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Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →To install a Minecraft mod with CurseForge, use the CurseForge app to choose a compatible Java Edition profile and install the mod there. For manual installation, match the mod’s Minecraft version and loader to your setup, place its .jar file in that installation’s mods folder, and launch the matching loader profile.
Before you install: check edition, game version, and modloader
This workflow is for Minecraft: Java Edition. Bedrock Edition does not use Java mods or Forge profiles; CurseForge lists Java Edition as its supported Minecraft game. Its app support page, updated May 19, 2026, lists Windows 10 and 11, macOS 12 or newer, and Linux limited to official Ubuntu distributions. Check CurseForge’s current app requirements if you use another system.
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Before downloading, open the mod’s file or project page and check its Minecraft version, loader, and listed dependencies. Your profile must match the mod’s supported version and loader; a Forge file, for example, should not be assumed to work with Fabric. CurseForge supports Forge, Fabric, NeoForge, and Quilt as modloaders, as well as Vanilla for an unmodded game. Choose based on the mod’s own requirements and available compatible files, not on a universal “best” loader. CurseForge explains that Forge and Fabric are modloaders that allow mods to run in Minecraft in its installation guide.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesAlso check the mod description or Relations tab for required dependencies. Install compatible dependencies into the same profile; a mod can fail to load if a required library or API is missing.
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Install a mod with the CurseForge app
The app is the simpler route for most players because it manages a separate modding environment and filters profile choices for compatibility. CurseForge’s getting-started guide says Standard setup uses a default location, while Advanced lets you choose a location. Its Minecraft getting-started page describes how the app creates this environment.
- Set up the Minecraft environment. Open CurseForge and complete its Minecraft setup. Choose Standard for the default folder or Advanced if you need to select a location.
- Find the mod. Search for it in the app, or open its CurseForge project page in a browser and select Install. The website’s install button opens the app through a deep link.
- Choose a profile. Install into a compatible existing profile, or create a new one. For a new profile, the app detects relevant game-version and loader properties from the mod and limits advanced choices to compatible options.
- Add other content if needed. Open the profile and select Add More Content to find and install additional compatible mods.
- Launch the profile. Start the game from the CurseForge app using the profile where you installed the mod. Adding it to one profile does not add it to every Minecraft installation.
For the app’s profile and website installation options, see Installing Minecraft Mods and Modpacks and CurseForge App – Getting Started.
Install a mod manually
Manual installation gives you direct control over the files, but you must select and maintain the right loader, version, folder, and dependencies yourself.
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Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →- Check the mod’s requirements. Note its Minecraft version, required loader, and any dependencies before downloading the file. Download a file intended for that combination.
- Install the matching loader. Use the loader’s official installer, then make sure the Minecraft launcher has a profile for that loader. A mod file for one loader is not interchangeable with another.
- Locate the correct
modsfolder. The CurseForge Java guide gives%appdata%.minecraftmodsas a Windows example and~/Library/Application Support/minecraft/modsas a macOS example. If you use a CurseForge profile or a custom game directory, its folder may be elsewhere; use the folder belonging to the installation you intend to launch. - Copy the mod file. Put the downloaded
.jarin that installation’smodsfolder. Do not extract the jar unless the mod’s own instructions specifically say to. - Install required dependencies. Place compatible dependency files in the same folder. For the manual workflow it illustrates, CurseForge’s guide notes API dependencies for Fabric or Quilt; check the individual mod’s current requirements rather than assuming every installation needs the same API.
- Launch the matching profile. In the Minecraft launcher, select the loader profile corresponding to the mod and game version. Launching Vanilla or a different loader profile will not load that mod setup.
See the CurseForge Java Edition installation guide for the documented folder examples and manual setup.
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Use CurseForge profiles and modpacks
A CurseForge profile keeps a modded setup separate from other profiles, making it easier to keep a set of compatible mods together. Install each mod into the intended profile, then launch that profile rather than assuming the normal game launch will use it. To build a custom setup, create a profile and use Add More Content to install its mods; CurseForge documents this workflow in its custom profile guidance.
If you want a complete modpack instead of adding mods individually, browse the app’s Discover or Browse areas, or open the pack’s CurseForge page and choose Install. After installation, find it under My Modpacks. CurseForge also documents importing custom packs exported as a file or code in its modpack installation guide.
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Fix common installation and launch problems
- The mod is marked incompatible or does not appear in the profile: compare the mod file’s Minecraft version and loader with the profile. Select a compatible profile or create a new one. CurseForge displays incompatibility reasons for version or loader mismatches.
- The game crashes or a mod does not load: read the displayed error, confirm that you launched the intended loader profile, and check that the mod and its dependencies match both the game version and loader. Conflicts between mods or between a mod and its loader can also prevent launch.
- The modpack will not install: use CurseForge’s issue-specific troubleshooting guidance; its general recommendation for common setup problems is Repair Installation.
- The modpack will not launch: use the error message to investigate Java availability or version and possible incompatibilities among the mods or with the selected loader.
- You are considering changing network settings: CurseForge presents disabling IPv6 only as a last resort, not a routine first fix.
For modpack installation and launch errors, follow CurseForge’s troubleshooting guide and start with the specific error it reports.
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