How do I install a Data Pack in 1.13 Snapshot 17w43b?

Download the data pack zip file and place it in your world's datapacks folder (world/datapacks/). You can leave it as a zip or extract it as a folder. Use /reload while in-game to apply changes without restarting.

What does LWJGL 3 change?

LWJGL 3 is an update to the graphics library that fixes bugs on Mac and Linux systems. The biggest change is that fullscreen mode now uses borderless windowed by default, making it faster to switch modes.

Can I use multiple Data Packs at the same time?

Yes, you can have multiple Data Packs in your datapacks folder and they'll all load together. They load in a specific order, similar to how resource packs work.

Is Snapshot 17w43b safe to use for my main world?

Snapshots are experimental versions and can have bugs. Always backup your worlds before using snapshots. This update focuses on technical improvements but still has known issues, especially on Mac OS X.

Minecraft 1.13 Snapshot 17w43b - Data Packs

Q: What is a Data Pack in Minecraft?

A Data Pack is a way to modify Minecraft's behavior without changing the game code. You can add custom recipes, loot tables, structures, advancements, and command functions. Data Packs are installed by placing them in your world's datapacks folder.

Minecraft 1.13 Snapshot 17w43b is a technical update that focuses on making the game run better while making it easier to add new features down the road. This snapshot introduces Data Packs, a major new feature that lets players customize game behavior, plus an upgrade to LWJGL 3 that fixes long-standing bugs.

Data Packs

Data Packs are a way to modify how Minecraft behaves. You can add custom recipes, loot tables, structures, advancements, and command functions without touching the actual game code.

Installing Data Packs

A data pack can be a zip file or a folder inside your world’s datapacks directory. When you download a data pack from someone, it’ll usually be a zip file. Just drop it into your <world>/datapacks/ folder and you’re done. Examples of valid data pack locations:

<world>/datapacks/CoolPack2000.zip
<world>/datapacks/SuperPack3000/

If you add, remove, or change a data pack while the game is running, just type /reload to apply the changes.

Data Pack File Structure

Here’s what goes inside a data pack:

pack.mcmeta (Required) – A file describing your pack, similar to resource packs
data/ – The core of your data pack
- <namespace>/ – Everything needs a namespace (like your pack’s name)
  - functions/ – Your command functions go here as <name>.mcfunction files
  - loot_tables/ – Custom loot tables as <name>.json files
  - structures/ – World structures saved as <name>.nbt files
  - advancements/ – Custom advancements as <name>.json files
  - recipes/ – Custom recipes as <name>.json files

Data packs load in a specific order, similar to resource packs, though there isn’t a way to see or change this order yet.

LWJGL 3 Update

Mojang updated to LWJGL 3 (Lightweight Java Game Library), which fixes a bunch of old bugs on Mac and Linux. The game should feel more stable overall. One big improvement is that fullscreen mode now uses borderless windowed by default, so switching in and out of fullscreen is super fast.

However, there are a few known issues:

Fullscreen on Mac OS X can cause hard crashes, so it’s disabled for now
Some key inputs might get sent twice in certain situations (like pressing a hotbar key while searching in the creative inventory)
On Mac OS X, the game icon is no longer a grass block

Structure Blocks

The way Structure Blocks save and load files has changed slightly:

When you use the “save” function in a Structure Block, it saves to generated/<namespace>/structures/<name>.nbt
When you use “load”, the game checks the generated folder first before looking in data packs. This keeps saving and loading consistent
If you’re making a custom map, don’t distribute the generated folder. Move everything into a proper data pack instead

Bug Fixes

This snapshot fixes several issues:

Data pack and sound files weren’t loading from subfolders (this was a major problem in 17w43a)
Subtitles weren’t showing
Changing languages in the menu had no effect
Default resource packs were overwriting custom ones
Crash from invalid escape sequence errors
Resource packs weren’t sorting by number correctly

How to Install

For full installation instructions, check out our guide on how to download and install Minecraft snapshots.

Download

Client: Download

Server: Download

Minecraft 1.13 Snapshot 17w43b – Data Packs