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Default Minecraft folder by operating system
CurseForge uses a different base path on each platform. The table below lists the default locations documented in CurseForge’s support articles.
| Operating system | Default CurseForge Minecraft modding folder |
|---|---|
| Windows | C:Users[user]curseforgeminecraft |
| macOS | /Users/[user]/Documents/curseforge/minecraft/ |
| Linux | /home/[user]/Documents/curseforge/minecraft |
Replace [user] with your account name. These defaults come from CurseForge’s Minecraft – Getting Started article, which was last modified on 2025-12-04. If your app version is newer and the folder has moved, the in-app setting described below is the authority.
Find the folder your installation actually uses
Because the location can be changed, do not assume the default path is the one in use. Check the setting directly:
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- Open the CurseForge app.
- Open Settings.
- Select Minecraft.
- Read the Minecraft Modding Folder value. Use its Open control to view the folder in your file manager.
If the folder you expect is missing, look at this value before concluding that your files were deleted. A custom location chosen during Advanced setup will appear here.
Why CurseForge’s folder is not .minecraft
Many players look for the vanilla launcher’s .minecraft directory, which on Windows is typically C:Users[user]AppDataRoaming.minecraft. CurseForge does not share that folder. The app creates its own environment, and CurseForge’s Getting Started page describes it this way:
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“The CurseForge app creates its own modding environment, which includes a dedicated installation of the game.” (CurseForge Support, Minecraft – Getting Started)
- Modpacks and mods installed through CurseForge live in the CurseForge modding folder, not in
.minecraft. - CurseForge’s error-message guide warns against selecting the vanilla
.minecraftpath as the CurseForge modding location. See CurseForge Error Messages. - Files you copy into
.minecraftwill not appear in CurseForge, and the reverse is also true.
What is inside the Instances folder
The Instances folder inside the modding folder holds your modpack instances and the content installed in them. It is the folder to move when you relocate a setup or switch computers, and it is the only folder CurseForge’s move guide asks you to transfer.
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Moving your Minecraft files
Moving the modding folder on the same computer
To change where CurseForge stores its modding folder on one machine, follow the steps in CurseForge’s How to Move Your Minecraft Modding Folder guide (last modified 2025-07-30):
- Open Settings in CurseForge, then choose Minecraft.
- Select Change next to the Minecraft Modding Folder.
- Choose the new location and confirm.
Before you change the setting, make a backup copy of the existing Instances folder so you can restore it if something goes wrong.
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Transferring to another computer
To move your setup to a different device, the guide describes this sequence:
- On the source computer, open Settings, select Minecraft, and use Open to reach the modding folder.
- Copy the
Instancesfolder. - On the destination computer, install CurseForge and set up a modding folder.
- Copy or move the
Instancesfolder into that modding folder.
CurseForge’s guide describes the transfer in general terms. Any removable drive or network share works for carrying the folder, and a USB flash drive is one common option. The drive is only a carrier; you do not need it to find or open the files on the original computer.
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When the default location causes permission problems
If the default folder cannot be written to because of account permissions or a restricted parent directory, CurseForge’s Minecraft Modpacks – Installation and Launch Issues article offers alternative locations as examples:
- Windows:
C:CurseForge - macOS:
/Users/Shared/CurseForge/
These are examples, not guaranteed defaults. Use one only if you can read and write it, and select it through the same Settings > Minecraft > Change path described above. If you are not sure whether a path is valid, check it in the app setting rather than creating the folder by hand.
If the folder is not where you expected
- Confirm the operating system you are using and compare it with the table above.
- Open Settings > Minecraft and read the Minecraft Modding Folder value. This shows the active path, including any custom location.
- Check whether the folder was moved previously, for example during a reinstall or a transfer to a new machine.
- If the value points to a location you do not recognize, select Change and set the folder to the location where your
Instancesfolder actually sits.
The official guides were last revised in mid to late 2025. Menu labels and default paths can change with later app updates, so compare what you see on screen with the steps above.
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