Adding Minecraft Mods with Forge Mod Loader

Download Article

A complete guide to download & install Forge Mod Loader

Co-authored by Amy Bobinger, BA

Last Updated: July 25, 2025 Fact Checked

Download Article

• Downloading and Installing FML
|
• Adding Minecraft Mods
|
• Troubleshooting FML Installation
|
• FAQs
|
• Video
|
• Q&A

|Show more |Show less

If you love playing Minecraft but wish you could make changes, modding might be for you. Forge Mod Loader (FML) is a software program that allows you to install custom mods for Minecraft. Just follow our step-by-step instructions to download and install Forge Mod Loader, then download mods that are designed for your version of Minecraft.

How to Download Forge in Minecraft

1. Go to the Minecraft Forge downloads page.
2. Choose the Forge version that matches your Minecraft version.
3. Hit Installer under the Download Recommended section.
4. Click Skip at the upper right-hand corner of the page.
5. Save the .jar file to your desktop.
6. Double-click the .jar file to launch the installation wizard.
7. Click Install client in the Minecraft Forge installation wizard, then OK.

Steps

Section 1 of 4:

Downloading and Installing Forge Mod Loader

Download Article

1. 
   1
   Navigate to the Minecraft Forge downloads page at files.minecraftforge.net/. Don’t download Forge Mod Loader from any other source, or you could accidentally save a file that contains a virus.
2. 
   2
   Choose the Forge version that matches your Minecraft version. If you’re playing the latest update of Minecraft, you can download the version of Forge at the top of the page. But if you’re playing (or want to mod) an older version, click Show all Versions, then scroll down to the version you need.

   • You can find the Minecraft version on the game’s title screen or in your Minecraft Launcher.
   • If you’re modding a version of Minecraft that’s different than the one you normally play, be sure to open and run that version at least once before you try to install Forge. You don’t have to create a world—just open the version from your launcher and let it load, then close the Minecraft app.
   Advertisement
3. 
   3
   Click Installer, but don’t click on the ads that pop up. You will be redirected to an ad page. Don’t click anything on this page—these are just ads and won’t take you to your download.

   • It’s usually best to choose the installer under the “Download Recommended” option—this will typically be a more stable download.
4. 
   4
   Click Skip when it appears in the upper right-hand corner of the web page. After about 5 seconds, you’ll see a red “Skip” button appear. Click that, then a dialog box will prompt you to download the .jar file for FML.
5. 
   5
   Select the option to save the .jar file to your desktop. The .jar file will automatically start downloading in the background. At this point, it’s fine to exit the ad page.

   • Be sure the file you’re downloading says “Forge” in the filename and has .jar as the extension. If it doesn’t, close the dialog box without saving and try again—you may have accidentally clicked one of the ads.
6. 
   6
   Double-click on the .jar file to launch the installation wizard. Check that “Install client” is checked, then click “OK” to start installation.

   • If your Windows computer fails to recognize or open the file, right-click on the .jar file, point to Open With, then select Java.
     • If you don’t have Java installed on your computer, download it from here. FML won’t work without Java.
   • If using Linux, right-click on the file, then select Properties. Place a checkmark next to “Allow executing file as a program,” then close the window. Then, right-click in your Downloads folder, select Open Terminal, and type java -jar <filename>.
7. 
   7
   Check that the installation was successful. When installation is complete, the message “Successfully installed Forge build xxxxx” will display on-screen. Open your Minecraft Launcher and look for a profile that says “Forge.” If you see that, it’s successfully installed
Advertisement

Section 2 of 4:

Adding Minecraft Mods with FML

Download Article

1. 
   1
   Download mods for the Forge version you just installed. Go to your favorite mods site, like CurseForge or Modrinth. Browse mods for your version of Forge, then click “Download” next to the ones you want to add to Minecraft.

   • Try filtering your search to only include Forge mods for the exact version you downloaded (like 1.21.5).
   • Note that Forge and NeoForge mods are not the same thing—NeoForge mods will not work with Forge Mod Loader.
   • Some mods may only work if you install additional mods. This will be noted in the mod description, so always read those carefully.
2. 
   2
   Open the Minecraft Launcher to access the mods folder. Once the Minecraft Launcher is loaded, go to the Mods option in the main menu, then click Open mods folder.
3. 
   3
   Move the mod files into the mods folder. Either cut and paste or drag and drop the mod .jar files into your mods folder.
4. 
   4
   Restart the Minecraft Launcher and open your Forge game. Close the Launcher, then reopen it. Select Forge from the dropdown menu in the Minecraft launcher, then select the option to begin gameplay. Minecraft Forge will integrate the mod file into your Minecraft gaming session.
Advertisement

Section 3 of 4:

Troubleshooting FML Installation

Download Article

1. 
   1
   Try updating your current version of Minecraft if FML fails to install properly. If you’re running an outdated version of Minecraft, you may experience problems installing the recommended version of FML.
2. 
   2
   Contact the mod’s developer if FML fails to integrate the mod with Minecraft gameplay. In some cases, the mod may require you to install a different version of FML, which can be downloaded from the Minecraft Forge website at .
3. 
   3
   Try using a different mod if the mod you installed isn’t working with FML. In some cases, you may be trying to use a faulty or outdated mod. Try using another mod—if the new one works properly, the problem is with the original mod.
Advertisement

Section 4 of 4:

FAQs

Download Article

1. 1
   What is Forge Mod Loader? Forge mod loader is a program that integrates mods into the code of your Minecraft game. When you download mods from a source like CurseMods, Forge Mod Loader will apply them to your game, as long as the mods are compatible with the Minecraft version you’re playing.
2. 2
   Is Forge a good mod loader? There are pros and cons to the different mod loaders out there, but Forge is generally considered one of the top Minecraft mod loaders. It’s well-supported, but because it’s so extensive, it sometimes takes a while for the devs to update it after a new Minecraft version is released.
3. 3
   Is Forge Mod Loader better than Fabric? Both are good mod loaders—it really depends on how you plan to use them. FML is an older mod loader with a bigger library, and it’s designed to make it easy to use multiple modpacks at the same time. Fabric is lightweight, and it’s a good option when you only want to incorporate a few simple mods.
Advertisement

Community Q&A

Search

Add New Question

• Question

  I have installed Forge but when I try to start it with the launcher, the game crashes.

  

  Belle K.

  Top Answerer

  You might have the wrong version of Forge for the version of your game. Make sure they match, that could be your issue.

  Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
  Thank you for your feedback.
  If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow

  Yes No

  Not Helpful 16 Helpful 11
• Question

  I am not able to get the application to come. It just appears as a .jar.

  

  Toasterflame

  Top Answerer

  The forge mod loader installer comes as a .jar. You should be able to run this by double clicking on the file just like you would for an .exe program.

  Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
  Thank you for your feedback.
  If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow

  Yes No

  Not Helpful 9 Helpful 15
• Question

  It says I cant download it because it could be harmful to my computer.

  

  Community Answer

  Make sure you are downloading from the official site. If it is from the official site, launch it anyway and disable your antivirus for that specific file. If it is not from the official site, do not open it.

  Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
  Thank you for your feedback.
  If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow

  Yes No

  Not Helpful 5 Helpful 7

Ask a Question

200 characters left

Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.

Submit

Advertisement

Video

Tips

Submit a Tip

All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published

Name

Please provide your name and last initial

Submit

Thanks for submitting a tip for review!