twitch minecraft launcher unable to download

Minecraft is an incredibly popular game that many people (regardless of age or status) enjoy playing. However, in recent times, users have been complaining of an issue that stops them from updating the game application in Windows. Well, this problem also prevents them from playing the game – since the update process is frozen.

From the reports we gathered online, we figured out that the vast majority of users install Minecraft updates through the Minecraft Launcher application. When the update process fails or gets stuck, an error message in this form is usually displayed: Unable to update the Minecraft Native Launcher.

After the error message shows up, Minecraft typically acts to reinitiate the update process again, but the update gets stuck (like before).

Why does Minecraft give the Unable to update the Minecraft Native Launcher error message?

We did some research to figure out the causes of the problems that break the Minecraft update process or issues that trigger the error. We came up with this list:

Irregularities in the new launcher:

We believe that the problem is mostly down to irregularities or inconsistencies with the new launcher being used to update Minecraft – or at least, this holds true in the vast majority of cases. For some reason, the newly introduced Minecraft launcher struggles to fetch files from the internet.

Perhaps, there is a bug in the launcher that affects its file downloading capabilities. Moreover, the Minecraft launcher struggles seem to get worse when the internet connection being used is slow. If you encounter too much trouble while trying to fetch updates through the Minecraft launcher, then you might be better off downloading the Minecraft executable from the website directly instead of waiting for the launcher to do the job for you.

Disruptions from third-party security applications:

Some third-party security solutions, especially antiviruses, are known to block processes used by games or disrupt their operations. Some protection utilities go as far as stopping the game applications from starting or disabling the components they rely on to function.

The list of possible causes of the Minecraft error is far from exhaustive, though. As you go through this guide, you will learn of other issues or events due to which the error comes up on Windows 10 computers.

How to fix the Unable to update the Minecraft Native Launcher error on a Windows 10 PC

We advise that you start with the first procedure on the list. If it fails to do enough to resolve the problem in your case, then you have to move to the second fix and continue to work your way through the solutions in the order they appear (if the need arises).

Repair Minecraft:

Most times, when applications display an error message about a process or operation failing, their files are likely to have fallen to corruption (or something might have broken them). Therefore, you have to repair the files (to get them back to their normal state). Fortunately, there is an option in Windows that allows you to repair the files for any program. Yes, we want you to use that option to do the job here.

Here, we are assuming Minecraft is bringing up the Unable to update the Minecraft Native Launcher notification because its files are corrupted or broken. Therefore, if our assumption holds true, after you repair the game application files, the update process is likely to go smoothly.

Anyway, these are the instructions you must follow to repair Minecraft:

Press (and hold down) the Windows logo button on your PC's keyboard and then hit the letter R key to open the Run app.
Assuming the Run application window is now on your screen, you have to fill the text box on it with this code: appwiz.cpl
To run the code, you have to hit the Enter button on your machine's keyboard (or you can click on the OK button on the Run window for the same outcome).

You will be directed to the Uninstall a program screen or menu in the Control Panel app.

Go through the list of installed applications, locate Minecraft, and then right-click on it to see the available context menu.
From the list of options there, you have to choose Repair.

The Minecraft installer or installation wizard window will come up now.

At this point, you have to follow the on-screen instructions to repair Minecraft and that should be it.
After everything gets done, we recommend you close all apps (the ones currently running on your computer) and then restart your PC.
Run Minecraft to confirm that the update process now pulls through.

Download Minecraft directly from Minecraft's website:

If the Unable to update the Minecraft Native Launcher error continues to bother you (and prevents you from playing the game), then you have to get a new Minecraft app from Minecraft's site and get on with your game. A good number of users only managed to resolve the issue this way. If everything goes well with the proposed task, then it won't matter if the problem was down to your internet being slow or something being broken in the update components.

Here, all you have to do is download a specific file from the website, run the package, and then install Minecraft. These instructions cover everything that you need to do:

First, you have to open your web browser by clicking on the app icon (which should be on your taskbar) or double-clicking on the program shortcut (which is probably on your desktop screen).
Once the browser window comes up, you have to fill the URL or address field with the following words: Minecraft Windows download.
Hit the Enter button on your keyboard to perform a search task on Google using the inputted keywords as the query.
Assuming you are now on the Google Search results page, you have to click on the first entry there (usually Download Minecraft: Java Edition | Minecraft).

You will now be directed to the Download Minecraft page for Windows.

Click on the Try an alternative download link.

You will now be directed to the Alternative Download Options for Minecraft: Java Edition page.

Locate Windows (alternative) under Platform and then click on the Minecraft.exe link beside it.
Wait for your browser to fetch the package from Minecraft servers.
Click or double-click on the downloaded file to run it.
Follow the on-screen instructions to perform the necessary tasks.

At the end of it all, the issue will have been fixed.

Run Minecraft. Play the game – if you can.

If the problem persists, then you have to do some work to delete Minecraft's old files. At this point, you need a fresh start, which means Minecraft must no longer be allowed to read data from broken or faulty packages. Well, you must continue with the steps below:

First, you have to launch the Run application. You can do this by right-clicking on your taskbar to see the list of options available and then choosing Run.

Alternatively, you can use the Windows button + letter R keyboard shortcut to perform the same program launch task.

Assuming the small Run window is now on your display, you have to fill the textbox on it with this code:

%Appdata%

To get Windows to run the code, you have to hit the Enter button on your keyboard (or you can click on the OK button on the Run window to do the same thing).

You will be directed to the Appdata directory in a File Explorer window.

Now, you must go through the items listed, locate the Minecraft folder, and then click on it to get it highlighted.
Do a right-click on the Minecraft folder to see the list of options available and then select Delete.

Windows will now act to remove the unwanted files.

Now, you must leave or close the File Explorer window.
Go back to your Downloads folder or the directory where your browser keeps the items you download.
Locate the Minecraft.exe package (that you downloaded earlier) and then click or double-click on it to run it.
Follow the appropriate instructions to perform the tasks.
After everything is done, you have to open Minecraft to see if things are now fine.

If the issues that trigger the Unable to update the Minecraft Native Launcher error manifest themselves again, you will do well to restart your computer and then run the downloaded Minecraft executable again.

Disable your antivirus:

If you have an antivirus installed on your computer as your main protection utility, then you must begin your work here by disabling the antivirus. We earlier established that a credible link exists between the actions of antiviruses and the issues that trigger the Unable to update the Minecraft Native Launcher error. All your problems might be down to your antivirus overreaching by disrupting or interfering with Minecraft processes or components.

Your antivirus is hardly perfect. If our assumptions hold true, then it means your antivirus must have misconstrued or wrongly labeled Minecraft as a malicious or harmful application, which explains the moves it made against the game's interests. Some antiviruses were proven to block Minecraft's connection to Mojang servers.

Well, you can only find out the truth by disabling your antivirus to test things. Fortunately, almost all antivirus vendors provide their customers with the means or options through which they get to disable the security programs.

Follow these instructions to disable your antivirus:

First, you have to open your antivirus. If its icon exists on the system tray, you must click on it.

Otherwise, you have to click on the program shortcut, which is probably on your desktop screen.

Assuming the app window is now on your screen, you have to go to its settings menu, control center, or options pane.
Locate the option that allows you to disable your antivirus.

If variants of the disable option exist – such as Disable for 10 minutes, Disable until computer is restarted, Disable permanently, and so on – then you will do well to select the Disable permanently option (for the best results).

If you do not see options that allow you to disable your antivirus, then you have to check for the ones that force it to limit its activities, or you have to locate the parameters for its most important functions. You will then have to turn off those options and parameters. In general, you must do what you can to reduce your antivirus' capabilities for the time being.

Save the changes you just made to your antivirus settings – if this step applies.
Close Minecraft and its dependent components. You might want to launch the Task Manager app and check things there to be sure.
Now, you must run Minecraft to see if the update operations now proceed as they should (without interruptions or setbacks).

If everything goes well, then you must take the turn of events as confirmation that your antivirus played some role in causing issues for you. You will then have to decide what becomes of your antivirus.

Add Minecraft to the whitelist in your antivirus; Create an exception for Minecraft:

At this point, we are assuming you already know that your antivirus was responsible for your struggles with the Minecraft launcher update – since things got better after you put down your antivirus. However, you cannot keep your antivirus disabled forever, so it makes sense for you to make changes to mitigate the effect of the fix (and get a permanent solution).

Here, we want you to add Minecraft to the whitelist provided by your antivirus. By default, your antivirus is programmed to ignore whitelisted programs (their processes, components, and services). This way, once Minecraft ends up in the whitelist, your antivirus will no longer bother or disturb it.

The instructions on adding an application to the whitelist might vary depending on the antivirus solution you are using. Nevertheless, we will try to provide a description for the general procedure for adding programs to whitelists. The steps below should give you some ideas (as regards performing the required task):

First, you have to open your antivirus.
Go to its main dashboard, options menu, or settings pane.
Locate the whitelist option or anything similar.

If you see an exceptions list, then you must click on it.

Now, you have to search for Minecraft and select it (to add it to the list of whitelisted applications).

If possible, you will do well to specify the entire Minecraft folder (the game installation folder or the directory from which Minecraft and its components run).

Save the changes you just made to your antivirus whitelist – if this step applies.
Now, you can enable your antivirus. Or you have to turn on the features or functions you disabled earlier to limit your antivirus activities.

If your struggles with the Minecraft application continue – even after you added the game app to your antivirus whitelist or created an exception for it – then you have to uninstall your antivirus. Well, if you cannot get your antivirus to operate on your computer without interfering with or disrupting the processes used by other programs, then your antivirus has to go.

You will have to go to the Programs and Features menu in Control Panel and initiate the uninstallation operation from that platform. After you remove your antivirus, you have to restart your PC. At this point, you have to find a replacement for your antivirus because you cannot leave your computer to function without a security utility.

RECOMMENDED

Protect PC from Threats with Anti-Malware

Check your PC for malware your antivirus may miss and get threats safely removed with Auslogics Anti-Malware

DOWNLOAD NOW

We recommend you get Auslogics Anti-Malware. This first-rate protection program will go about its job of keeping your computer safe from all forms of threat without interfering with other programs' activities (harmless operations) to cause trouble for you. You might come to see this application as the ideal replacement for your antivirus, considering the issue that compelled you to get rid of your antivirus in the first place.

Run the program compatibility troubleshooter:

Windows provides a compatibility troubleshooter that users can run for every application to fix a wide range of problems (especially issues with launch). The troubleshooter in view works the same way standard troubleshooters in Windows function. First, it tries to diagnose the problem or identify its source, and then it moves on to apply known solutions or proffers procedures that should be used to resolve the issue.

We want you to run that program compatibility troubleshooter for Minecraft. These instructions cover almost everything that you need to do here:

First, you have to tap the Windows logo button on your machine's keyboard to get to the Windows Start menu (or you can click on the Windows icon in the bottom-left corner of your display for the same outcome).
Now, you have to type Minecraft into the text box (that appears the moment you begin to type) to perform a search task using that keyword as the query.
Once Minecraft Launcher (App) emerges as the primary entry on the results list, you have to do a right-click on it to see the list of available options.
Select Open file location.

You will be directed to the Minecraft directory in a File Explorer window now.

Go through the items listed there, locate the Minecraft Launcher file, click on it to get it highlighted, and then do a right-click on it.
From the long list of options that show up, you have to select Troubleshoot compatibility.

The compatibility troubleshooter window for Minecraft will come up now.

Follow the on-screen directions to perform the troubleshooting tasks.
Click on Use the recommended compatibility setting.

Otherwise – if you know the ideal compatibility settings for Minecraft Launcher – you must choose or specify the settings yourself.

If everything goes well, you will end with a fix to the Unable to update the Minecraft Native Launcher error, or the troubleshooter will advise you to execute a specific operation to resolve the problem.

Reinstall Minecraft:

Here, we are considering the possibility that the Minecraft installation on your computer is permanently broken. If our assumption holds true, then the reinstallation process (consisting of the uninstallation and installation operations) will do enough to force through changes to resolve the problem.

Basically, you will remove Minecraft from your computer (completely) and then clean install the game application (as if you were bringing it in for the first time). These instructions cover everything you need to do here:

First, you have to press (and hold down) the Windows logo button on your machine's keyboard and then tap the letter R key.

The small Run window will come up now.

Type appwiz.cpl into the text box there and then click on the OK button on the window to force Windows to run the code (or you can hit the Enter button on your keyboard for the same outcome).

You will be directed to the Uninstall or change a program screen in the Control Panel application.

Now, you have to go through the list of applications there, locate Minecraft, click on it to get it highlighted, and then do a right-click on it.
From the list of options that come up, you must select Uninstall.

The uninstaller or uninstallation wizard window for Minecraft will come up now.

Follow the on-screen directions to remove Minecraft.
Now, you have to use the Windows button + letter R combination to open the Run app.
Once the Run window comes up, you have to fill the box there with %Appdata% and then hit the Enter button on your keyboard to run the code.
Assuming you are now in the Appdata folder on a File Explorer window, you have to locate the Minecraft folder and then delete it.
Now, you must close all the programs you opened and then restart your computer.
Assuming Windows has reached stability, you have to open your preferred web browser app.
Go to Minecraft's website or download page.
Fetch the Minecraft installer for the latest version of the game.
Click or double-click on the downloaded package to run it.
Follow the on-screen instructions to install Minecraft.
Run the installed program to confirm that the Unable to update the Minecraft Native Launcher error no longer comes up.

Other things you can try to resolve the Unable to update the Minecraft Native Launcher problem on Windows 10 PCs

If you came here to learn how to update the Minecraft launcher in Windows 10 but are still struggling with the error in view, then you have to try these fixes and workarounds on our final list of solutions to the problem.

Download and install all Windows updates. Download and install updates for Minecraft-dependent components.

Run Minecraft in compatibility mode for older Windows builds, such as Windows 7 (and its different service packs), Windows 8.1, Windows 8, Windows Vista, and so on.