Start with your device
Open the Download page on minecraft.net. It has separate links for Windows, Mac, Linux, Android and iOS. Select your system first so you don't have to download an installer for another device. The Trial page also lists supported trial devices separately. If the game is already in your account, check the login to this profile before installing it again. Save the download address and name of the selected edition next to the device note.
Don't confuse Java with Bedrock
For the first installation, write down what edition your friends are using and what material you are going to use: world, mod or package. The word Minecraft alone is not enough to check compatibility. On a PC, the official launcher provides access to games, but the mere fact of installing it does not mean that any edition is available to the account. After logging in, open the game you need and check the proposed action. Don't install two different editions just because you couldn't find your friend's world right away.
How to try the game officially
On the Free Trial page, select a suitable device, install the application using the link provided and log in to your Microsoft account. Trial mode includes basic survival, exploration and crafting. The official FAQ allows offline play in trial mode, but server multiplayer is disabled. Therefore, the lack of connection to the server in the trial does not prove a network malfunction. Check the conditions and available period of the trial game in your application; Don’t think of a trial as unlimited access to all features.
Check the first launch
Launch your chosen edition and create a small test world. Check the controls and saving, then exit normally and open the same world again. If another action is offered instead of launching, write down the name of the edition, account and the exact text of the button. For installation errors, save the message and the stage at which the download stopped. This set of information is more useful than repeatedly downloading different files in a row: it shows whether the problem is specific to the device, sign-in, or a specific game.
Sources and checks
Guides are automatically translated from Russian; interface labels may differ. The Russian edition is the original.