How to install Minecraft Java mods & modpacks
Java Edition mods work differently from Bedrock addons. A mod is a .jar file that needs a mod loader — usually Forge, Fabric or NeoForge — and it runs on a PC (Windows, macOS or Linux), not on a phone.
You need a PC. Java Edition mods can't be installed on the mobile version of Minecraft. If you're on a phone, you want Bedrock addons instead.
Before you start
- Minecraft: Java Edition installed on a PC.
- The mod's loader — check whether the mod is for Forge, Fabric or NeoForge (most mods say so on their page).
- A matching version — the loader, the mod, and your Minecraft version must all line up (e.g. all 1.21). Mismatched versions are the most common cause of crashes.
Step by step
Install the mod loader (Forge, Fabric or NeoForge)
Download the installer for the loader the mod needs, matching your Minecraft version, and run it. It creates a new profile in the Minecraft launcher.
For Fabric mods you usually also need the Fabric API mod — add it to the mods folder alongside the mod.
Open the launcher once to create the profile
Launch Minecraft and select the new Forge, Fabric or NeoForge profile, then quit. This makes sure the loader and the mods folder are set up.
Find your mods folder
Open the game directory. On Windows it's %appdata%\.minecraft\mods; on macOS it's ~/Library/Application Support/minecraft/mods. If the mods folder isn't there yet, create it.
Drop the mod .jar into the folder
Move the downloaded .jar file into the mods folder. Don't unzip it — it stays as a .jar. Add as many compatible mods as you like.
Launch the matching profile and play
Start Minecraft, pick the Forge / Fabric / NeoForge profile that matches your mods, and launch. Your mods load with the game.
Installing a modpack the easy way
A modpack is a curated bundle of mods, a loader and configs. The simplest route is a launcher that installs packs for you — such as the CurseForge app, the Modrinth app or Prism Launcher. It downloads the right loader and all the mods together, so you don't manage .jar files by hand. If you're starting out, a one-click modpack is far less error-prone than assembling mods individually.
Don't mix loaders. A single profile runs one loader. A Forge mod won't load under Fabric, and a NeoForge mod won't load under either, so keep every mod in a pack on the same loader and Minecraft version.
Browse on the go with MC Java Mods
Find mods, modpacks, shaders & maps for Java Edition — discover what to grab, then install it on your PC.
Frequently asked questions
Can I install Java mods on my phone?
No. Java Edition mods run on the desktop game. The mobile edition of Minecraft is Bedrock, which uses addons instead — see our Bedrock addon guide.
Forge, Fabric or NeoForge — which do I need?
Whichever the mod was built for. Each mod's page states its loader. A mod built for one loader won't load under another, so match the loader to the mod. (NeoForge is a newer loader, forked from Forge — treat it as its own loader, not interchangeable with Forge.)
Minecraft crashes when I add a mod
Almost always a version mismatch — the mod, the loader and your Minecraft version must all be the same (e.g. all 1.21). Fabric mods also typically need the Fabric API in the mods folder. Remove mods one at a time to find a conflicting one.
Where is the mods folder?
Inside the Minecraft game directory: %appdata%\.minecraft\mods on Windows, or ~/Library/Application Support/minecraft/mods on macOS. Create the mods folder if it isn't there after first launching the modded (Forge / Fabric / NeoForge) profile.