Many users of the mobile version Minecraft Pocket Edition are faced with a dilemma: switch to a new version with updated mechanics or stay on the old build for the sake of familiar gameplay and compatibility with certain mods. There is often a need to have access to both versions of the game at the same time in order to test new features or play on servers that require a strictly defined version of the client.
Unfortunately, the standard installation of Google Play or App Store does not allow you to have multiple copies of the same game with different package IDs on the same device. The Android system treats them as one application and simply updates the existing version, erasing the previous one. However, there are proven ways to get around this limitation using third-party installers or system cloning functions.
In this article we will examine in detail the technical nuances of installing two independent copies Minecraft. You'll learn how to properly set up your file structure, what tools to use to separate apps, and how to avoid save world conflicts. We will look at both the built-in capabilities of modern Android shells and manual installation methods via APK files.
Why the standard installation does not allow you to have two copies
The main obstacle lies in the architecture of the operating system Android. Each application has a unique identifier called Package Name (package name). For the official version of Minecraft, this identifier is always the same: com.mojang.minecraftpe. When you try to install a second game file, the system checks this code.
If the system detects that an application with the same package name is already installed, it suggests either updating the existing version or uninstalling it before installing the new one. This is done for security and data integrity so that different apps cannot accidentally overwrite each other's files. An ordinary user cannot change this setting in an already compiled application without special tools.
⚠️ Attention: Attempting to install a modified APK with a changed package name from an unknown source may lead to personal data leakage or infection of the device with malware. Always check the digital signatures of your files.
There is also a problem with shared data. Even if it were possible to trick the installer, both applications will by default try to write saves to the same directory in the internal memory. This will lead to the fact that worlds created in one version may become corrupted or disappear when running another version due to incompatibility of file formats NBT and level structures.
Before any manipulations with installing multiple versions, be sure to make a full backup of the games folder through a file manager or cloud storage.
Using built-in functions cloning applications
The safest and easiest way to run two versions of the game is to use the built-in cloning functions that are found in many modern Android shells. Smartphone manufacturers, such as Xiaomi, Samsung, Huawei i Oppo, add these tools directly to the system settings. This feature creates a virtual space where the application receives a new package name and an isolated file sandbox.
For device owners Xiaomi and Redmi This feature is called "Dual Apps". It is located in the section Settings → Applications → Cloning applications. After activating the switch, a second copy of the game with a small lock or chain icon will appear on the desktop opposite the Minecraft icon. This copy works completely independently: it has its own settings, its own Xbox Live account and its own saves.
Smartphone users Samsung can use the function Secure Folder (Secure Folder). This is not just a clone, but an entire protected environment. By installing Minecraft on the main system and separately in the Secure Folder, you get two completely isolated instances. This is even more reliable than standard cloning, since the data in the protected folder is encrypted and is not visible to the main system.
However, this method has a significant drawback for our specific task. Built-in clones usually duplicate exactly the version of the application that is already installed. If you have version 1.20, then the clone will also be version 1.20. To get different versions, you first need to install one version in the main space, and then find the APK file of another version and install it inside a clone or protected folder, which is not always possible directly through a standard installer.
Installation through third-party launchers and multi-booters
If your firmware does not support cloning, specialized launcher applications created by modding community. These apps act as a shell that allows you to download, install and run various builds of the game, automatically replacing data paths. The most popular solution in this niche is the project BlockLauncher (for older versions) or modern analogues like PojavLauncher (for the Java version, but with support for some mechanics) and specific multi-loaders for PE.
The principle of operation of such loaders is that they do not install the game as a system application. Instead, they store the game's resource files in their own folder and run them through their own process. This allows you to keep at least five different versions in the device’s memory: from the ancient 0.8.1 to the most current beta version. Switching between them occurs inside the launcher interface.
When using third-party bootloaders, it is critical to monitor access rights. Such apps require permission to access all files on the device (MANAGE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE) so that they can read game resources and write worlds. Without this wide access, the launcher simply will not be able to run the game engine. In modern versions of Android (11 and higher), granting this permission requires additional actions in special file access settings.
⚠️ Attention: Third-party launchers often require disabling application signature verification or using special patches. This may disrupt the anti-cheat on some multiplayer servers, such as Hypixel or Mineplex.
Another advantage of such solutions is the ability to fine-tune. Many launchers allow you to change the allocated amount of RAM for a specific version, configure controls and connect mods that do not work in the standard client. This makes them an indispensable tool for testing modifications on different game cores.
☑️ Check before installing the launcher
Manual installation of APK with changing the package identifier
For advanced users, there is a method for manually modifying the installation file. The essence of the method is to change the package name inside the APK file before installation. To do this, use special tools on a PC or directly on a smartphone, for example APK Editor or MT Manager. This method allows you to turn an official com.mojang.minecraftpe into a unique one, for example com.mojang.minecraftpe.v1.
The process is as follows: you download the desired version of the game in APK format. Open the file in the editor and select the "Common Edit" or "Decompile" function for deep changes. In the Package Name field you change the last part of the identifier. After saving the changes, the file is rebuilt and signed with a new developer key.
Original: com.mojang.minecraftpe
Modified: com.mojang.minecraftpe.old_version
It is important to understand that after such a modification the application ceases to be “official” in the eyes of the update system. It will not be updated via Google Play, and you will have to manually download new versions and repeat the editing process. Moreover, changing the application signature may cause login to your account Xbox Live to work incorrectly or require resetting your login data.
Risks of changing the APK signature
When you change the application signature, you lose the ability to synchronize Achievements with Microsoft servers. In addition, some resources that depend on the original signature may not load.
This method gives maximum flexibility since you can install as many versions as you want with different package names. However, it requires high technical literacy. An error when editing a file manifest can result in the application simply not starting, giving a package parsing error. Always test modified APKs on a secondary profile or emulator before the main installation.
Setting up isolation of data and save folders
Even if you managed to install two versions of the game in different ways, the main conflict will arise at the file system level. By default, all versions of Minecraft PE try to store data in the Android/data/com.mojang.minecraftpe/files/games/com.mojangfolder. If two different versions start writing to the same folder, this is guaranteed to lead to damage to level files level.dat and loss of progress.
When using system clones (Dual Apps, Secure Folder), this problem is solved automatically, since the system creates a virtual isolated directory for each clone. But when using launchers or manual APKs, you will have to control the paths manually. Some launchers allow you to specify an alternative folder for storing worlds in the settings, for example, in the root of the internal memory: /Minecraft_Version_1/ i /Minecraft_Version_2/.
| Installation method | Data isolation | Risk of losing saves | Setting complexity |
|---|---|---|---|
| System clone (Dual Apps) | Automatic | Low | Low |
| Third-party launcher | Depends on settings | Average | Average |
| Manual APK change | Automatic (different packages) | Low | High |
| Second Android user | Full OS isolation | None | Medium |
If you use the method of changing the package name, then each version will have its own unique folder in Android/data/corresponding to the new name. This is the most reliable method in terms of file structure, since the systems do not physically intersect. However, remember that when you delete such a modified version of the game through the Android settings, the data folder may remain “garbage” and will have to be cleaned manually through the file manager.
The main rule of multi-installation: never direct different versions of the game to the same physical folder, even if the launcher claims to be able to control this.
Using a second Android user profile
The most radical, but also the cleanest from a technical point of view, method is to create a second user on the device. This feature is available in "pure" Android and many custom firmwares. The second user is like a new phone inside your phone: it has its own desktop, its own settings and, importantly, its own installation of applications.
To implement this, go to Settings → System → Multiple users (the path may differ depending on the model). Add a new user or guest. Switching to it, you will see a blank screen. Log in to Google Play under a different account (or the same one) and install Minecraft. Now you have two independent systems.
In one profile you can keep the version from Google Play, and in the other you can install the old version via APK. Switching between profiles occurs through the notification curtain or the screen lock menu. The disadvantage of this method is that switching takes time, and you cannot see notifications from the second profile while in the first. Also, device resources (RAM) are not optimally divided if both profiles are active in the background.
⚠️ Attention: On some budget smartphones, the multi-user feature can be software blocked by the manufacturer to save resources. In this case, this method will not work.
This method is ideal if you want to completely separate the gameplay: play survival with old friends on the old version in one profile, and test new redstone mechanisms on the beta in the other. Complete isolation ensures that no updates or failures in one profile will affect the other.
Frequently asked questions and solutions to compatibility issues
Is it possible to play over a local network (Wi-Fi) between two versions on the same phone?
No, this is technically impossible. Even if you use a second profile or clone, the device has the same network interface. Data packets from two running copies of the game will conflict at the port level. In addition, different versions of the Minecraft protocol simply will not see each other in the list of servers.
What to do if the cloned version crashes on startup?
A common reason is a lack of RAM or a library conflict. Try clearing the cache of the cloned application in the settings. If you are using a third-party launcher, make sure that you have given it all the necessary permissions to access files in the special settings menu of Android 11+.
Will my skins and purchases be saved in the second version?
Only if you are logged into the same account Xbox Live. Purchases (Minecraft Coins, skins from the marketplace) are linked to your Microsoft account and will be loaded upon login. However, worlds (maps) are stored locally on the device and are not automatically synchronized between different versions or crowns unless Realm synchronization is enabled.
How to delete one of the versions without affecting the second?
If you used a system clone, simply delete the clone through the app settings. If you used a second profile, delete the application inside this profile. If you installed a modified APK, remove the application with the changed package name. The main thing is not to confuse the icons, as they may look identical.
Does installing two versions affect the performance of the phone?
The mere presence of two installed copies takes up more space on the drive (about 300-500 MB additional). This does not affect performance until you run them at the same time (which is only possible in split-screen mode on some devices, but is highly not recommended for Minecraft due to lag).