Minecraft Mods — Getting Started

Minecraft requires Java to run. Download Java 17+ (for 1.17 and newer) or Java 8 (for older versions) from adoptium.net. Run the installer and follow the prompts. You can verify it's installed by opening a terminal and typing java -version.

Mods require a mod loader — software that bridges your mods and the game.

• Forge — The most established loader. Huge library of mods. Best for heavily modded setups.
• Fabric — Lightweight and fast-updating. Great for performance mods and newer Minecraft versions.
• NeoForge — A modern Forge fork. Growing rapidly, recommended for 1.20.2+.
• Quilt — A Fabric fork with extra features. Compatible with most Fabric mods.

Download the installer for your chosen loader from their official site and run it. Select the Minecraft version you want to mod.

After installing a mod loader and launching the game once, a mods folder will appear in your Minecraft directory:

• Windows: %AppData%\.minecraft\mods
• macOS: ~/Library/Application Support/minecraft/mods
• Linux: ~/.minecraft/mods

You can also open it from the Minecraft Launcher → Installations → ··· → Open Folder.

Browse mods on Mineuniverse and click Download on any mod page. Make sure the mod version matches your Minecraft version and mod loader. Place the downloaded .jar file directly into your mods folder. Never unzip it.

Open the Minecraft Launcher, select the mod loader profile you installed (e.g. "Forge 1.20.1"), and click Play. The game will load all mods in your mods folder automatically. If you see an error, check that all mods are compatible with each other and your Minecraft version.