Minecraft 26.4-snapshot-1 Update - What's New
The first snapshot toward 26.4, a week after 26.3. It is mostly technical: Vulkan becomes the default graphics API, old worlds get Sulfur Caves under their pre 1.18 chunks, and the connection handshake can carry extra properties for servers and proxies.
Overview
Minecraft 26.4-snapshot-1 is a weekly development snapshot for Minecraft: Java Edition, published on September 22, 2026. Snapshots are Mojang's weekly previews of in-progress features, shipped early so the community can test and report problems before anything is finalized. This one logs 9 changes you can try in a throwaway test world.
The work in this update spans graphics, world, servers, and technical. On the graphics side it brings the Default graphics setting now prefers Vulkan and the game no longer switches the graphics API by itself after a startup crash.
This build is part of the development cycle leading to 26.4. Treat it as a preview rather than a destination: features can change, be renamed, or be cut entirely before they reach the stable release, so it is meant for testing and feedback, not for your main world or a live server.
Changes
#Graphics(2)
- The Default graphics setting now prefers Vulkan
- The game no longer switches the graphics API by itself after a startup crash
#World(2)
- Upgrading worlds from before Caves and Cliffs now also generates Sulfur Caves below old chunks
- Red and brown mushrooms can be placed on any solid top face in any light; spreading still needs darkness
#Servers(4)
- The server address in the handshake can carry key and value properties after a question mark
- An address written as id@host passes that id to the server
- New server property allowed-connection-ids to accept only connections with a matching id
- The client sends an empty mod list packet that modding platforms can fill for debugging
#Technical(1)
- Data pack version 122 and resource pack version 98
Server Admin Migration Guide
- A snapshot is for testing only; keep live servers on 26.3
- Proxies that rewrite the host field in the handshake should be tested against the new property format
- Test snapshot worlds on a copy, never on the world your players use
Known Issues
- Development snapshot, features can still change before 26.4
What This Means
For players
Snapshots are opt-in through the official launcher. Always make a copy of any world before opening it in 26.4-snapshot-1, because development builds can corrupt saves and there is no guarantee the world will open in a later version. Use a fresh test world to try the new content safely.
For server admins
Do not run 26.4-snapshot-1 on a public server. Snapshots are unsupported by server software and most plugins. Spin up a private staging instance, confirm your plugins load, and report regressions while there is still time to fix them before release.
Background & Context
- Snapshots ship roughly once a week during active development and are enabled through the "Latest snapshot" toggle in the official launcher.
- The content here was being developed toward 26.4; individual features may have been adjusted, renamed, or removed before that version shipped.
- Always keep a backup of important worlds before changing versions; the Astroworld versions database tracks client and server compatibility for 26.4-snapshot-1.
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Minecraft 26.4-snapshot-1 released?
Minecraft 26.4-snapshot-1 was released on September 22, 2026 as a weekly development snapshot for Minecraft: Java Edition.
What is new in 26.4-snapshot-1?
The first snapshot toward 26.4, a week after 26.3. It is mostly technical: Vulkan becomes the default graphics API, old worlds get Sulfur Caves under their pre 1.18 chunks, and the connection handshake can carry extra properties for servers and proxies. Notable entries include: The Default graphics setting now prefers Vulkan; The game no longer switches the graphics API by itself after a startup crash. In total it documents 9 changes across 4 categories.
Should I use 26.4-snapshot-1 on my main world?
No. 26.4-snapshot-1 is a weekly development snapshot meant for testing. Keep your main world on the latest stable release and only open a backup copy in a separate test world to try the new content.
Can I run 26.4-snapshot-1 on a Minecraft server?
It is not recommended for a public server. A snapshot is for testing only; keep live servers on 26.3. Use a private staging instance to test plugins and mods, not to host players.
Which Minecraft version is 26.4-snapshot-1 a preview of?
26.4-snapshot-1 is part of the development cycle for 26.4. Features shown here are still in progress and may change before the final release.
Are there known issues in 26.4-snapshot-1?
Yes. Documented issues for this build include: Development snapshot, features can still change before 26.4. Development builds are expected to have rough edges that get fixed before release.
Looking for version compatibility info?
Check client and server version details on our versions database.