A .mrpack file is a Modrinth modpack archive. You do not unzip it into your .minecraft folder. You import it into a launcher that reads the format, such as Prism Launcher, and the launcher fetches the mods listed inside and sets up the loader. Modrinth packs list Forge, NeoForge, Fabric or Quilt as dependencies, so this is a Minecraft Java route.
What a .mrpack file is
The Modrinth modpack format (`.mrpack`) is a ZIP archive with a different extension. It is the only modpack format that can be uploaded to Modrinth. In plain terms, a modpack is a list of mods bundled with extra files such as configuration files, so the result is a modded instance ready to play. For the wider concept, see what a Minecraft modpack is.
Inside the archive, the main metadata sits in `modrinth.index.json` at the root. It names the pack, lists the files to fetch, and records the dependencies the launcher uses to know what to install. An optional `overrides` folder holds files that ship inside the archive itself.
Why you should not unzip a .mrpack into your game folder
The index lists files with a destination path and one or more HTTPS links. The launcher is what downloads those files and copies the contents of `overrides` into the instance directory when it installs the pack. Extracting by hand skips that step.
How to open a .mrpack file with the Modrinth App
The Modrinth App is the preferred way to play Modrinth modpacks. Its documented route is the Browse button on the left side of the launcher: click Install on the modpack you want and wait for it to finish. Use this when the pack is hosted on Modrinth. The help pages do not describe a step for opening a loose .mrpack from disk, so for a saved file use Prism Launcher below. Our Modrinth App guide covers the rest of the launcher.
How to open a .mrpack file with Prism Launcher
Prism Launcher is one of the third-party tools Modrinth lists for playing its modpacks. Its Import option exists for packs you saved to your computer by other means.
- 1.Open the Add Instance menu, or right click in the launcher and choose create instance.
- 2.In the sidebar on the left, choose Import.
- 3.Select the .mrpack file you saved. Import asks for a .zip or .mrpack archive.
- 4.Let the launcher finish creating the instance, then start it like any other.
The same Add Instance menu also lists Modrinth, CurseForge, ATLauncher, FTB Legacy, FTB App Import and Technic in the sidebar. Pick Modrinth there if you would rather browse than hold a file. For a side-by-side of both platforms' flows, read how to install a Minecraft modpack.
What the launcher downloads when you import a .mrpack
Importing triggers the downloads. The launcher fetches the listed mods and the right loader, then copies the `overrides` contents into the instance directory. A file with the path `mods/MyMod.jar` ends up in `.minecraft/mods/`. A `config/mymod.cfg` inside `overrides` lands in `config/` the same way.
- Each listed file carries a size and SHA1 and SHA512 hashes, so a launcher can show progress and check the file.
- Files can be marked `required`, `optional` or `unsupported` per side, and a launcher may ask which optional mods you want.
- Packs uploaded to Modrinth may only link to `cdn.modrinth.com`, `github.com`, `raw.githubusercontent.com` and `gitlab.com`.
- An optional `client-overrides` folder is applied after `overrides`, overwriting matching files.
The trade-off is that a .mrpack stays small because it holds links, not mods. Your launcher needs to reach those hosts to finish the import.
Can you use a .mrpack with CurseForge
The Modrinth help pages name MultiMC, Prism Launcher and ATLauncher as the third-party tools for playing its packs, alongside the Modrinth App. The CurseForge app is not on that list. If you are weighing the platforms, see Modrinth vs CurseForge.
Frequently asked questions
How do I install a mrpack file?
Import it into a launcher that reads the format. In Prism Launcher, open Add Instance, choose Import in the sidebar and select the .mrpack file. The launcher then downloads the listed mods and the right loader. In the Modrinth App, use Browse and click Install on a pack hosted on Modrinth.
Is a .mrpack file just a zip?
Yes in structure. The format must be stored as a ZIP with the `.mrpack` extension, and the metadata sits at `modrinth.index.json` in the root. That lets you inspect it, but extracting it is not an install, because the mods are links in the index rather than files inside.
Can I open a .mrpack file in CurseForge?
The Modrinth help pages do not list CurseForge among the tools for playing Modrinth packs. They list the Modrinth App, MultiMC, Prism Launcher and ATLauncher for that. Prism Launcher also has a CurseForge entry in its Add Instance menu, but that is for CurseForge packs, while its Import option takes a .zip or .mrpack.
Can I make my own .mrpack file?
Yes. In the Modrinth App, open the Mods tab of an instance and click Export modpack near the top right. If the option is missing, you may need to unpair the instance in its settings first. Prism Launcher and MultiMC can also create Modrinth packs. Our guide to making a modpack goes further.
