Minecraft Capes: How to Get a Real One and Spot Scams
You can't buy a Minecraft cape: real ones come with a game or limited Mojang events. Which you can still claim, equipping one, and fake generators.
You can’t buy a Minecraft cape from a shop. Official capes come from Mojang: some come with owning a game, and the rest are handed out for events, promotions and anniversaries for a limited time. If you missed the window for a cape, it’s gone, which is exactly why fake “cape generators” catch so many people.
Where real capes come from
Owning the game. Every player who owns Minecraft gets a few basic capes. The Vanilla cape went to both editions in 2022, and the Common cape was added in 2025. In 2026, owning Minecraft Dungeons added the Hero cape, and preordering Minecraft Dungeons II gave the Twisted cape.
Events and promotions. Most capes in recent years came from something Mojang ran:
- Minecraft’s 15th anniversary in May 2024.
- Shows like Minecraft Live and in-game event servers, such as the Cherry Blossom cape in 2023.
- A Minecraft Movie in 2025, which had its own Bedrock event server and the Yearn cape.
- Real-world events like Minecraft Experience exhibitions.
Each of these had a claim period announced on minecraft.net. After it closed, nobody could get the cape any more.
Account migration. The Migrator cape went to every Java player who moved a Mojang account to a Microsoft account. Migration closed in September 2023, so you can’t earn it now. If you think you migrated and the cape is missing, see our page on account migration and recovery.
History. The oldest capes came from MINECON conventions between 2011 and 2016, and a handful were given to Mojang staff and special guests. They’re extremely rare and can’t be obtained.
How to equip a cape
Java Edition: open the Minecraft Launcher, go to the skins section, and pick a cape next to your skin. You can also do it on your profile at minecraft.net. Some promotional capes need you to log into Bedrock once before they unlock on Java. Our skin changing guide covers the same screen.
Bedrock Edition: open the Character Creator (the screen many players still call the Dressing Room), go to Capes and select the one you want.
Since 2022, Java and Bedrock share one account, and nearly every new cape is released for both editions.
What doesn’t work
- Cape generators and “free cape” sites. These either steal your Microsoft login or do nothing. Mojang never asks you to log in anywhere but microsoft.com and minecraft.net.
- Anyone selling capes. Capes are tied to an account and can’t be transferred. People selling “accounts with rare capes” are either selling stolen accounts or scamming you, and either way you can lose it the moment the original owner recovers it.
- Mod capes. OptiFine and some third-party clients show capes only to other people using the same mod. That’s fine if you know it, but it’s not an official cape.
If someone messages you with a cape offer that seems official, check it against minecraft.net news. Our official support page explains how to tell real Mojang contact from scams.
Common questions
Can you still get the Migrator cape?
No. It went to Java players who moved their Mojang account to a Microsoft account, and the migration deadline passed in September 2023. Accounts migrated before then kept it.
Can I buy a cape in Minecraft?
Not directly. Mojang doesn't sell capes on their own, though some have come with buying a game, such as the Common cape for owning Java and Bedrock, or preorder bonuses for spin-offs. Any website selling capes is a scam.
Are OptiFine capes real capes?
They're a cosmetic only shown to other OptiFine users. Players on the normal game won't see them, so they are not official capes.
Sources & verification
Facts on this page are checked against these references and in-game behavior for the stated edition(s). how we verify.
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