Can I install Forge on Minecraft Bedrock Edition?

No. Forge only works with Minecraft Java Edition. Bedrock Edition on Windows, consoles, and mobile uses a different system and cannot run Forge mods.

Where is the mods folder on Windows?

Press Win + R, type %appdata%\.minecraft\mods, and press Enter. If the folder does not exist, launch Minecraft once using the Forge profile and it will be created automatically.

My game crashes right after adding a mod. What do I do?

Check that the mod was made for your exact Minecraft and Forge version. Even a minor version difference like 1.20.1 vs 1.20.4 will cause a crash. Open the crash-reports folder inside .minecraft and look at the latest report for the specific error.

Can I use Forge mods and Fabric mods at the same time?

No. Forge mods and Fabric mods are not compatible with each other. You have to pick one loader and use mods built for it. Some mods release versions for both loaders separately, but you cannot mix them in the same installation.

Do I need to re-install Forge every time I update Minecraft?

Yes. Each Minecraft version needs its own Forge installation. If you update your game, download the matching Forge installer for the new version and run it again. Your old Forge profiles stay in the launcher for older versions.

How to Install Minecraft Forge Mods (Step by Step)

Forge is the most widely used mod loader for Minecraft Java Edition. Once it’s installed, adding mods is as simple as dropping a .jar file into a folder and launching the game.

What You Need Before You Start

Minecraft Java Edition installed and launched at least once
The correct version of Java for your Minecraft version (Java 8 for 1.16.5 and below, Java 17 for 1.18 through 1.20, Java 21 for 1.21 and above)
The Forge installer matching the exact Minecraft version you want to mod
.jar mod files compatible with that same Minecraft and Forge version

Get the Forge installer from our Minecraft Forge download page. Always match the Forge version to the Minecraft version you plan to play on.

How to Install Forge

Download the Forge installer. On the download page, click the version you want. The file will end in -installer.jar. Save it somewhere easy to find, like your Desktop.
Run the installer. Double-click the installer file. If nothing happens, right-click it and choose “Open with Java.” You should see a small window appear.
Select “Install client” and click OK. Make sure the installation path points to your .minecraft folder. Leave it as-is unless you have a custom launcher setup.
Wait for the installation to finish. Forge downloads a few files during this step. You need an internet connection. When it says “Successfully installed,” click OK.
Open the Minecraft Launcher. In the bottom-left corner, click the dropdown next to the Play button. You should see a new profile named something like “forge-1.20.1.” Select it.
Launch the game once with the Forge profile. This creates your mods folder. You can quit back to the title screen immediately after it loads.

How to Add Mods to the Mods Folder

Find your mods folder.
- Windows: Press Win + R, type %appdata%\.minecraft\mods, and hit Enter.
- Mac: Open Finder, press Cmd + Shift + G, and type ~/Library/Application Support/minecraft/mods.
- Linux: Navigate to ~/.minecraft/mods.
Download your mod .jar files. Make sure each mod is built for the same Minecraft version and Forge version you installed. Check the mod’s description page carefully.
Copy the .jar files into the mods folder. Do not extract them. The file stays as a .jar inside the folder.
Launch Minecraft using the Forge profile. Select it in the launcher dropdown and click Play.
Check that the mods loaded. On the main menu, click “Mods” to see the list of active mods. If a mod is missing, it usually means a version mismatch or a missing dependency.

For a more detailed walkthrough including screenshots, see our guide on how to download and install mods with Minecraft Forge.

Common Mistakes and Troubleshooting

Game crashes on launch

This almost always means a mod version mismatch. A mod built for Forge 1.20.1 will not work on 1.20.4, even though the version numbers look close. Check your Forge version in the launcher and compare it to what each mod requires. Also check for a “crash-reports” folder inside .minecraft for specific error details.

Wrong Java version installed

Minecraft 1.18 and above requires Java 17. If you try to run the Forge installer with Java 8, it will refuse to open. Download the right Java version for your Minecraft version and make sure your launcher is pointing to it.

The mod file is a .zip, not a .jar

Do not extract .zip mod downloads. Some mods are distributed as .zip files that contain the actual .jar inside. Open the .zip, pull out the .jar file, and place that in your mods folder.

Forge profile is not showing up in the launcher

If you do not see the Forge profile after installing, make sure you ran the installer while the Minecraft Launcher was closed. Reopen the launcher and check the profile dropdown again.

Mixing Forge and Fabric mods

Forge mods do not work with Fabric and vice versa. They are separate loaders and their mods are not compatible with each other. If you want to use Fabric mods, see our Fabric installation guide instead.

Which Versions and Editions This Applies To

Forge works with Minecraft Java Edition only. It does not work with Bedrock Edition on Windows, console, or mobile. Forge supports most versions from 1.1 up through current releases, though mod availability varies. The most popular modded versions right now are 1.20.1, 1.19.2, and 1.18.2 because the largest mod libraries exist for those versions.

If you are on a newer version and having trouble finding mods, check whether NeoForge is an option. NeoForge is a community fork of Forge that many mod developers have moved to for 1.20.2 and above.