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Installing a NeoForge Client

This article assumes that you have the correct version of Java installed, and that you use the (vanilla) Minecraft launcher. If you are using a third-party launcher, please consult their documentation instead.

Installing​

To install NeoForge:

  • Close your Minecraft Launcher.
  • Download the installer .jar from the NeoForged website.
  • Make sure that Install client is selected and click Proceed.
  • Open the Minecraft Launcher. A NeoForged run option should have appeared.

Now, while you can use that run option, it is recommended to instead use custom launch profiles when dealing with modded instances, as to keep the mods isolated from the vanilla game. To that end, the Minecraft Launcher offers you the ability to create custom profiles in the Installations tab:

  • Go to the Installations tab.
  • Click "New Installation".
  • Name your new installation.
  • Select the desired NeoForge version.
  • Select the game directory. This should be a separate folder outside the standard .minecraft directory.
  • Press "Install" and boot up the profile.

Adding Mods​

After starting the game once, a mods folder will have appeared in the specified game directory. This is where you want to put your mod files.

Mod files should only be downloaded from trustworthy sources. We generally recommend you get your mods on CurseForge or Modrinth.

Updating​

To update your NeoForge version, simply download and run the installer for the new NeoForge version, as described above. Then, go to the Installations tab in the launcher and change the version in your NeoForge profile to the new version.

danger

Always backup your world before updating NeoForge or mods!

To backup your world, open the game directory and select the saves subfolder. Then, copy the folder with your world's name (e.g. New World) to a safe location.

If anything goes wrong during updating, delete the updated world folder, downgrade NeoForge and/or mods to what versions were used before, then copy your world backup back into the saves folder.

Installing Modpacks​

The Minecraft Launcher does not offer functionality to automatically install collections of mods and associated configuration files, so-called modpacks. This generally falls into the territory of third-party launchers.

tip

If you are building a modpack yourself, we recommend you have a look at the modpack documentation for some tips and tricks.