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Install a game

The launcher offers three ways to get a playable game: install by downloading a fresh copy, install a modpack (Modpack) to set up everything at once, or migrate an existing game by taking over the .minecraft directory already on your computer.

Install by downloading

Best for setting up a clean game from scratch.
  • On the Instances page, click Download new version
  • Choose a game version (a vanilla version number)
  • In the Mod loader dropdown, choose a loader and its version (Forge / Fabric / NeoForge / Quilt / LegacyFabric / LiteLoader / Cleanroom / Babric — 9 entries in total; choose None (vanilla) to play vanilla)
  • Confirm the instance name and icon, then start the installation
You can track the installation task in Downloads. When it finishes, the instance appears in the list — choose a Java and you can launch. Before the first launch, the launcher guides you through scanning for or downloading a suitable Java in one click. See Settings reference → Java runtime.

Install a modpack

A modpack is a game version plus a loader, a full set of mods and pre-configuration — it sets up the whole game environment in one click.

Install from Resource Center

  • Open the Resource Center (Resource Center) and select the Modpacks (Modpack)category
  • Pick a modpack (filter by game version and loader) and open its details page
  • Choose a version → Install → the launcher creates an instance and downloads everything

Install from a local file

If you already have a modpack file (.zip):
  • On the instances page, click Import to open the Import modpack dialog directly
  • Select the modpack archive. Supported:
  • Confirm the instance name and game directory; the launcher resolves and downloads all dependencies automatically

Migrate an existing game

If you already have a game installed on your computer with another launcher (the official launcher, PCL, HMCL and so on), you can take it over directly without downloading anything again:
  • On the instances page, click the directory combo box in the top-left corner to open the directory list (Directory list), then click Manage (Manage) to open directory management
  • Click Browse to add (Browse and add) and select your .minecraft game directory (it must contain a versions/ folder)
  • The launcher scans every version in the directory and marks the availability of each one
You can save several frequently used game directories (such as the .minecraft folders of different launchers) in the directory list, then pick a version from a saved directory at launch instead of browsing folders every time.

Complete missing files

If a migrated or manually added instance is missing files (for example libraries or assets), you are prompted before the game launches. In the Instance details → Complete files tab, click Complete files; the launcher scans for missing game files and downloads them automatically — it only fills the gaps and leaves your existing data untouched.