Is NeoForge the same thing as Forge?

Not anymore. NeoForge started as a direct fork of Forge in 2023 and the two have diverged since then. They work the same way from a player's perspective, but they are separate projects with separate mod ecosystems. Mods built for Forge do not automatically run on NeoForge, and the reverse is also true. Some mods release builds for both, but you have to check the mod page each time.

Which should I install: NeoForge or Forge?

It depends on the Minecraft version you want and the mods you are after. For 1.19.4 and older, use Forge. For 1.20.2 and up, NeoForge is the right call since most active mod development has shifted there. For 1.20.1, look at which loader your specific mods list as a requirement and match that.

Can I use Fabric mods with NeoForge?

No. Fabric and NeoForge use completely different APIs and mod formats. You run one loader per Minecraft profile. Some popular mods release separate builds for both loaders, but those files are not interchangeable. If you use both, set them up as different profiles in your launcher with separate mods folders.

Does NeoForge work with OptiFine?

Not reliably on recent versions. OptiFine has not kept up with newer Minecraft releases and does not support NeoForge well. Most players on NeoForge use Embeddium for performance improvements and Iris Shaders for shader support instead. See our page on OptiFine if you want more context on where it still works.

Why does NeoForge say it installed successfully but not appear in my launcher?

This usually happens when the installer ran against a different Minecraft folder than the one your launcher is pointing to. Run the installer again, and before clicking OK, copy the path it shows and verify it matches where your actual game files live. If you use a third-party launcher like Prism or MultiMC, you may need to add the NeoForge version manually through that launcher's built-in installer instead.

NeoForge Installer for Minecraft - Download & Install

Download NeoForge Installer for Minecraft from the official page

What Is NeoForge?

NeoForge is a fork of Minecraft Forge, started in mid-2023 by a group of former Forge developers. The project split after long-running disagreements about how Forge was being run. The NeoForge team wanted faster releases, a cleaner codebase, and better tooling for mod developers going forward. From a player’s perspective, the experience is almost identical to using Forge.

Like Forge, NeoForge is a mod loader. It sits between Minecraft and your mods, providing the hooks and APIs that mod developers rely on to add new items, mechanics, biomes, and everything else. Without it, most mods simply will not load. When a mod’s download page says it requires NeoForge, this installer is what you need.

For Minecraft 1.19.4 and older, Minecraft Forge is still the right choice. NeoForge targets 1.20.1 and every release after it.

Supported Minecraft Versions

NeoForge launched alongside Minecraft 1.20.1 and has kept pace with every major release since. Here is what to know by version range:

1.20.1: Both Forge and NeoForge exist here. A lot of mods for this version were built for Forge, so check the mod page before deciding which loader to install.
1.20.2 through 1.20.6: NeoForge is the standard option. Forge largely stepped back from these versions after the fork.
1.21, 1.21.1, 1.21.2, 1.21.3, 1.21.4: NeoForge covers all of these. Most actively developed mods have moved to 1.21.x by now.
1.19.4 and below: NeoForge does not support these versions. Use Forge, or check Fabric depending on which mods you want to run.

One thing that catches people off guard: NeoForge version numbers mirror the Minecraft version they target. NeoForge for 1.21.1 will show up as 21.1.x, not something generic. Always make sure your mods list the exact same Minecraft version you are installing NeoForge for.

How to Install NeoForge

Before you start, confirm which version of Java is on your machine. Minecraft 1.20.x requires Java 17. Minecraft 1.21 and newer requires Java 21. If Minecraft already runs fine for you, Java is probably there, but the installer needs it too so it is worth a quick check.

Use the download button on this page to grab the installer, or go directly to the official site at neoforged.net. Pick the version that matches your Minecraft version.

Download the installer JAR. The file will end in -installer.jar, something like neoforge-21.1.x-installer.jar.
Run the installer. On Windows, double-click the file. If nothing opens, right-click it and choose “Open with,” then select Java. On Mac or Linux, open a terminal and run java -jar neoforge-xx.x.x-installer.jar from the folder where you saved it.
Select “Install client.” The installer shows three options. Pick “Install client” only. Before clicking OK, check that the path displayed matches your actual Minecraft installation folder.
Let it finish. The installer pulls down a few library files from the internet. It takes under a minute on most connections. A dialog confirms success when it is done.
Open the Minecraft Launcher. A new profile should appear in the bottom-left dropdown, named something like “NeoForge 1.21.1.” Select it and click Play to confirm it loads correctly.
Drop your mods in. Once you have confirmed NeoForge launches, close the game. Navigate to your Minecraft folder and find the mods subfolder. On Windows that is %AppData%\.minecraft\mods, on Mac it is ~/Library/Application Support/minecraft/mods, and on Linux it is ~/.minecraft/mods. Copy your mod .jar files there and launch again.

If you want more detail on finding and picking mods, the mod installation guide walks through that process step by step. It was written for Forge but the mods folder workflow is identical with NeoForge.

Troubleshooting

The installer will not open. Java is almost always the cause. Make sure you have the right version installed (Java 17 for 1.20.x, Java 21 for 1.21+) and that it is set as your system default. On Windows, you want a full JDK, not just a JRE.

Minecraft crashes after adding mods. Nine times out of ten this is a version mismatch. Each mod targets a specific Minecraft version and NeoForge build. Remove all your mods, then add them back one at a time until you find the one crashing the game. Check its download page to confirm it supports your exact version.

Your Forge mods are not loading. NeoForge and Forge are separate loaders. A mod built for Forge will not run on NeoForge unless the developer released a NeoForge build of it. Look for a NeoForge-specific download on the mod’s page. If you also run Fabric or Quilt for other modpacks, keep those as separate launcher profiles with their own mods folders. They cannot share mods with each other.

NeoForge Installer for Minecraft – Download & Install

What Is NeoForge?

Supported Minecraft Versions

How to Install NeoForge

Troubleshooting

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