy of a large project in different versions just to check the launch. First make sure the right client opens in a simple test situation, then return to the main world.
Sources and checks
Guides are automatically translated from Russian; interface labels may differ. The Russian edition is the original.