The second Release Candidate for Minecraft 26.3 is available for Java Edition. Published on September 11, 2026, by the Java Team, it prepares the Wilderness Bound game drop, whose full release has been announced for September 15, 2026 if no critical issues are found.
The confirmed fix concerns MC-311782. In some situations, clicking a button that opened a folder could freeze the game until that folder was actually opened. This is the only fixed bug listed in the official announcement.
What Minecraft 26.3 RC2 changes
The Java Team says that this Release Candidate will become the version used for the full release if no critical issue is found. For players following Java Edition development, this build therefore makes it possible to check the stability of the announced launch, with the targeted fix listed in the post.
The publication associates version 26.3 with the Wilderness Bound game drop. The post lists MC-311782 as the fix for this Release Candidate and does not provide a detailed list of new features in the established information here.
How to install Minecraft 26.3 RC2 on Java Edition
Release Candidates are available through the Minecraft Launcher. Open the Installations tab, then enable snapshots to make the candidate version appear. This procedure applies to Minecraft: Java Edition.
The Java Team recommends backing up worlds before using a test version, which can corrupt them. It also advises using a different folder from the one containing your main worlds. A backup copy and a separate environment therefore limit the risk to an important save.
The official page also provides a link to a cross-platform server file for this Release Candidate. The post does not specify which operating systems are supported. Bug reports should be submitted through the Minecraft issue tracker, while general feedback goes through the Feedback site.
A release still subject to change
September 15, 2026 is the announced date for the full release of Wilderness Bound, not for the publication of this RC2. That date depends on no critical issue being discovered during the final tests.
Players who want to verify the fix can install RC2 on Java Edition after protecting their backups. Those who prioritize stability can wait for the announced full release, whose final version will depend on no critical issue being found.
