Minecraft modding guide

This guide is intended to explain how to download and use Fabric/Forge mods on Minecraft. Curated by Big Iron#4218



Before you start

📌Prerequisites

If you want to play a specific version of Minecraft, you'll need to have the compatible version of the JRE (Java Runtime Environment).
For this guide, we'll be using the ones provided by Adoptium, which are based upon OpenJDK.

Minecraft Version JRE Version
1.16.5 and older Java 8
1.17.X Java 16
1.18 and newer Java 17

🧰Tools

Here is a list of the tools we are going to use during this guide. All of them are open-source and free to use.

Tool Description
MultiMC An alternative to the official Minecraft launcher, made to easily manage and mod various instances.
PrismLauncher A fork of MultiMC, with many enhanced features, like an inbuilt mod downloader.
UltimMC A fork of MultiMC, made for cracked players who don't own a legit copy of Minecraft.
PollyMC A fork of PrismLauncher, made for cracked players who don't own a legit copy of Minecraft.
Fabric Loader The modloader used for Fabric mods.
Forge Loader The modloader used for Forge mods.

Unsafe cracked launchers

Avoid using closed source third-party launchers (TLauncher is a common example).
Since nobody can look at the code, the developers could insert malicious code, that could potentilally harm your devices.
I suggest using PollyMC or UltimMC, as stated above.

🌐Websites

These are the webisites we are going to use to download mods.

Website Sescription
Modrinth The newest website for Minecraft mods. It has filters to help you find what you want easily.
Curseforge The old website for Minecrft mods. The UI is less intuitive, and the filters are barely usable.

Since the release of Fabric, Modrinth has become the best platform for mods, and many of those hosted on Curseforge have migrated to it.
That's why I suggest you use this newer and better source for all your modding needs.


Installation Walkthrough

☕Installing the JRE

So, you know what version of Minecraft you want to play on. Then, be ready to download the compatible JRE:

  1. Go to the Adoptium website;
  2. Select your OS under Operating System;
  3. Select JRE under Package Type;
  4. Select the version you need under Version;
  5. Download the version compatible with your Architecture.

Installer vs Archive

There isn't much of a difference, other than that the installer is going to try and download the JRE to the default folder for Java.
If you want to install the JRE to another folder, using the archive version is suggested (Open archives using a compatible tool, like 7zip).

📦Installing Minecraft

💵Legit

If you own a legit copy of Minecraft, you'll want to install PrismLauncher .
Choose the version compatible with your OS, extract the archive and start the executable.

  1. Choose your language (not all translations are 100% complete);
  2. Choose your default Java version (this one will be used for all your instances, but you can specify other versions when making an instance);
  3. Set the Minimum/Maximum memory allocation to a multiple of 512 (RAM deticated to Minecraft, do not dedicate more than half of your RAM);
  4. Once you are on the main menu, click the Profiles button on the top right corner and select Manage Accounts;
  5. Select Add Microsoft and follow the on-screen instructions to add your MC account.

You have now completed the setup of PrismLauncher. Now, we'll see how to add a playable instance.

  1. To create a Minecraft instance, click on the Add Instance button on the top left corner;
  2. On the left bar, select the type of instance you want;
  3. On the bottom, select the version and the modloader, then click OK to create it;
  4. Double click on the instance to run it and play.

Starting the game in fullscreen

To start any instance in fullscreen, click the Settings button, then go to Minecraft and enable the Start Minecraft maximized option.

🏴‍☠️Cracked

If you don't own a legit copy of Minecraft, you'll want to install PollyMC.
This should work without any further configuration, in a manner similar to PrismLauncher.

Alternatively, you can download UltimMC.
Almost all the steps are like the ones for the legit version, except:

  • When adding an account, put your username in the Email section and a random password;
  • Before creating an instance, click the Settings button, then go to Java and insert -Dauthlibinjector.noShowServerName into JVM arguments.

Modding Walkthrough

If you are using PrismLauncher, you can click the Download mods button inside of an instance's menu to open the in-built mod downloader.

📜Fabric

Add Fabric Loader to a new instance:

  1. Right click on a Vanilla (mod-less) instance, click Edit Instance;
  2. Select the Version tab, then click Install Fabric on the right side;
  3. Choose the newest version of the Fabric Loader, compatible with the instance version.

To download mods to a Fabric instance:

  1. Go on Modrinth;
  2. Search for a mod (you can use filters to refine your search);
  3. Download the mod (usually a .jar file, do not try and extract it);
  4. Copy and paste it inside the mods folder of the Fabric instance.

🔨Forge

Add Forge Loader to a new instance:

  1. Right click on a Vanilla (mod-less) instance, click Edit Instance;
  2. Select the Version tab, then click Install Forge on the right side;
  3. Choose the newest version of the Forge Loader, compatible with the instance version.

To download mods to a Forge instance:

  1. Go on Modrinth;
  2. Search for a mod (you can use filters to refine your search);
  3. Download the mod (usually a .jar file, do not try and extract it);
  4. Copy and paste it inside the mods folder of the Forge instance.

🗃️Modpacks

To download any type of modpack (Fabric/Forge):

  1. Create a new instance;
  2. When choosing the type, select Curseforge;
  3. Use the search bar to find your modpack;
  4. Choose the version of the modpack in the bottom right;
  5. Click OK and wait for the mods to be automatically downloaded

You have now downloaded a modpack. Double click on the instance to ply it.

Slow game start

When playing with many mods, the game might take longer to load, and suffer performance drops.
Is that's the case, I suggest you increase the dedictaed RAM, but never allocate more than half of your device's available RAM.


Edit
Pub: 09 May 2022 15:03 UTC
Edit: 09 May 2023 11:24 UTC
Views: 11596