Many of these launchers require you to sign in with a “free” account. If you use your real Microsoft or Mojang password? Assume it is stolen.

Buy the game (it’s worth it), install the official launcher on your own machine, and set your version to 1.9. If you’re at school, focus on class—or ask your IT teacher nicely. You’d be surprised how many admins will unblock Minecraft for a lunchtime build club.

While the nostalgia for the Combat Update is real, most of the websites promising a free, unblocked version are either serving malware or violating Mojang’s EULA.