What MC VHS works with.
| Platform | Java Edition |
|---|---|
| Loaders | Iris, OptiFine |
| Minecraft versions | 1.19.2, 1.20.1, 1.20.4, 1.21, 1.21.5 |
MC VHS is a VHS-style shader pack for Minecraft Java that layers tape grain, warm color grading, a soft vignette, and light chromatic aberration over vanilla worlds. It runs on Iris, with an older OptiFine build also available, and stays light enough for modest hardware. The current Iris build reaches Minecraft 1.21.5; the OptiFine build has not been updated since mid-2024 and stops at 1.21.
What MC VHS changes in Minecraft
The pack does not touch lighting physics, shadows, or reflections the way a realistic shader does. Instead it processes the whole screen like an old camcorder recording: film grain, a warm color shift, a light vignette, and mild distortion toward the edges of the frame. The look stays consistent across biomes, dimensions, and time of day.
- Full-screen film grain overlay
- Warm, slightly desaturated color grading
- Soft vignette and mild edge distortion
- Consistent effect across the Overworld, Nether, and End
How to install MC VHS with Iris
- 1.Install Fabric Loader for the Minecraft version you plan to play.
- 2.Install the Iris shaders mod through Fabric.
- 3.Download the MC VHS shaderpack file from its Modrinth page.
- 4.Open Video Settings > Shaderpacks in Iris and drop the file into the folder it opens.
- 5.Select MC VHS from the shader pack list and apply.
The general steps are the same for any Iris shader pack. See the Minecraft shader install guide for a fuller walkthrough, including Fabric and OptiFine setup.
Iris build versus the older OptiFine build
MC VHS ships two builds. The Iris build is the one still receiving updates: its most recent release covers Minecraft 1.20 through 1.21.5. The OptiFine build stopped at version 0.6, published in July 2024, and only reaches Minecraft 1.21. Anyone installing MC VHS on a current Minecraft version should use the Iris build.
Not the only VHS-style shader
MC VHS is the project published by Modrinth creator thejinxedartist, first released in mid-2024. It is not the only shader chasing a VHS look. Other creators have released separately named, unrelated packs with a similar tape-effect theme, including projects called VHS Shader and CTR VCR on CurseForge. Those are different projects by different authors. This page covers MC VHS specifically, sourced from its official Modrinth listing.
Performance and hardware
Modrinth files MC VHS under its potato performance category, meaning the pack targets low-end hardware rather than pushing it. A full-screen post-processing effect like this is far cheaper to render than volumetric lighting or path tracing, so most machines that can already run Iris should handle MC VHS without a frame-rate hit.
Questions about MC VHS.
5 questions
What does MC VHS do in Minecraft?
It adds a full-screen VHS filter over vanilla Minecraft: film grain, a warm color shift, a soft vignette, and light distortion at the screen edges. It does not change lighting physics, shadows, or block textures, so it works over any world or resource pack.
How do I install MC VHS?
Install Fabric Loader for your Minecraft version, then the Iris shaders mod through Fabric. Download the MC VHS file from its Modrinth page, drop it into the shaderpacks folder from Iris's video settings, and select it from the shader pack list.
Does MC VHS work with OptiFine?
There is an OptiFine build, but it stopped receiving updates in July 2024 and only reaches Minecraft 1.21. The Iris build is the current one and covers versions through 1.21.5, so Iris is the safer pick on a recent Minecraft install.
Which Minecraft version does MC VHS support?
The Iris build covers Minecraft 1.20 through 1.21.5. The older OptiFine build is limited to 1.19 through 1.21 and has not been updated since mid-2024.
Is MC VHS the same shader as other VHS-effect packs?
No. MC VHS is one project by Modrinth creator thejinxedartist. Other creators have published separate, unrelated shaders with a similar VHS theme under different names on other platforms, and they are not versions of this pack.
