How to Install Minecraft Forge Client-Side

Last modified on Jan 16, 2023 in General

By ApexHosting

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Overview

While vanilla Minecraft offers plenty of interesting experiences, one of the most exciting parts about the game is the ability to add mods. These allow you to bring the gameplay to a whole other level, adding new blocks, items, and even dimensions. However, adding mods is not as simple as putting them into a folder and starting your game. Minecraft Forge, a modding API, must be added to unlock access to thousands upon thousands of these modifications. While it is only available for Java Edition, the overall process is easy to perform. With this in mind, we have created this Apex Hosting tutorial to help you get started.
 

Downloading Minecraft Forge

1. Visit the official Minecraft Forge website.
2. In the left-hand menu, locate the Minecraft version you wish to use.
   
3. Once selected, click the Installer button for either the latest or recommended version.
   
4. Save the file to a safe location, as it will be needed shortly.

Note: If you require a specific version of Forge, press the Show all Versions button for a list of all available version releases, then choose the Installer option from there.

Installing Forge

With the necessary .jar file on-hand, you are now ready to install Forge on your Minecraft client. If you are having trouble opening the file, make you have the latest version of Java installed.
 

Windows

1. Locate the Minecraft Forge .jar file, then open it.
2. Within the program, ensure Install client is selected.
   
3. Confirm that the install directory is correct, then press Ok.
4. After a few moments, you should receive a successful install message.
   

MacOS

1. Locate your Forge .jar file, then open it.
2. If the file cannot be opened, enter System Preferences, followed by Security and Privacy.
3. In the General section, find the app and press Open Anyway.
   
4. Once opened, verify that Install client is selected.
5. Ensure that the install directory is correct, then press Ok.
6. Within a few moments, you should receive a successful install message.

Accessing the Profile

You should now be ready to select your Forge profile, then press Play to get started! If your profile is not appearing, enter the Installations tab in the top of the launcher and check the Modded option near the top-right.

CurseForge App

In some cases, you may wish to use the CurseForge application to install and use Minecraft Forge. This app allows you to install any version of Forge with just a few clicks, simplifying the setup.

1. Download and install the CurseForge app for your operating system.
2. Within the app, press the Create Custom Profile button.
   
3. Enter your desired name and Minecraft version.
4. Set the Game Type to Forge, then optionally choose a specific Forge version.
5. Press Create to complete the setup process.
   
6. You can now select your custom profile and press Play.

Common Issues

Receive a Java/JDK error when opening the .jar file:
Generally, this means that Java is not properly installed on your current system. In order to open the .jar file, make sure you have installed the latest version. If issues are still occurring afterwards, try to restart your computer and try again once it is complete.

Unidentified developer error on MacOS:
By default, you cannot open any files from unidentified sources on MacOS. Enter the Security & Privacy tab in system settings to allow you to open it. This option will appear after it fails to open once, allowing you to relaunch it as normal and continue installing Forge.

I cannot find my modded profile in the launcher:
In some cases, your modded profiles may be hidden within the Minecraft launcher, as they are not supported directly by Mojang. To allow your profiles to appear, enter the Installations tab at the top of the launcher, then check the Modded box. This will allow all modded profiles to appear and be selected for play.
 

Helpful Links

Minecraft Forge Download Page
CurseForge App Download
Java Download