Article: net and download the launcher. To be able play Minecraft at all, first, you need to download the game itself. The way Minecraft works is a little different than the way other games do in this regard: you can download Minecraft at any time for free, but you need to pay for an account to play the full version.  To get the Minecraft "launcher" (the application you use to play the game), first go to Minecraft.net. On the right, you'll see three options: "Get Minecraft," "Play the demo," and "Already bought the game? Download it here." Even though you haven't paid for it yet, pick the last option.  On the next page, if you're working on a Windows PC, click the link for either Minecraft.msi or Minecraft.exe. Your download will start. If you're on Mac or Linux, click "Show all platforms" and choose the appropriate option. Once your download is complete, run the file. The install process should start immediately. Simply follow the on-screen prompts to complete the installation. The installation should go smoothly for the vast majority of users. However, if you have problems downloading or installing Minecraft, try consulting the official help resources at help.mojang.com. Once the installation finishes, the Minecraft launcher should start up immediately. If it doesn't, you can always start it by opening it from the directory you installed it to. When the launcher opens, it will ask you for your login information so that it verify whether or not you have paid for the game. Since you don't have an account yet, click "Register." Without an account, you can't play the game at all — not even the demo. Clicking the "Register" button will open a window in your default web browser that takes you to the Mojang website to create an account. Follow the prompts to register a username and password. You will need to provide a valid email address so that you can receive a validation email as part of the registration process.

What is a summary?
Visit Minecraft. Install the launcher. Open the launcher. Register an account.