How do I install Minecraft Forge for Java?

Minecraft Forge is one of the best ways to manage mods in the blocky, building-based game. If youre a typical Minecraft player, you probably have more mods than you know what to do with, tweaking everything from visuals to optimising the way you craft, and interact with your inventory.

It can be easy to bury yourself with Minecraft mods (opens in new tab), so tools like Forge are vital for keeping things in check. And for those who enjoy the vanilla experience, but dont really know where to start with modding, Forge offers a helpful way in, and a handy tool to keep track of it.

With Minecraft 1.19 (opens in new tab) on the horizon, theres plenty to look forward to. But if youre getting antsy waiting for new stuff, mods can spice things up during the meantime. In this guide, Ill explain how to install Minecraft Forge, how to use it, and offer a few great mod recommendations thatll make you never go back to vanilla.

How To Download & Install Forge in Minecraft 1.18 (Get Minecraft Forge 1.18!)

Community Q&ASearch

Question I dont want to install Java because Im afraid that I will get a virus. What should I do? Community Answer Java shouldnt have a virus if its coming from the actual Java website, so just make sure youre downloading it from the correct source.

Question I accidentally deleted the mods folder with Forge installed. What should I do? Community Answer Simply create another folder titled “mods” then redownload all of your mods and put them back. It wont mess anything up.

Question Do you have to have a server? Mike16576 Community Answer No, you do not. Forge is a mod runner you can use as a version of Minecraft.

Question What if I do not have a mods folder in my Minecraft folder? Community Answer Create a new folder in .minecraft and name it mod. without the . . and you should have a mods folder.

Question I dont have a Mac. What can I do? Community Answer You dont need a Mac. This also works with a PC.

Question How do I install a morph mod for 1.10.2? Gerbillover Community Answer Create a folder in your Minecraft directory called mods, and place the morph mod .JAR file in it.

Question When I try to install the Minecraft forge, it asks me to open in with an app/program. A video I looked up said to use Java, but when I try to use that, it doesnt do anything; an hourglass shows for a second, and then nothing happens. How else can I get the Minecraft forge installed? Community Answer Try uninstalling your current version of Java, rebooting, and downloading and installing the latest version of Java.

Question Can I play this on my iPhone? Cool Person Community Answer You can not download Forge on your iPhone, but can play Minecraft on your phone for $6.99.

Question My network administrator has blocked the website leading to the installation of Forge. What should I do? Cool Person Community Answer Ask your network administrator to unblock the website and the installation.

Question After Minecraft Forge has finished downloading the libraries, it says theres an error and some files were not downloaded. Why is this happening? Community Answer Most likely the Forge that you downloaded is corrupt, or your internet connection is slow. You should uninstall Forge, and download it again to correct this.

To use Forge in Minecraft, youll select Forge from the Profile box on the Minecraft launcher page. Thanks! Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

Some mods add dimensions that dont work with other mods that add dimensions. You might be able to fix this by editing the dimension id. Thanks! Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

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Many mods are unstable, and may lead to instability or crashes or inability to play Minecraft. If this occurs, simply remove the mod from your mods folder and start Minecraft again. Thanks! Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

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How to install Minecraft Forge (Image: © Microsoft)

If you want to install Minecraft Forge then you need to be playing the Java version of Minecraft on PC or Mac. If you want mods on any other platforms you wont use Forge and will have to look at add-ons, which will let you access a limited range of mods directly. Minecraft Forge is a PC / Mac only deal, and the exact process is as follows:

Click on any of the steps or scroll down for more information.

Otherwise, the first thing you need to do is head to the Minecraft Forge download page where youll be able to, obviously, download Forge and get started. Lets run through the full steps in more detail.

Choose your Minecraft Forge download

The main Minecraft Forge download page will have these two options at the top (with the actual numbers changing according to which number update for Minecraft was most recent):

Its probably best to pick the Recommended box on the right. It might look older than the Latest option but it will be the most stable thing to use, tested properly and presented that way for a good reason. The Latest version will probably be fine but will be less tested and could cause errors and problems.

Once youve clicked on your choice youll likely then get an ad page with this message at the top:

“The content below is an advertisement. After the count-down, click Skip to begin your Forge download”

When the timer runs down youll see a big red Skip button appear next to the Create Forge Server button. Click Skip and your download will start. You might get a message that the file could harm your computer, but assuming youre downloading the official Forge file from the website you can ignore that warning. If you are downloading it from somewhere else… dont.

FAQ

Do I need to install Java to install Forge?

Why can’t I open forge installer with Java?