🛠️ How to Install a Custom Modpack in Minecraft

One of the most exciting ways to enjoy Minecraft is by fully customizing it with mods. These can be Forge or Fabric mods that change how you experience the game. Whether you want to explore entirely new dimensions or wield powerful weapons to easily eliminate hostile creatures, modding Minecraft opens up endless possibilities. Often, players want to use many mods simultaneously to enjoy multiple unique features. This introduces modpacks, collections of hand-picked mods designed for an incredible experience. Installing these unique packs in your launcher isn’t common knowledge, as it involves specific setup steps. With this in mind, we’ve created this PixelHost guide to walk you through how to install custom modpacks in Minecraft.

🔄 Preparation

Before installing any custom modpack in Minecraft, ensure that all mod files are easily accessible. This includes placing them in a dedicated folder so you can quickly access them for installation. For example, if you’ve downloaded them online or from the "mods" folder of an existing modpack, make sure to keep track of them for later. If you’ve used the Modpack Creation Addon to have us create a pack for you, download the necessary files from the Dropbox link provided via your ticket. Once everything is prepared on your computer, you’re ready to install the mods into Minecraft.

🖥️ Setting Up the Default Launcher

The classic way to set up custom modpacks is by using the vanilla Minecraft launcher. This is what many players do, but it involves some preliminary setup since mods require either Forge or Fabric, depending on their design. Once you’re ready to add the mods, it’s straightforward and doesn’t take much time. Review the sections below to start using your custom modpack.

Installing Minecraft Forge

If you want to use Forge mods, make sure to install Forge in your launcher.

1. Go to the Forge website and locate the version you want.

2. Once found, select it and click “Installer” for the latest or recommended version.

3. Save the file in an easily accessible location and run it to start the installation.

Installing Minecraft Fabric

Mods that use Fabric require it to be installed in the launcher, which is done as follows.

1. Go to the Fabric download page, then select the universal file.

2. Save the file in an easily accessible location on your computer.

3. Open it to start the client installation.

📁 Adding the Mods

Once you have Forge or Fabric installed, continue with the steps below to add the mods.

1. Open your Minecraft launcher, then click on “Installations” at the top.

2. Locate your installed modded profile and select its folder icon.

3. In the newly opened window, enter the “mods” folder.Note: If you can’t find this folder, create it before proceeding.

4. Drag and drop your mod JAR files into this folder. Return to the launcher and click “Play” on the modded profile to load your custom modpack.

   
   

🛠️ Setting Up the CurseForge Launcher

Instead of using the default Minecraft launcher to manage your custom modpack, you can use CurseForge to have multiple modpack instances to enjoy. This is the most popular option for managing modpacks, as it supports both Forge and Fabric types. Its user-friendly interface makes it easy to keep track of all your modded Minecraft profiles. We’ll go through the steps needed to create a custom modpack with this launcher in the sections below.

Installing CurseForge

1. Go to the CurseForge download page.

2. Locate your computer’s operating system and click “Download.”

3. Save the file in an easily accessible location on your device.

4. Open it to start the launcher installation process.

   
   

Creating a Custom Profile

Creating profiles for each of your custom modpacks gives you dedicated areas to make any changes to them. It’s extremely easy to set up, as it only takes a few minutes.

1. Launch the CurseForge launcher, then click “Create Custom Profile” under “My Modpacks.”

2. Enter a profile name and continue selecting the Minecraft version and game type.Note: You can change the exact version of Forge or Fabric under “Modloader Version.”

3. Once everything is completed, proceed to create the profile in the bottom right corner.

4. Wait for the profile to finish loading all required files.

📂 Uploading the Mods

Just like adding mods in the default launcher, you’ll need to access the “mods” folder. However, this is now stored in your custom profile directory and is easy to reach.

1. In the “My Modpacks” section of the launcher, locate and select your custom profile.

2. Continue by clicking the three vertical dots and then click “Open Folder” from the list of options.

3. In the newly opened window, open the “mods” folder.

4. Proceed to drag and drop your desired mod JAR files into this area.

5. Afterward, return to the launcher and click “Play” on the right side of the profile.

   
   

❗ Common Issues

• Mods Aren’t Working: If your mods aren’t working at all, ensure they’ve been correctly installed. Make sure they are inside the “mods” folder in the Minecraft launcher directory or within your custom CurseForge profile. After confirming this, if they still don’t work, ensure the mods are compatible with your game version. For example, mods for version 1.12.2 won’t work with version 1.16.5. Also, note that you can only run either Forge or Fabric instances. Once compatibility issues are resolved, everything should start working. However, occasionally mods won’t work even after checking compatibility due to missing dependencies or conflicts between mods.

• Excessive Lag: In cases where your custom modpack has been installed correctly but you experience lag, try allocating more RAM. This means you’ll be allowing additional memory for your Minecraft launcher so the mods can load and function better. Doing this is likely to resolve most issues, but you may need to check out our optimization guide for mods to see what other troubleshooting solutions to try. For example, installing a performance mod on your client tends to help with FPS. Sometimes, the entire launcher may crash if the lag isn’t managed properly.

  
  

  Best Regards,

  João @PixelHost.