How to install mods, shaders, resource packs and modpacks

Everything is installed through the launcher's catalog — that's where the Modrinth and CurseForge projects live. You don't need to download files from websites and put them into folders manually.

A ready-made modpack

1. Open “Catalog” and pick a modpack.
2. Click “Install”.

The launcher will install the right game version, loader, mods and Java on its own. Paid and exclusive modpacks are covered in the article Catalog modpacks — free, premium and your own.

.mrpack files and CurseForge archives open through “Import” → “From file” — you don't need to unpack them.

Mods into your own modpack

Mods go into a modpack that has a loader — Fabric, Forge, NeoForge or Quilt. A mod won't install into a vanilla modpack. Which loader to choose is covered in the article Fabric, Forge, NeoForge and Quilt.

1. Open the modpack → “Content” tab → “Mods”.
2. Click “Add mods” — the catalog for this modpack will open.
3. Click “To modpack” next to the mod you want.

Dependencies — Fabric API, for example — are installed by the launcher itself.

If you don't have a modpack yet, find the mod in the “Catalog” and click “New modpack” on its card: the launcher will create a modpack for the latest game version and the loader this mod needs, and put the mod into it right away.

A mod from a file

On the “Content” tab, click “From file” or drag a .jar file into the modpack window. Make sure the file is built for your game version and your loader — otherwise the game won't start.

Shaders

Shaders need the Iris mod. It's available for Fabric and Quilt, and on newer game versions for NeoForge as well.

• A new modpack for shaders: in the catalog, on the shader's card, click “New modpack” — the launcher will create a Fabric modpack and install Iris and the shader.
• Into your own modpack: first install the Iris Shaders mod (Sodium will be pulled in automatically), then the shader on the “Content” tab → “Shaders” → “Add shaders”.

You enable shaders in-game: Settings → Video Settings → Shader Packs.

Resource packs and data packs

• Resource packs: “Content” tab → “Resource packs” → “Add resource packs”. In-game, enable the pack in Settings → Resource Packs.
• Data packs: “Content” → “Data packs” → “Add data packs”. A data pack works in the world you added it to.

Resource packs and data packs also work in a vanilla modpack.

Updating and rolling back mods

When updates come out for mods, an “Updates available” mark appears on the Content tab. You can update everything at once or roll back to the previous version.

If the launcher sees a problem with the setup — a missing mod, a conflict, or a mod that isn't for this version — a line with the problem and a fix button appears above the list.

What to use instead of OptiFine

OptiFine doesn't get along well with modern mods. Use these instead:

• Sodium — FPS and smoothness. On Forge, Embeddium replaces it.
• Iris Shaders — shaders. Most OptiFine shaders work in Iris.

The easiest option is to enable “FPS Boost” in the modpack's “Settings” — it installs Sodium and other performance mods for you. Don't install OptiFine alongside Sodium: they don't work together. For more details, see the article FPS and performance.

It won't start after installation

Most often the mod is for the wrong version or the wrong loader. See Minecraft crash codes and messages.