Minecraft: Bedrock Edition players can now rejoice! The long-requested pause feature has finally arrived, mirroring functionality long enjoyed by Java Edition players.

Previously, Bedrock Edition treated all worlds like multiplayer servers, perpetually running even while navigating menus. This has now changed with the Spring to Life update, released on Tuesday, March 25th.

The new pause feature is exclusive to single-player local worlds. If a player joins a paused world, the game will automatically unpause, accompanied by a clear notification.  This notification includes a prompt to quickly return to gameplay, streamlining the process for players interrupted while in menus.

Mojang is rolling out the pause feature gradually over two weeks to ensure stability, with global availability expected by April 9th.  While the exact rollout prioritization is unclear, Mojang has confirmed that the feature will not be available in Minecraft Realms, even in solo play.

The Spring to Life update is packed with additional enhancements beyond the pause feature. New ambient sounds now grace the Badlands and Desert biomes, while Wildflowers add a touch of color to Meadows, Birch Forests, and Old Growth Birch Forests.

Two new grass types, Cactus Flowers, Firefly Bushes, and decorative Bush and Leaf Litter blocks further enrich the Minecraft world.  Chickens, cows, and pigs each receive two new variants, adding to the game's biodiversity.  Spawn Egg visuals have been overhauled, Cartographers offer expanded trades, and even wolves have new audio variations.

The update also features a Trade Rebalancing experiment as an experimental feature.

Several bug fixes and features are also part of this update, addressing issues with Achievements with Add-Ons, Blocks, Gameplay, General performance, Graphics, Mobs, Realms, Sounds, User Interface including Player Permissions and Friends Drawer Improvements, Vanilla Parity for Biomes and Mobs, and updated Village Chest Bundles and Wandering Trader Trades.