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Profiles (also called instances) are isolated Minecraft installations with their own mods, configurations, saves, and settings. Each profile can have a different Minecraft version, mod loader, and set of mods.

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Understanding Profiles

A profile is a complete, self-contained Minecraft installation:
  • Independent: Each profile has its own mods, saves, resource packs, and settings
  • Isolated: Changes to one profile don’t affect others
  • Flexible: Mix different Minecraft versions, mod loaders, and mod combinations
  • Organized: Keep different playstyles, modpacks, or servers separate
Profiles are stored in separate folders, so you can have hundreds of profiles without conflicts. Each profile can be 100MB to several GB depending on mods and worlds.

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Creating Profiles

Create a new profile to start a fresh Minecraft installation:
1

Click Create Profile

In the launcher, click the + Create Profile button or New Instance.
2

Choose creation method

Select how to create your profile:
Start with a clean Minecraft installation:
  1. Select Minecraft version
  2. Choose Vanilla as the mod loader
  3. Name your profile
  4. Click Create
3

Wait for installation

The launcher will:
  • Download Minecraft files
  • Install the mod loader (if selected)
  • Set up the profile folder structure
  • Download required libraries and dependencies
4

Customize (optional)

After creation, you can:
  • Add an icon
  • Install mods
  • Configure settings
  • Import worlds
Give your profiles descriptive names like “Vanilla 1.20.4”, “Sky Factory 4”, or “Multiplayer Server” to easily identify them.

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Managing Profiles

Organize and maintain your profile collection:

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Profile Actions

Right-click any profile to access management options:

Edit

Modify profile settings, name, icon, and configuration.

Duplicate

Create an exact copy of the profile with all mods and settings.

Open Folder

Access the profile’s directory to add files or modify configs manually.

Delete

Permanently remove the profile and all its data.

Export

Package the profile as a modpack (.mrpack file) for sharing.

Repair

Reinstall Minecraft and mod loader to fix corrupted installations.

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Profile Groups

Organize profiles into groups:
  1. Right-click a profile
  2. Select Add to Group
  3. Create a new group or select an existing one
  4. Profiles can be in multiple groups
Useful for organizing:
  • By Minecraft version (1.19, 1.20, etc.)
  • By purpose (Servers, Singleplayer, Testing)
  • By modpack type (Kitchen Sink, Tech, Magic)

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Instance Isolation

Each profile is completely isolated:

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Separate Files

profiles/
├── Vanilla 1.20/
│   ├── mods/
│   ├── saves/
│   ├── resourcepacks/
│   ├── shaderpacks/
│   ├── config/
│   └── options.txt
├── Sky Factory 4/
│   ├── mods/
│   ├── saves/
│   ├── resourcepacks/
│   └── ...
└── Multiplayer Server/
    └── ...

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Benefits of Isolation

  • No conflicts: Incompatible mods can coexist in different profiles
  • Easy testing: Try new mods without affecting your main setup
  • Multiple versions: Run different Minecraft versions simultaneously
  • Clean organization: Keep modpacks, servers, and vanilla separate
While profiles are isolated, they share some common files like Java installations and asset downloads to save disk space.

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Minecraft Version Selection

Choose any Minecraft version for each profile:

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Available Versions

  • Release: Stable versions (1.20.4, 1.19.2, etc.)
  • Snapshot: Development versions (24w10a, etc.)
  • Old Beta/Alpha: Historical versions
  • Old Release: Versions before the new launcher

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Version Compatibility

Considerations when selecting a version:
  • Mod availability: Most mods target recent stable versions
  • Performance: Newer versions often have better optimization
  • Features: Each version introduces new gameplay elements
  • Server compatibility: Match your server’s version
Changing a profile’s Minecraft version after creation will require reinstalling the game files and may break installed mods. Consider creating a new profile instead.

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Mod Loader Selection

Select the appropriate mod loader for your needs:
Best for: Modern, lightweight moddingCharacteristics:
  • Fast and lightweight
  • Quick updates to new Minecraft versions
  • Large selection of performance and utility mods
  • Clean API design
Popular mods:
  • Sodium, Lithium, Phosphor (performance)
  • Iris Shaders
  • Fabric API (required for most mods)
Use when:
  • You want better performance
  • You need the latest Minecraft version quickly
  • You prefer lightweight modpacks

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Loader Version Selection

When installing a mod loader, choose the version:
  • Latest: Most recent version (may have bugs)
  • Stable: Recommended version (tested and reliable)
  • Specific: Choose an exact version number
For most users, selecting Stable provides the best balance of features and reliability.

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Resource Packs and Shader Packs

Customize your profile’s appearance:

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Adding Resource Packs

1

Obtain resource pack

Download a resource pack (.zip file) from Modrinth, CurseForge, or other sources.
2

Add to profile

Either:
  • Right-click profile → Open Folder → Navigate to resourcepacks/ folder
  • Or drag and drop the .zip file into the launcher
3

Activate in-game

  1. Launch Minecraft
  2. Go to Options → Resource Packs
  3. Move your pack from “Available” to “Selected”
  4. Click Done

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Adding Shader Packs

Shaders require a shader mod first:
1

Install shader mod

Install either:
  • Iris Shaders (for Fabric/Quilt)
  • OptiFine (for Forge)
  • Built-in for some modpacks
2

Add shader pack

Download a shader pack (.zip file) and place it in the shaderpacks/ folder.
3

Enable in-game

  1. Launch Minecraft
  2. Go to Options → Video Settings → Shader Packs
  3. Select your shader pack
  4. Click Done
Shaders are performance-intensive. Ensure your system meets the requirements and consider allocating more memory for profiles using shaders.

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Profile Settings

Customize each profile independently:

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Basic Settings

  • Name: Identify your profile
  • Icon: Visual identifier (custom image or emoji)
  • Game Version: Minecraft version
  • Loader: Mod loader type and version

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Java Settings

  • Java Installation: Auto-detect or custom path
  • Memory Allocation: RAM dedicated to this profile
  • JVM Arguments: Advanced Java configuration

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Game Settings

  • Resolution: Default window size
  • Fullscreen: Force fullscreen mode
  • Game Arguments: Minecraft launch options

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Advanced Settings

  • Environment Variables: Custom environment configuration
  • Launch Hooks: Pre-launch, wrapper, and post-exit scripts
Settings can be configured globally (affecting all profiles) or per-profile (overriding global settings). Per-profile settings take precedence.

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Best Practices

Name Clearly

Use descriptive names that indicate:
  • Minecraft version
  • Purpose (modpack name, server, testing)
  • Mod loader if relevant

Organize with Groups

Group related profiles:
  • By version (1.19 Profiles, 1.20 Profiles)
  • By type (Servers, Modpacks, Vanilla)
  • By status (Active, Archive, Testing)

Regular Backups

Export important profiles:
  • Before major changes
  • After significant progress
  • When sharing with friends

Clean Up Unused

Periodically remove:
  • Old test profiles
  • Outdated modpack versions
  • Duplicate instances