To update Fabric Loader, close the launcher, run the Fabric Installer with Create Profile unchecked, then point your existing Fabric profile at the new loader. Your mods and worlds stay where they are. Only the loader changes, so the real work afterwards is making sure Fabric API and each mod still match. This applies to Java Edition only, since mods never run on Bedrock.
This page covers updating an existing setup. For a first-time setup, read how to install Fabric on Minecraft Java. To change the game itself, see how to update Minecraft on Java and Bedrock.
Why update Fabric Loader
The usual reason is an error on launch. A mod can require a newer Fabric Loader than the one your profile uses, and the loader reports that mismatch when the game starts. Updating the loader fixes it without touching the rest of your setup.
The latest release listed on the Fabric Loader releases page is 0.19.5. The Fabric Installer's own default is the latest stable loader, and its wiki notes that the latest loader works in any Minecraft version. So you rarely need to pick an older one.
Back up your game before you update
Back up first. Follow how to back up Minecraft worlds, and also keep a copy of your `mods` folder somewhere outside the game directory. If a new mod file misbehaves, you can put the old one back.
Update Fabric Loader with the installer
The Fabric Installer works with the standard Minecraft Launcher. If you use another launcher, such as the CurseForge App, change the Fabric Loader version of your instance inside that launcher instead. The Modrinth App guide covers that app's instance settings.
- 1.Get the Universal JAR or the Windows exe from the Fabric site (the installer is also on the GitHub Releases page).
- 2.Close the Minecraft Launcher. It must not be running while the installer runs.
- 3.Run the installer. On Windows, run the exe. On Linux and macOS, run `java -jar fabric-installer-*.jar`.
- 4.Select the `Client` tab, then choose the `Minecraft Version` and the `Loader Version`. Leave the loader on the latest unless you have a reason not to.
- 5.Check that `Select Install Location` points at the Minecraft Launcher data folder.
- 6.Uncheck `Create Profile`. You want to update the loader, not add a second profile.
- 7.Click `Install`, close the success dialog, then close the installer.
The installer also runs from the command line. The `-noprofile` option skips the launcher profile, `-loader` sets the loader version and `-game` sets the Minecraft version, for example `java -jar fabric-installer-*.jar -loader 0.14.13 -game 1.20.1`.
Check the launcher profile uses the new loader
Open the Minecraft Launcher and change the VERSION of your existing Fabric installation to the loader you just installed. After that, the profile runs on the updated loader.
Match Fabric API to your Minecraft version
Fabric API is a mod like any other, and it needs Fabric Loader installed. A mod runs only with the loader it was made for, installed for the same Minecraft version, so Fabric API has to match your Minecraft version, not your loader number. The newest Fabric API build is 0.161.0+26.3 and it requires no other mod.
Replace the old Fabric API file in your `mods` folder with the one for your Minecraft version. Libraries such as Fabric Language Kotlin work independently of the Minecraft version and only need Fabric Loader, but update them too when a mod asks for a newer one.
Check each mod for a compatible version
Open each mod's page and look for a release that lists both Fabric and your Minecraft version. Download its file, put it in the `mods` folder and remove the old one. For the general steps, see how to install Minecraft mods on Java Edition.
- Every required dependency's file goes in the `mods` folder too, not only the mod itself.
- Update in small batches. If the game fails to start, you know which batch caused it.
- Configuration libraries like Cloth Config API have Fabric and NeoForge builds up to Minecraft 26.3, and Forge builds that stopped at 1.21.3. Make sure the file you pick says Fabric.
What to do when a mod has no update
A mod built for another Minecraft version will not run on yours, and a loader update does not change that. You have three honest options.
- Wait, and keep that profile on the Minecraft version the mod supports. See how to change your Minecraft version.
- Remove the mod from the `mods` folder and play without it.
- Look for a different mod that does the same job and lists your Minecraft version.
The trade-off is plain. Updating the loader is quick, but one stale mod can hold the whole profile back.
How to Install Fabric Loader in the Minecraft Launcher
Frequently asked questions
Does updating Fabric Loader update my mods?
No. The Fabric Installer changes only the loader. Your mods, including Fabric API, stay as they are until you replace the files in the `mods` folder yourself. Check each one for a release that matches your Minecraft version after the loader is updated.
Do I need a new launcher profile to update Fabric Loader?
No. Uncheck `Create Profile` in the installer, run it, then change the VERSION of your existing Fabric installation in the launcher. That keeps your current profile and its settings.
How do I update Fabric Loader in the CurseForge App?
The Fabric Installer is meant for the Minecraft Launcher. In the CurseForge App, or any other launcher, change the Fabric Loader version of your instance with that launcher's own settings.
Do I need to update Fabric API when I update the loader?
Only if your Fabric API file does not match your Minecraft version or a mod asks for a newer one. Fabric API is tied to the Minecraft version you play on, and its newest build, 0.161.0+26.3, is made for Minecraft 26.3.
