The Modrinth App is a free, open source launcher for Minecraft Java Edition. Instead of downloading mod files and dragging them into a folder yourself, you create an instance tied to one Minecraft version and one mod loader, then browse and install mods, shaders, resource packs, and modpacks from Modrinth's catalog straight into that instance.
What the Modrinth App does
It works as an instance manager, not just a downloader. Each instance keeps its own mods folder, resource packs, and game files, so a heavily modded Fabric profile and a clean vanilla one never touch each other. The app is cross-platform (Windows, macOS, and Linux through Flathub, AppImage, DEB, or RPM packages), runs light at roughly 150 MB of RAM, and can import existing profiles from Prism Launcher, MultiMC, and GDLauncher instead of making you rebuild them from scratch.
It still launches the real Minecraft Java Edition client underneath, so signing in with the Microsoft account you already use to own the game is required. Installing the app does not give you a copy of Minecraft on its own.
How to install the Modrinth App
- 1.Go to modrinth.com/app and download the installer for your operating system. Windows and macOS builds are currently labeled beta.
- 2.On Linux, install through Flathub for the most stable experience, or use the AppImage, DEB, or RPM package if Flathub is not an option.
- 3.Run the installer, open the app, and sign in with the Microsoft account tied to your Minecraft purchase.
- 4.If you already use Prism Launcher, MultiMC, or GDLauncher, use the app's profile import so existing instances carry over instead of starting over.
How to create an instance and pick a loader
An instance is a self-contained Minecraft install: one game version, one loader, and its own mods folder that nothing else touches.
- 1.Click the plus button near the bottom left of the app to start a new instance.
- 2.Give it a name.
- 3.Pick a loader. Choose Vanilla for an unmodded instance, or Fabric, Forge, NeoForge, or Quilt if you plan to add mods.
- 4.Pick the Minecraft version the instance should run, matching whatever mods you already have in mind.
- 5.Click Create. The app downloads the loader and game files for that version.
You are not locked into the loader or version you picked at creation. Open the instance's settings and go to the Installation tab to change either one later, and the app reinstalls the matching files.
How to add mods, shaders, and resource packs
Open the instance and click Add Content (also labeled Install Content in some views). The search is already filtered to that instance's Minecraft version and loader, with tabs to switch between Mods, Resource Packs, Data Packs, and Shaders. Click a result and it installs directly into the instance, with no manual file moving. Popular picks include performance mods like Sodium, shader-compatible tools like Iris, and the shared library many Fabric mods depend on, Fabric API.
You can also start from a finished modpack instead of building an instance mod by mod. Browsing to a modpack like Fabulously Optimized and choosing Install creates a new instance with every included mod already in place. Our guide to installing modpacks covers that flow in more depth, and our guide to installing mods manually is the fallback for anything you need to add outside the app.
How to update mods in the Modrinth App
The app checks each instance's installed content against Modrinth and marks anything with a newer build available. Open the instance, go to its Mods tab, and click Update on a single mod or Update All to refresh everything at once. It is the same one-click flow the app uses for a first install, just applied to a file you already have.
Modrinth App vs CurseForge app
Both apps do the same basic job: pick a Minecraft version and loader, then browse and install content into an isolated instance or profile. The real difference is the catalog and the code behind it. The Modrinth App is open source and only searches Modrinth's catalog. The CurseForge app, built by Overwolf, is closed source and searches CurseForge's separate catalog instead.
That catalog split is the honest limit to know about. A mod, shader, or modpack that is only published on CurseForge will not show up in the Modrinth App's search at all. Getting it means switching to the CurseForge app or downloading the file manually and placing it in the instance's mods folder yourself. Plenty of popular projects, including Sodium and Iris, are mirrored on both platforms, but plenty of others are not.
A full walkthrough of instances, loaders, and adding content in the Modrinth App
Frequently asked questions
Is the Modrinth App free?
Yes. It is free and open source, with no subscription or paywall. The only account you need is the Microsoft account you already use to own Minecraft Java Edition.
Do I need a Minecraft account to use the Modrinth App?
Yes. The app still launches the real Minecraft Java Edition client, so it needs the same Microsoft account and game ownership the official launcher requires. Installing the app by itself does not give you a copy of Minecraft.
Can the Modrinth App install CurseForge-only mods?
No. The app only searches Modrinth's catalog, so a mod that is exclusive to CurseForge will not appear there. You would need the CurseForge app, or a manual download placed in the instance's mods folder, to get that specific file.
Which loaders does the Modrinth App support?
Fabric, Forge, NeoForge, and Quilt, plus a Vanilla option for an unmodded instance. Pick the loader based on the mods you plan to add, since a Fabric mod will not load on Forge or NeoForge, and vice versa.
How do I update mods in the Modrinth App?
Open the instance, go to its Mods tab, and click Update on any mod with a newer build available, or Update All to refresh everything at once. The app checks Modrinth for newer versions each time you open the instance.
