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How to install a texture pack
Wiki / Texture packs

How to install a texture pack in Minecraft

Installing a texture pack (resource pack) is one of the simplest ways to change Minecraft. You don't need any extra programs or mods: download the file, copy it to the right folder and turn it on in the game's options. Below you'll find step-by-step instructions for Java Edition and Bedrock Edition, plus fixes for the most common problems.

Installing in Java Edition

Minecraft Java Edition supports texture packs in ZIP format. The whole process takes less than a minute.

Step 1: download the texture pack

Download the .zip file from a trusted source. We recommend Modrinth, CurseForge or Planet Minecraft. Make sure the pack is compatible with your version of Minecraft: the download page should list the versions it supports.

Step 2: open the resourcepacks folder

The easiest way is to open the folder straight from the game:

  1. Launch Minecraft Java Edition.
  2. Go to Options.
  3. Click Resource Packs.
  4. Click Open Pack Folder.

You can also get to the folder manually:

  • Windows: %appdata%\.minecraft\resourcepacks (paste it into File Explorer or the Run window, Win+R)
  • macOS: ~/Library/Application Support/minecraft/resourcepacks
  • Linux: ~/.minecraft/resourcepacks

Step 3: copy the ZIP file

Copy or move the downloaded .zip file into the resourcepacks folder. Don't unzip the archive: Minecraft reads packs straight from ZIP files.

Step 4: enable it in the game

Go back to the Resource Packs screen in Minecraft. Your pack should appear on the left side (Available). Click the right arrow on the pack to move it to the right side (Selected). Click Done and the game loads the new textures.

Tip: If the pack doesn't show up in the list, close and reopen the Resource Packs screen to refresh it. Also make sure the ZIP file sits directly in the resourcepacks folder, not in a subfolder.

Installing in Bedrock Edition

Minecraft Bedrock Edition (Windows 10/11, Xbox, PlayStation, Switch, iOS, Android) uses the .mcpack format instead of ZIP. Installing a pack is even simpler.

Method 1: automatic install (recommended)

  1. Download the .mcpack file to your device.
  2. Double-click (or tap) the downloaded file.
  3. Minecraft opens automatically and imports the pack.
  4. Once it's imported, go to Settings → Global Resources and activate the pack.

An .mcpack file is really just a ZIP archive with its extension changed to .mcpack. Your operating system recognizes the extension and automatically associates it with Minecraft.

Method 2: manual install (Windows)

  1. Download the .mcpack file and change its extension to .zip.
  2. Unzip the archive into a new folder.
  3. Copy the unzipped folder to %localappdata%\Packages\Microsoft.MinecraftUWP_8wekyb3d8bbwe\LocalState\games\com.mojang\resource_packs.
  4. Launch Minecraft and activate the pack in Settings → Global Resources.

Global vs per-world activation

Bedrock Edition gives you two ways to activate a pack. Global Resources applies the pack to all your worlds. Resource Packs in the world settings activates the pack for one specific world only. Choose Global Resources if you want to use the pack everywhere.

Using several packs at once

Minecraft lets you activate several texture packs at the same time. The pack higher up in the list of active packs takes priority: if two packs change the same texture, the game uses the version from the higher pack. That lets you build your own custom texture set:

  • Base: for example Faithful 32x at the very bottom of the list.
  • Sky overlay: for example Dramatic Skys above it, which changes only the sky textures.
  • Animation overlay: for example Fresh Animations at the very top, which changes mob animations.

The order matters. If Fresh Animations changes the creeper texture and Faithful changes it too, you'll see the Fresh Animations version (because it's higher up). Experiment with the order to get the best result.

Troubleshooting

The pack doesn't show up in the list

  • Make sure the ZIP file is directly in the resourcepacks folder, not in a subfolder.
  • Check that the archive isn't a "ZIP inside a ZIP": some sites wrap the pack in an extra archive.
  • Check that the pack.mcmeta file is in the root of the archive. If it's inside a subfolder, repack the ZIP so the file sits at the top level.

The pack shows an incompatible version warning

Minecraft shows a warning when the pack's format number (pack_format in pack.mcmeta) doesn't match the game version. In most cases the pack works fine anyway: just accept the warning. Only very old packs (from before 1.13) may have real compatibility problems.

Missing or purple-and-black textures

A purple-and-black checkerboard pattern means a texture is missing. The most common causes:

  • The pack doesn't cover all of the game's textures (for example, it's missing new blocks added in the latest update). Fix: wait for the pack to be updated, or put the default pack lower in the list of active packs.
  • The pack needs OptiFine for connected textures or custom models. Install OptiFine, or Continuity on Fabric.

FPS drops after enabling a pack

Packs at 64x and higher can cause FPS drops. How to fix it:

  • Install OptiFine or Sodium: both mods greatly optimize texture loading.
  • Lower the Render Distance in Video Settings.
  • Turn on mipmapping (Mipmap Levels) in Video Settings. It reduces the GPU load for distant blocks.
  • Choose a lower-resolution pack: Faithful 32x gives a clear jump in quality with no impact on FPS.

An .mcpack file doesn't open automatically (Bedrock)

If double-clicking the .mcpack file doesn't launch Minecraft, use "Open with" and choose Minecraft. On a phone or tablet, use a file manager to find the downloaded file and tap it. If the problem persists, use the manual installation method described above.