For modded Minecraft: Java Edition, most configuration files are in:
<active game directory>/configWith the default installation, that usually means:
- Windows:
%APPDATA%.minecraftconfig - macOS:
~/Library/Application Support/minecraft/config - Linux:
~/.minecraft/config
The important word is active. Forge, Fabric, NeoForge, Quilt, CurseForge, and other launchers can use a different game or instance directory.
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Fastest way to open the folder
Windows
Press Windows key + R, enter the following path, and press Enter:
%appdata%.minecraftconfigTo open the base game directory instead, use %appdata%.minecraft.
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macOS
In Finder, select Go → Go to Folder…, enter this path, and press Return:
~/Library/Application Support/minecraft/configThe Library folder is normally hidden, so Finder’s “Go to Folder” command is usually the simplest method.
Linux
Open your file manager and enter:
~/.minecraft/configIf you cannot see .minecraft, enable Show Hidden Files. The leading period makes the directory hidden on Linux.
These are the standard Java Edition locations; the default path can vary if you changed the launcher’s game directory or use a third-party instance manager. See the Minecraft Wiki path reference and Fabric’s Java Edition folder guidance.
Check the active Minecraft installation first
If the default path is empty or does not contain the mod you need, you may be looking at the wrong installation.
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- Open the official Minecraft Launcher.
- Select Installations.
- Find the profile you actually use.
- Open its … menu and choose Edit.
- Check the Game Directory field.
- Open that directory, then open
config.
A custom Game Directory moves the profile’s saves, mods, logs, and configuration files away from the default .minecraft folder. Launcher labels can change, but the reliable rule is to use the directory shown for the active installation.
Forge, NeoForge, Fabric, and Quilt locations
Forge and NeoForge
For ordinary client and common configuration files, check:
<game directory>/configForge configuration filenames commonly include suffixes such as -client, -common, or -server. The exact name depends on the mod and the configuration type.
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Some server-side settings are not in the main config folder:
- Single-player world:
<game directory>/saves/<world name>/serverconfig - Dedicated server:
<server folder>/config - Dedicated server world:
<server folder>/world/serverconfig
The dedicated server’s world may have a different name if the server level name was changed. Forge documents these separate client, common, server, and world-specific locations in its configuration documentation.
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- COMMUNITY PLAY — Connect with players on community servers, or subscribe to Realms Plus (sold separately) to play with up to 10 friends on a private server.
Fabric
Fabric mods commonly use:
<active game directory>/configHowever, Fabric does not require every mod to create a visible configuration file. A mod may provide an in-game settings screen, use another mod such as Mod Menu for its interface, save settings elsewhere, or create its file only after the first successful launch.
Quilt
Quilt instances generally follow the same convention:
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CurseForge and modpack profiles
CurseForge usually gives each Minecraft profile its own instance directory instead of using the ordinary vanilla .minecraft folder.
The usual structure is:
<CurseForge Minecraft folder>/Instances/<instance name>/configCommon default base directories are:
- Windows:
C:Users<user>curseforgeminecraft - macOS:
/Users/<user>/Documents/curseforge/minecraft/ - Linux:
/home/<user>/Documents/curseforge/minecraft/
These defaults can be changed. The safest method is:
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- Open CurseForge.
- Open the Minecraft modpack or profile.
- Use its profile menu and select Open Folder, or the equivalent folder-opening option.
- Open the
configdirectory inside that specific instance.
Do not edit the vanilla .minecraft/config folder unless the profile actually uses it. CurseForge’s Minecraft setup documentation explains its separate modding directories and configurable location.
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1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsWhat does “Minecraft config file” mean?
There is no single universal Minecraft configuration file. You may be looking for:
- A mod configuration file, often ending in
.toml,.json, or another mod-specific extension. - A client or common configuration in
config. - A world-specific server configuration in
serverconfig. - A dedicated-server configuration in the server’s own folder.
server.properties, which is separate from a mod’sconfigdirectory.
If you want to change a dedicated server’s port, difficulty, game mode, view distance, or online-mode setting, the file is usually:
<server folder>/server.propertiesThat is a server settings file, not normally a mod configuration file.
How to find the exact mod file
First identify the mod’s mod ID and loader. Configuration filenames often use the mod ID instead of the display name. A mod called “Example Technology” might create exampletechnology-common.toml, not a file named after the full title.
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Use these methods:
- Check the mod’s official documentation or issue tracker.
- Search the active instance’s
configfolder for part of the mod name. - Inspect
logs/latest.logafter launching. - Look for an in-game configuration screen.
- Check whether the setting is world- or server-specific.
If the config file is missing
- Launch the correct modded profile once. Many mods generate configuration files during startup. Reach the title screen or enter a world if necessary, then close Minecraft completely.
- Confirm the active directory. Check the launcher’s Game Directory or use CurseForge’s profile folder option.
- Verify the mod loaded. Confirm that the mod is installed in this profile and is compatible with the Minecraft version and loader.
- Search by mod ID. The filename may not match the mod’s display name.
- Check for an in-game menu. Some mods do not use a directly editable file.
- Check world-specific locations. For Forge-style settings, inspect
saves/<world>/serverconfig. - Read the logs. Review
logs/latest.logor a crash report if the mod failed to load. - Confirm the edition. These Java paths do not apply to Bedrock Edition.
If no config folder exists at all, that does not automatically indicate a broken installation. It may simply mean that no loaded mod has created one yet.
If editing the file changes nothing
- Make sure Minecraft was fully closed before saving the change.
- Confirm that you edited the active profile, not another instance.
- Check whether the effective setting is in
serverconfig. - Remember that a multiplayer server can override client-side settings.
- Preserve the original file extension and valid syntax.
- Check whether the mod requires a restart.
- Verify that the value is supported by your installed mod version.
- Check whether the modpack or launcher regenerates the file.
If the file keeps resetting
A configuration may be rewritten when its value is invalid, outside the accepted range, or syntactically malformed. A modpack manager may also replace files during updates, or the file may be generated from defaults.
Back up the original file, edit it with a plain-text editor, and change one setting at a time. If the game stops launching, restore the backup. Do not use a word processor, because it can add formatting that makes a .toml or .json file invalid.
Quick-reference paths
| Use case | Location |
|---|---|
| Windows Java client | %APPDATA%.minecraftconfig |
| macOS Java client | ~/Library/Application Support/minecraft/config |
| Linux Java client | ~/.minecraft/config |
| CurseForge profile | <CurseForge folder>/Instances/<instance>/config |
| Single-player world server config | <game directory>/saves/<world>/serverconfig |
| Dedicated server config | <server folder>/config |
| Dedicated server world config | <server folder>/world/serverconfig |
| Dedicated server properties | <server folder>/server.properties |
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the Minecraft config folder on Windows?
For the default Java Edition installation, press Windows key + R and enter %appdata%.minecraftconfig. If you use a custom launcher installation or modpack, open that profile’s configured game directory instead.
Why does my Minecraft config folder not exist?
Launch the relevant modded profile once and close it. If it is still missing, check the active Game Directory, CurseForge instance folder, world-specific serverconfig directory, and the mod’s documentation or in-game settings menu.
Are Minecraft Java and Bedrock config files stored in the same place?
No. The .minecraft/config structure described here is primarily for modded Minecraft: Java Edition and loaders such as Forge, Fabric, NeoForge, and Quilt.
Where are Forge server configs stored?
Client and common files are usually in config. World-specific server settings can be in saves/<world>/serverconfig for single-player or <server folder>/world/serverconfig on a dedicated server.
The Bottom Line
Find the config folder inside the active Java Edition game or instance directory. If the setting is server-side, check serverconfig or server.properties instead. Close Minecraft, back up the file, and preserve its original format before editing.
Quick Recap
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