Minecraft EDU to Make iPad Debut

Minecraft: Education Edition is coming to the iPad platform in September. 

Minecraft: Education Edition is coming to the iPad platform in September.

The iOS version will share the features found in other versions, including the Update Aquatic package for underwater STEM activities and the Chemistry Resource Pack. It will include a touch interface that is "functionally equivalent to the standard control scheme for the game," according to Microsoft, which owns Minecraft.

At launch time, two features will not be available on iPad: Code Connection and Classroom Mode. However, according to Microsoft, those features will be coming soon. "Our goal is to always maintain feature-parity across Minecraft: Education Edition on all platforms; however, we occasionally make trade-offs in order to get new stuff in the hands of our customers more quickly."

Licensing will be handled through the Microsoft Store, third-party resellers and volume licensing agreements. Delivery of the software will happen through the Apple App Store. An Office 365 for Education account is required for deployment. A free trial version will also be available for teachers (maximum of 25 logins) and students (maximum of 10 logins).

The exact date of the iOS release has not yet been announced. A deployment guide and other iOS-specific resources are available on the Minecraft site. Teacher resources can be found here.

In other news, Microsoft also announced that the consumer edition of Minecraft can now function in Education mode with the flip of a switch. By going to the Cheats menu and selecting "Education," users can access the Chemistry Resource Pack, previously available only in the Education Edition. This functionality is available for Windows 10 and Xbox.

"Microsoft's education team is always looking for ways to help empower students and teachers, and Minecraft has proven to be a powerful way to teach skills today's students will need for future jobs," according to a Microsoft spokesperson. "With these updates, now educators and families are able to use Minecraft to engage students in STEM, inspire creative projects across subjects, and build important skills in collaboration, creativity and digital citizenship."

About the Author

David Nagel is the former editorial director of 1105 Media's Education Group and editor-in-chief of THE Journal, STEAM Universe, and Spaces4Learning. A 30-year publishing veteran, Nagel has led or contributed to dozens of technology, art, marketing, media, and business publications.

He can be reached at [email protected]. You can also connect with him on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidrnagel/ .


Featured

  • DreamBox Math

    Discovery Education Announces Updates to Experience, DreamBox Math

    K-12 learning solution provider Discovery Education has announced enhancements to its Discovery Education Experience and DreamBox Math products, designed to create a more personalized, engaging learning experience for students.

  • abstract pattern of cybersecurity, ai and cloud imagery

    Report Identifies Malicious Use of AI in Cloud-Based Cyber Threats

    A recent report from OpenAI identifies the misuse of artificial intelligence in cybercrime, social engineering, and influence operations, particularly those targeting or operating through cloud infrastructure. In "Disrupting Malicious Uses of AI: June 2025," the company outlines how threat actors are weaponizing large language models for malicious ends — and how OpenAI is pushing back.

  • digital dashboard featuring a shield icon, graphs, a world map, and network nodes

    IBM Launches Agentic AI Governance and Security Platform

    IBM has introduced a new software stack for enterprise IT teams tasked with managing the complex governance and security challenges posed by autonomous AI systems.

  • laptop and fish hook

    Security Researchers Identify Generative AI 'Vishing' Attack

    A new report from researchers at Ontinue's Cyber Defense Center has identified a complex, multi-stage cyber attack that leveraged social engineering, remote access tools, and signed binaries to infiltrate and persist within a target network.