What is the difference between .mcaddon and .mcpack files?

A .mcaddon file is a bundle that usually contains both a resource pack and a behavior pack packaged together. A .mcpack file is a single pack, either a resource pack or a behavior pack on its own. You install them the same way, by double-clicking to import into Minecraft.

Can I use .mcaddon files on Minecraft Java Edition?

No. The .mcaddon format is specific to Bedrock Edition. Java Edition uses .jar mod files and needs a mod loader like Forge or Fabric to run them. The two editions are completely separate and their mods are not cross-compatible.

Why does nothing happen when I double-click my .mcaddon file?

Windows does not know to open it with Minecraft. Right-click the file, choose Open with, then select Minecraft from the list. Tick the box to always use that app for .mcaddon files so you only have to do this once.

I imported the add-on but I do not see it in my world. Where is it?

Importing makes the pack available but does not activate it. You need to open your world's settings, scroll to the Add-Ons section, and manually apply both the resource pack and behavior pack there. It will not show up in-game until you do that step.

Do I need to enable experimental features for add-ons to work?

It depends on the specific add-on. Many add-ons that add new mobs, blocks, or gameplay mechanics require experimental gameplay to be turned on in the world settings. The add-on's download page should say if this is needed. If your add-on is not working correctly, enabling experiments is one of the first things to check.

How to Install Minecraft Add-ons on Windows 10/11 (Bedrock)

If you downloaded a .mcaddon or .mcpack file and have no idea what to do with it, you are in the right place. This guide covers the full process for Windows Bedrock Edition, from the download to loading the add-on inside an actual world.

What You Need Before You Start

Minecraft Bedrock Edition installed from the Microsoft Store or minecraft.net (the Windows 10/11 app version, not Java)
A .mcaddon or .mcpack file downloaded to your PC
Minecraft fully closed before you begin the import

A quick note on terminology: a .mcaddon file is a bundle that usually contains both a resource pack and a behavior pack together. A .mcpack file is a single pack, either one or the other. The installation steps are identical for both.

How to Install a .mcaddon or .mcpack File on Windows

Close Minecraft completely. If the game is open in the background, the import can fail silently. Make sure it is not running.
Find your downloaded file in your Downloads folder or wherever you saved it. It will end in .mcaddon or .mcpack.
Double-click the file. Windows should automatically open Minecraft Bedrock and begin the import. You will see a notification inside the game that says “Import started” followed by “Successfully imported” once it finishes.
Wait for the import to complete before doing anything else. Large add-ons can take a few seconds.
Go to your world settings. On the main menu, click “Play,” then either create a new world or find an existing world and click the pencil/edit icon next to it.
Scroll down to “Add-Ons” in the world settings panel. You will see separate sections for Behavior Packs and Resource Packs.
Click the pack you just imported to expand it, then press the plus button to activate it for that world. Do this for both the behavior pack and resource pack if your add-on includes both.
Save and launch the world. The add-on is now active.

If Double-Clicking Does Not Open Minecraft

Sometimes Windows is not sure which program should handle .mcaddon files. Here is how to fix that:

Right-click the file and choose “Open with.”
Click “Choose another app” then look for “Minecraft” in the list.
Check the box that says “Always use this app to open .mcaddon files” and click OK.

If Minecraft does not appear in the list, try opening the Microsoft Store, finding Minecraft, and clicking “Launch” from there first. Then close it and try the double-click again.

Manual Import Method (Backup Option)

If the double-click method still does not work, you can copy the files in manually.

Press Windows + R, type %localappdata%\Packages\Microsoft.MinecraftUWP_8wekyb3d8bbwe\LocalState\games\com.mojang and hit Enter.
Change the file extension on your pack from .mcaddon to .zip so you can open it.
Inside the zip, you will find one or two folders. A resource pack folder goes into the resource_packs folder. A behavior pack folder goes into the behavior_packs folder in that directory.
Open Minecraft and apply the packs to your world as described in steps 5 through 8 above.

Common Mistakes and Troubleshooting

The pack imported but nothing changed in my world

You have to manually apply the pack to each world. Importing only makes it available, it does not activate it anywhere. Go back to your world settings, find the pack under Add-Ons, and activate it there.

The pack is not showing up in my Add-Ons list

The import may not have finished, or it failed. Try importing again by double-clicking. If you see no success message, check the manual method above. Also confirm the file is not corrupted by redownloading it from the source.

Minecraft crashes when I enter the world

The add-on may not be compatible with your current version of Minecraft. Check the add-on’s description page for which versions it supports. Outdated add-ons targeting older Bedrock versions sometimes break on newer releases.

The file I downloaded is a .jar file, not .mcaddon

You downloaded a Java Edition mod by mistake. Java mods use .jar files and require a mod loader like Minecraft Forge or the Fabric loader. Those do not work on Bedrock Edition at all. Make sure you are downloading add-ons specifically labeled for Bedrock Edition.

I applied the pack but the behaviors or textures are not working

Make sure both the resource pack and behavior pack are active, not just one of them. Many add-ons require both to function properly. Also check that experimental gameplay features are enabled in world settings if the add-on’s page says they are required.

Which Editions and Versions This Works For

This guide applies only to Minecraft Bedrock Edition on Windows 10 and Windows 11. That is the version sold through the Microsoft Store or bundled with certain Windows editions. The .mcaddon format has been supported since Bedrock 1.0, so it works across essentially all modern Bedrock versions.

This does not apply to Minecraft Java Edition. Java Edition uses a completely different modding system with tools like Forge, Fabric, or NeoForge. If you play Java Edition, check our Forge mod installation guide instead.