How to Create a Custom Modpack for Minecraft

While Minecraft can be a lot of fun on its own, many players choose to add new features through the use of mods. While there are many existing modpacks with a wide variety of elements, structures, and enemies, some prefer a more personalized experience. By combining mods into your own modpack, you can completely redefine the mobs, blocks, environments, and gameplay experience as a whole. There are many ways to accomplish this and just as many ways to share your modpack with others. This can be complicated for unfamiliar users, so we have created this Holy Hosting tutorial to help you create your own modpack.

Creating a Modpack with CurseForge

Before continuing, make sure you have downloaded and installed the CurseForge launcher for your operating system. Once done, open the application and confirm that you are on the "Minecraft" tab in the left menu.

From the My Modpacks section, press Create Custom Profile at the top.

Fill in the profile name, versions, and game type information, then press Create.Text

Once configured, click on your new profile icon, followed by "Add More Content".

Within the mod list, locate and click Install on each one you want.Text

(Optional) Add Resource Packs or manually install additional mods.

Once completed, return to your modpack page and click "Play" to test it.

When testing the pack, we recommend confirming that there are no crashes when starting

Minecraft or while playing. This is also a good opportunity to adjust game options, enable resource packs, and more. If you are satisfied with your pack and wish to share it with others, you can proceed to export these modpack files.

Exporting a Modpack Profile

The fastest way to export your CurseForge modpack is to use the built-in profile exporter, which will allow others to quickly import it into their own

From the CurseForge application, select your modpack profile.

To the left of the Play button, press the 3 dots and select the Export Profile option.Text

Confirm the name, enter any version number, then select the files and folders.Text

Note: Additional folders can be included, such as resource packs, shaders, options, etc.

Press Export, then save the .zip file in a safe location for later.

Other players can install this modpack by creating a new profile in their

CurseForge launcher, but selecting Import instead of Create. This will allow them to select your .zip file which will be automatically installed on their system.

Exporting CurseForge Files

Alternatively, you can choose to manually export your profile files, which is beneficial when sharing with users on the original Minecraft launcher.

From your modpack profile page, press the 3 dots next to the Play button.

Press Open Folder, then access the newly opened window.Text

Select the files and folders you wish to share, including mods and configurations.

Using a program like WinRAR or 7ZIP, compress your selection.Text

Move this new .zip file to a safe location for later, such as your desktop.

For players to use this modpack, they will need to extract the file into a new CurseForge profile or into the directory of their preferred launcher.

Creating a Modpack with the MC Launcher

An alternative to using the automated installations from the CurseForge launcher is to manually download mods and add them directly to your MC launcher. This will work for almost any launcher, but this section will focus on the original one.

Install Forge or Fabric on your system.

Download any desired Minecraft mods that match the modloader.Text

Open the MC launcher, then go to Installations at the top.

Hover over your modded profile, then click the Open Folder icon.Text

In the new window, enter the mods folder, then paste the desired mod files.

Once completed, launch the game to check for potential issues.

When creating a modpack manually, significantly more issues can arise.

These include mod conflicts, missing dependencies, versions, and more. Make sure to resolve these issues before sharing the pack with others.

Exporting Modpack Files

The process of exporting a modpack from the MC Launcher is similar to the process covered in CurseForge. As before, use the Open Folder icon in the installations tab to access your files. Then, using an application like WinRAR or 7ZIP, add any important folders or files to a .zip for later.

Adding the Pack to a Server

Instead of simply sharing your modpack with others, you can choose to add it to the server for others to play. If you have manually exported the individual files, the general setup process is straightforward. For more information about these steps, visit our guide here.

Note: It is important to note that some Minecraft mods are made only for client-side gameplay and cannot be used on the server. These generally include mods that change the user interface, graphics, or player controls. If the modpack works in single-player mode but crashes on the server, we recommend checking the console to see if any specific mod is generating an error and then removing it before trying again.

Modpack Distribution

Whether you plan to share your server only with friends or distribute it publicly, there are a few options you can work with:

The first option is to publish your modpack directly on the CurseForge website, which will allow CurseForge users to download it. To get started, log in to your CurseForge account, visit the modpacks page, and then press "Start Project".

Publishing on Technic

An alternative for publishing is to use the Technic site, which will allow you to add your pack to the Technic Launcher. To access your account panel information, you will need to log in to your account.

Instead of publishing your modpack for everyone to see, you may decide to simply share the .zip file directly with people. One of the many ways to accomplish this is with a file sharing site like Dropbox. With this application, you can upload your modpack and then create a link for others to view and access.

If the Dropbox site mentioned above does not meet your needs, another option is to use Google Drive. Using any existing Google account, you can easily upload your modpack .zip and create a link for anyone to access. Although similar, Drive has a different user interface and will be familiar to existing users.

Common Issues

Missing files when exporting a CurseForge profile:

When choosing which files to export from your CurseForge profile, we recommend making sure each of the desired options is checked before proceeding.

These can be the options.txt file, resource packs, shader packs, or anything else you want. Each file you select will be included in the pack's .zip file for others, so it is imperative to make the correct selection.

My game crashes after manually installing mods:

When manually installing mods, many potential issues can arise.

Depending on the mods and selected version, you may be missing important dependency mods, running an incompatible version, or simply experiencing mod conflicts. If you cannot diagnose the problem, try reviewing the local log files to see if more information is provided.

My server does not start after uploading my modpack:

When this happens, it is often due to a version incompatibility or potential client-side mods within the files. First, verify that the server version is set to match your modloader and game version, such as 1.19.2.

Additionally, check the server console to see if specific mods are listed that may be causing crashes, including Optifine, Ambient Sounds, and more. Once these client-only mods are removed, you can restart and try again.