Skip to main content
This guide will walk you through everything you need to start using Modrinth, from creating an account to launching Minecraft with mods.

​
Step 1: Create Your Account

Head to modrinth.com and create a free account.
1

Sign up

Click Sign up in the top right corner and choose your preferred authentication method:
  • Email and password
  • GitHub
  • Discord
  • Microsoft
  • GitLab
  • Google
2

Complete your profile

Add a username and profile picture to personalize your Modrinth experience.
You can browse and search for mods without an account, but you’ll need one to use the Modrinth App, upload projects, or manage favorites.

​
Step 2: Choose Your Platform

Modrinth offers two ways to discover and install content:

​
Step 3: Create Your First Instance

This section assumes you’re using the Modrinth App. If you’re using the web interface only, you can browse and download mods from the website and install them manually.
Instances are self-contained Minecraft installations with their own mods, game version, and settings.
1

Open the Instances view

Click Library in the sidebar or press Ctrl+1 (Windows/Linux) or Cmd+1 (macOS).
2

Create a new instance

Click the + Create Instance button or press Ctrl+N / Cmd+N.
3

Configure your instance

Choose your setup:
  1. Search for a modpack in the browse window
  2. Select the modpack you want to install
  3. Choose the modpack version
  4. Click Create
The app will automatically:
  • Download all required mods
  • Set the correct Minecraft version
  • Configure the mod loader (Fabric, Forge, Quilt, or NeoForge)
  • Install dependencies

​
Understanding Instance Settings

After creating an instance, you can customize:
  • Memory allocation: Set minimum and maximum RAM
  • Java arguments: Add custom JVM flags
  • Resolution: Set default window size
  • Game directory: Change where saves and configs are stored
  • Mod loader version: Update or pin the loader version
pub struct Profile {
    pub name: String,
    pub game_version: String,
    pub loader: ModLoader,
    pub loader_version: Option<String>,
    pub java_path: Option<String>,
    pub memory: MemorySettings,
    pub resolution: WindowSize,
    // ... additional fields
}

​
Step 4: Find and Install Mods

​
Browse Mods for Your Instance

1

Navigate to Browse

Click Browse in the sidebar or press Ctrl+2 / Cmd+2.
2

Select your instance (optional)

Click the Instance selector dropdown at the top to filter mods for a specific instance.When an instance is selected, the app automatically:
  • Filters by the instance’s Minecraft version
  • Shows only compatible mod loaders
  • Marks already installed mods
  • Hides incompatible content
3

Search and filter

  • Use the search bar to find specific mods
  • Click Mods, Resource Packs, Shaders, etc. to browse categories
  • Apply filters from the sidebar:
    • Categories (Technology, Magic, Adventure, etc.)
    • Minecraft version
    • Mod loader
    • Environment (Client, Server, or Both)
  • Sort by Relevance, Downloads, Recently Updated, or Newest
4

Install a mod

Click on a mod to view details, then:
  1. Review the mod description and screenshots
  2. Check the Dependencies tab to see what else will be installed
  3. Click Install or Add to Instance
  4. Select the instance to install to (if not pre-selected)
  5. Click Confirm
The app will:
  • Download the mod and all required dependencies
  • Verify compatibility with your instance
  • Show a loading bar during installation
  • Mark the mod as installed when complete

​
Example: Installing Fabric API

Fabric API is a required dependency for most Fabric mods.
1

Search for 'Fabric API'

Type fabric api in the search bar.
2

Click on the Fabric API project

You’ll see:
  • Over 400M downloads
  • Compatible with all Fabric-based Minecraft versions
  • Required by thousands of mods
3

Click Install

The app automatically selects the correct version for your instance’s Minecraft version.
Enable Hide installed content in the sidebar to focus on mods you don’t have yet.

​
Step 5: Launch Minecraft

1

Select your instance

Go to the Library view and click on the instance you want to launch.
2

Click Play

Click the Play button (or press Enter).The app will:
  1. Verify all mods are installed
  2. Check for the correct Java version
  3. Download Java if needed
  4. Launch Minecraft with the configured mods
3

Wait for Minecraft to load

The first launch may take longer as Minecraft loads all mods. You’ll see:
  • A loading screen with progress
  • Mod initialization messages in the console (optional)
  • The Minecraft main menu when ready
The Modrinth App stays running in the background while Minecraft is open. You can monitor console output or close the app after Minecraft launches.

​
Launch Options

Right-click an instance to access advanced options:
  • Quick Play - Join a specific world or server on launch
  • Edit - Modify instance settings
  • Duplicate - Create a copy of the instance
  • Export - Package as a .mrpack modpack file

​
What’s Next?

Now that you’ve installed your first mods, explore more features:

Manage Instances

Learn about advanced instance features like exports, backups, and mod updates.

Server Hosting

Host Minecraft servers on Modrinth with automatic backups and management tools.

Creating Modpacks

Package your favorite mods into a shareable modpack and publish it on Modrinth.

Explore the API

Build integrations with the Labrinth REST API or use the official client libraries.

​
Troubleshooting

Possible causes:
  • Incompatible mod versions
  • Missing dependencies
  • Insufficient memory allocation
  • Java version mismatch
Solutions:
  1. Check the Console tab in the Modrinth App for error messages
  2. Verify all mods are compatible with your Minecraft version
  3. Increase memory allocation in instance settings (recommended: 4GB+)
  4. Let the app download the correct Java version automatically
Possible causes:
  • Wrong mod loader selected
  • Mods in the wrong directory
  • Disabled mods
Solutions:
  1. Verify the instance is using the correct mod loader (Fabric, Forge, etc.)
  2. Check the Mods tab in the instance view to see installed mods
  3. Enable any disabled mods by clicking the toggle
  4. Ensure .jar files are in the instance’s mods folder
Possible causes:
  • Mod not available on Modrinth
  • Search filters excluding the mod
  • Instance version incompatibility
Solutions:
  1. Clear all filters and search again
  2. Check if the mod exists on modrinth.com
  3. Try searching by the mod’s ID or slug
  4. Some mods may only be available on CurseForge or other platforms
Possible causes:
  • Network connectivity issues
  • Browser not opening for OAuth
  • Firewall blocking authentication
Solutions:
  1. Check your internet connection
  2. Manually open the authentication URL in your browser
  3. Allow the Modrinth App through your firewall
  4. Try a different authentication provider (GitHub, Discord, etc.)

​
Get Help

Need more assistance?

Support Center

Search the knowledge base or submit a support ticket.

Discord Community

Join thousands of users and get help from the community.

GitHub Issues

Report bugs or request features on GitHub.

Documentation

Explore the full documentation for detailed guides and API references.