Why is Minecraft Saying "Buy it Again" and How to Fix

As an experienced Minecraft player and content creator, few messages are as frustrating as seeing that you need to "buy the game again" when trying to play.

I‘ve encountered this error a number of times over the years, and through trial and error, conversations with Mojang support, and researching deep into account management, I‘ve learned exactly why it happens and how to reliably fix it.

In this detailed guide, I‘ll outline the main reasons you may be prompted to repurchase Minecraft, even if you already own it, along with actionable solutions to get you back into the game quickly.

Overview: Top Reasons for the "Buy Again" Error

Before diving into each specific cause and fix, here is a quick overview of the main reasons Minecraft may say you need to buy it again:

• Wrong Account: Trying to play while signed into a different account than the one that purchased the game originally.
• Edition Mismatch: Attempting to play a version/edition you don‘t own the license for.
• Microsoft Account Issues: Problems with your Microsoft account blocking the license.
• Corrupted Files: Damaged local game files causing license issues.
• Expired Trials/Codes: Free trials or gift code licenses expiring.
• Cross-Platform Complications: Platform migrations causing license conflicts.

Understanding why this error occurs will make resolving your specific case much easier. So let‘s explore each of these common causes in more detail…

You‘re Logged Into the Wrong Account

By far, the most common trigger for the "buy again" error is trying to play Minecraft while signed into a different account than the one originally used to purchase the game.

• Minecraft licenses are tied to the individual accounts that bought them.
• So if you log out of the owning account, and into another one, even on the same device, Minecraft will no longer recognize your access to play.

Here is a quick example:

• Alex buys Minecraft Java Edition using her personal Microsoft account
• Later, Steve logs into the Minecraft launcher on the same computer, using his own Microsoft account
• When launching the game, Steve will get an error saying he needs to buy Minecraft
• This happens even though the game is installed locally, since the license is tied to Alex‘s account

The fix is simple – log out of the current account, and log back into the one that originally purchased the Minecraft license.

So for Steve, he would need to sign out of the launcher and log back into Alex‘s account to regain access. As long as you have the login credentials, this should immediately resolve the problem.

Edition Mismatch: Different License Types

Another common source of the "buy again" error is trying to play one edition of Minecraft when your license is for another one.

As a quick primer, there are several editions of Minecraft available on various platforms:

• Each edition uses different codebases and networks
• Licenses do not carry over across editions
• So owning Java Edition does not grant you rights to play Bedrock or Legacy Console versions

If you try to launch an edition other than the one your account purchased, the "buy again" error will trigger since that license is edition-locked.

For example:

• Maya owns Minecraft Java Edition on her Mac laptop
• She tries playing Minecraft on her friend‘s Xbox Series X
• Despite owning the game on Mac, she has to purchase the Bedrock Edition license separately for Xbox

To avoid this, double check that you are launching the exact same edition purchased originally. Currently owned licenses will always show on your Minecraft profile.

If you do want to transition editions, you‘ll have to purchase the new one separately, even if you already own Minecraft.

Microsoft Account Issues Blocking License

For Minecraft: Bedrock Edition across Windows 10, Xbox, mobile platforms, your game license is tied to your Microsoft account.

In some cases, problems with the Microsoft account itself may prevent Minecraft from recognizing your license ownership. Specific issues include:

• Payment failures blocking all purchases
• Console suspensions interfering with licenses
• Child account restrictions
• Microsoft account bans or locks

Here are some examples of Microsoft account issues hiding legitimate Minecraft licenses:

• Andre purchased Minecraft on Xbox One but later gets his account suspended for an unrelated reason
• When he tries playing again, Minecraft says he needs to buy the game again
• The license is still owned and tied to his account, but the suspension blocks it from being detected in-game

If you suspect your Microsoft account itself is causing problems, here are some troubleshooting steps:

• Sign Out Entirely – Fully sign out of your Microsoft account everywhere (Windows device settings, Xbox profiles, etc). Then restart your device/console and sign back in cleanly. This can help sync everything correctly.
• Check Account Status – Log into your Microsoft account management page and confirm your standing. Resolve any suspensions, outstanding payment issues, age restrictions, etc.
• Contact Microsoft Support – If you cannot resolve any apparent account issues yourself, contact Microsoft support for personalized help restoring your standing. Cite inability to access already purchased Minecraft licenses.

Taking the time to fix Microsoft account problems can not only restore your access to Minecraft but enable any other owned content across Microsoft‘s ecosystems.

Local Game File Corruption

While not exceedingly common, corrupted local game files can also lead to failed license validation – triggering the prompt to rebuy Minecraft.

Potential causes for file corruption include:

• Failed updates / incomplete installations
• Virus infections interfering with game executables
• Hard drive errors scrambling data
• Resource pack conflicts

Usually corrupted files will also cause gameplay crashes, graphical anomalies, or other stability issues as well.

Luckily, resolving corruption issues to restore license detection in Minecraft is straightforward:

• Back Up Game Saves – Preserve your saved worlds, resource packs, etc by copying player data folders to external storage.
• Fully Uninstall Minecraft – Use your system‘s control panel / settings to completely remove Minecraft. This scrubs all local data.
• Reinstall From Scratch – Download a fresh copy of the Minecraft installer from the official website and run a clean installation.
• Relink Your Account – Launch the freshly installed game and sign back into the account that purchased your license.

With pristine local files, Minecraft should now recognize your access rights correctly. Just make sure to restore any saved worlds or data after the reinstall.

This full process may be time-consuming but is a reliable fix for data related license problems.

Expired Free Trial, Gift Codes, or Game Pass Access

Freely obtained Minecraft licenses through limited-time trials, gift codes, or Xbox Game Pass (PC/console) will eventually expire after first use.

When temporary access rights lapse, the "buy again" message will display – even if you have played for dozens or hundreds of hours previously.

• Minecraft trials last about 90-100 hours of gameplay
• Gift codes usually expire after 1 year
• Various Game Pass deals can provide temporary access

To resolve expired free licenses:

• Accept that the free access period has ended
• Purchase the full-priced game through the Minecraft website/store
• Use your existing account to retain all world data and progress

Essentially, take advantage of the free trial period then support Mojang‘s continued development by buying the game officially.

Of course, if you have already purchased the game normally in the past, see the other troubleshooting tips in this guide to restore proper license validation without an extra purchase.

Cross Platform License Transfer Issues

In late 2021, Mojang completed the migration of all accounts into required Microsoft accounts for playing Minecraft. This aimed to unify profiles across devices.

However, for some players, especially on Sony PlayStation consoles, this transition process caused license conflicts resulting in broken access and repetition purchase demands.

Mojang has published detailed help docs covering the PlayStation migration process and how to reconcile these issues.

In general, to resolve cross-platform license issues:

• Double check correct Microsoft account – Login errors can occur if using old legacy credentials. Make sure to use the updated Microsoft account that purchased Minecraft post-migration.
• Contact customer support – If your licenses remain invalid despite proper account login, contact PlayStation or Xbox support teams for assistance restoring licenses. Proof of past purchases will help.
• Cross reference order history – Review your full Microsoft order history online to validate past Minecraft transactions. Provide these details to support.
• Consider multiplatform repurchase – As a last resort, buying the game again on newer consoles under the same Microsoft account will reliably grant fresh access. Seek refunds afterwards.

While platform transitions aim to improve long-term functionality, the short term can definitely lead to temporarily losing access to legitimately purchased games like Minecraft.

Avoiding "Buy Again" Errors in Minecraft

Hopefully digging into each specific cause for the "You need to buy Minecraft again" message helps you identify and resolve your personal situation.

To summarize, focus on:

• Logging into the originally purchasing account
• Launching the correct edition that you own
• Troubleshooting any Microsoft account problems
• Reinstalling locally if files seem corrupted
• Purchasing full licenses once trials expire

Following the detailed advice in this guide, you should be able to regain access to your properly owned Minecraft licenses without repurchasing the game unnecessarily.

For additional help, be sure to check the Official Minecraft Account Support Page from Mojang which is updated regularly.

Let me know in the comments below if restoring your Minecraft access works out after seeing the "buy again" message incorrectly!