How to Install Minecraft Mods with Forge (Client-Side)

While vanilla Minecraft can be very fun on its own, adding modifications is one of the many ways to bring excitement to the game. From interesting items to entirely new dimensions, modifications have almost unlimited potential. Whether you want to collaborate on a server or explore alone in single player, modifications must also be installed on your own computer. However, this is not as simple as just pasting some mod files, as you will also need to have Minecraft Forge installed. This can become confusing for unfamiliar players, as there are several launchers and methods used to run modifications. To remedy this, we have created this Holy Hosting tutorial to guide you through the installation process.

Downloading Mods

1. Visit the modifications list on CurseForge, then browse and click on the desired mod's page.

2. At the top of the web page, press the "Files" button and then scroll down to click "View All".

3. Find the version you want to use, then press the "Download" button in the right corner.

4. Save the file to a safe location, as it will be needed shortly.

Dependent Modifications

Some modifications will require other modifications to be installed in order to work. These are often listed in the mod's description or can be found in the "Relations" tab at the top of the page. If a dependency is listed, download the corresponding version as indicated above.

Installation on the Vanilla Launcher

By default, the vanilla Minecraft launcher cannot run any modifications. This is achieved by installing Minecraft Forge on your client. For a complete guide on installing Forge on the client side, visit our tutorial here.

Installing Minecraft Forge

1. Navigate to the Minecraft Forge download page.

2. In the left menu, select the version you need.

3. Select "Installer" from the latest or recommended version.

4. Save and run the downloaded Forge .jar file.

5. Verify that the information is correct and then press "Ok" to install.

6. Once installed, return to the Minecraft launcher and make sure your Forge version is available.

Note: If you cannot find your Forge profile, visit the "Installations" tab in the launcher, then make sure the "Modded" checkbox is checked.

Adding Mods

1. From the Minecraft launcher, go to the "Installations" tab at the top.

2. Hover over your Forge installation and then press the "Open Folder" icon on the right.

3. In the new window, locate or create the "mods" folder and enter it.

4. Paste the mod .jar file that you saved earlier into this location.

5. Once done, return to the Minecraft launcher and press "Play".

Installation on CurseForge Launcher

Creating a Custom Profile

1. Download and install the CurseForge launcher from its website.

2. Once opened, press the "Create Custom Profile" button at the top.

3. Here, you can customize the profile name and Minecraft version.

4. If you need a specific version of Forge, use the corresponding dropdown menu.

5. Finally, press "Create" to automatically install Forge in this new profile.

Installing Mods Manually

From the CurseForge app, right-click on your newly created custom profile.

Click the "Open Folder" button and enter the opened window.

Locate and enter the "mods" folder, then paste the mod file here.

Once complete, go back to CurseForge and press "Play" on your custom profile.

Note: This method can also be used to install mod files in existing modpacks to add more features.

Installing Mods Automatically

Instead of manually installing modifications on the CurseForge launcher, you can also install them directly from the app. Note that not all modifications are available through this method.

Within the CurseForge app, click on your custom profile.

In the "Installed Mods" section, press "Add More Content".

On the next page, search for the desired mod and then click "Install".

CurseForge will automatically download the necessary files for your mod to run.

Once completed, click "Play" to load your mod files.

Alternative Launchers

Although this tutorial covers the two most commonly used launchers, these instructions should work on any Minecraft launcher that allows you to run Forge-based versions, including modpacks. Regardless of the launcher, the process is the same: you must access the mods folder and add your .jar files.

Common Issues

Minecraft closes on startup:

There are many reasons for this, but this issue usually occurs when there is a problem with one of the mod files. Make sure all mods and Forge are running the same game version, and confirm that any dependency mods are installed. If issues persist, check the error message to see if any additional information is provided. Once completed, return to the launcher and restart the game.

Mod rejection error when joining a server:

When receiving this error, it usually means the server is running mods that are not installed on your client or vice versa. Verify that all mods installed on the server are also in your own game. To verify that mods are working correctly, go to the "Mods" tab from the main menu. After the mod files match, restart the game and try joining the server again.

This server has mods that require FML/Forge to be installed on the client:

If this error appears, it usually means you are trying to join the server from a standard version. You can confirm this by checking if the "Mods" tab appears in the main menu. If not, return to your launcher and make sure you are only launching from your Forge installation. After everything loads correctly, try joining the server again.