Not only isMinecraftthe bestselling game of all time, but it’s also insanely addictive to play. Who could say no to an immersive polygonal world of mining, agriculture, and digital zombies? Released all the way back in 2009, bothPCandconsole versionsof the famous title have come along.
The Minecraft world has expanded many times over, and a lot of that expansion is thanks to its players. We’re talking about Minecraft mods, and the game has seen quite a few of these exciting add-ons over the last 15 years. And if you’d like to experience one of these mods yourself, we’ve put together this guide to teach you how to install them on your PlayStation, Xbox, and/or desktop.
Difficulty
What You Need
Minecraft-friendly console
[Author’s note:This is a general overview of how to install Minecraft mods, not an all-encompassing guide. Installation can differ from mod to mod, so be sure to follow the download and installation instructions that can typically be found online alongside the download options.]
Installing Minecraft mods on Windows
There are a few different ways to get mods running withMinecraft, but the easiest and most popular method requires an application called Forge. Here’s how it works:
Step 1:Go to theofficial Forge websiteand download the recommended version of the software. You can alsoinstall the latest version of Forge, but it could have some unresolved bugs that will affect your ability to properly run some mods.
Step 2:Download the mods you want to install from a reliable source.CurseForgeis a popular location with hundreds of great mods to choose from. However, not all mods are compatible with all versions ofMinecraft, or even with Forge. ensure to research the specific mod you’re interested in to find out if it’s compatible with your software.
Step 3:Create the “mods” folder in the.minecraftdirectory. Here’s the target address:
C:Users[yourname]AppDataRoaming.minecraft
If the AppData folder isn’t visible in File Explorer, clickViewat the app’s top and then checkHidden Items.
If this is your first mod, there is no “mods” folder within the.minecraftfolder. With the.minecraftfolder open, right-click within File Explorer and selectNewfollowed byFolderon the pop-up menu. Name that folder “mods.”
Step 4:Move the downloaded mod into theModsfolder.
Step 5:RunMinecraft, but first verify your Forge account is active. If not, your mods won’t load properly.
That’s it! As we mentioned, there are several other mod launchers on the internet besides Forge – such asLiteLoader– so you can always shop around if you don’t like everything it has to offer. That being said, it’s the most popular for a reason, and most new mods are usually compatible with the software.
Installing Minecraft mods on Mac
Mac users can follow steps 1 and 2 from the instructions above, though you should followtheseinstructions for step 3:
Create the “mods” folder in theminecraftdirectory. Here’s the target address:
~/Library/Application Support/minecraft
You can quickly access this folder using theCommand + Shift + Gkeyboard shortcut. Alternatively, openFinder, clickGoon the menu bar and access the Library folder by pressing theOptionkey. OpenApplication Supportfollowed byminecraftafter that.
Once there, right-click within that folder, selectNew Folderon the pop-up menu, and name it “mods.”
Mac users can now go back to following steps 4 and 5 from the above set of instructions.
Installing Minecraft mods on consoles
Unfortunately, mods don’ttechnicallyexist forMinecrafton Xbox and PlayStation. Instead, players have access to add-ons. Unlike mods, these add-ons aren’t free and are heavily restricted compared to PC mods. However, they’re still better than nothing, and they’re incredibly easy to install.
Step 1:LaunchMinecrafton your console and selectMarketplaceon the main menu.
Step 2:Select a Skin Pack, World, Texture Pack, or Mash-up Pack.
Step 3:Use Minecoins or a credit card to purchase the add-on.
Can you get Minecraft mods for Nintendo Switch?
Similar to PlayStation and Xbox versions of Minecraft, the Nintendo Switch version doesn’t accept traditional mods. You’ll still be able to purchase “add-ons” through the Minecraft Marketplace dashboard, and if you’re comfortable with advanced custom firmware integration, you may be able to find and upload modded versions of the game.
Installing Minecraft mods on Android
Unfortunately, it’s not possible to use true mods with a handheld version ofMinecraft, similar to the limitations you find on consoles. Luckily, you can use a third-party app, such as Add-ons forMinecraft, BlockLauncher, and Mods forMinecraftto let you customize the game how you want. This is how it works:
Step 1:Navigate toBlocklauncherand install the popular, useful app that’s widely used to load mods.
Step 2:Follow the app’s directions, as BlockLauncher will give you different instructions based on the type of device you’re on.
Step 3:Return to the Google Play Store and downloadMods for Minecraft PE. This app will allow you to download and install your mods quickly and efficiently.
Step 4:Head to the search function and use it to search for the mod you want to download.
Step 5:Once you find the perfect mod for you, clickInstall. This will automatically install the mod into the game you selected.
Installing Minecraft mods on iOS
Step 1:The first thing you should do is install a few add-ons for Minecraft. These are readily available for download in theApp Store.
Step 2:To find and install your add-ons, follow the on-screen steps.
Are Minecraft mods free to download?
A majority of Minecraft mods can be downloaded for free. In fact, there are over 100,000 mods to choose from on the CurseForge platform alone, and most of these uploads are free. The only thing you’ll pay for (in most cases) is the base game, which is currently $26.95 for the Java Edition (Windows, Mac, Linux).
Are Minecraft mods safe to download?
Generally speaking, downloading Minecraft mods is a safe and easy process. The key is to make sure you’re downloading from trusted mod sites, withminecraftmods.com,planetminecraft.com,9minecraft.net, andcurseforge.comtypically being safe bets.
We also recommend creating a backup of your server before installing any mods. If something goes wrong during the installation process, you’ll be able to load up a version of the game that still works.
These days, moddingMinecraftgames is relatively simple. We believe the excellent content you receive is entirely worth the time and effort you put in to download the mods. We can assure you that you’ll fall head over heels for at least one of the mods you come across.
