Forge is one of the best additions Minecraft has ever had. It allows you to install all of the best Minecraft Mods simply and easily by just adding them to your mods folder.
However, before you can get mods this easily, you will need to learn how to install Forge in Minecraft, so let’s dive right on into it!
What this Forge guide will cover:
- Download Forge
- Install Forge
- Playing with Forge
- Getting Mods
- Troubleshooting
- Frequently Asked Questions
How to Download Minecraft Forge
The first part of adding Forge to Minecraft is downloading it. Here, we will cover every step of downloading Forge, so you can ensure you are installing Forge in Minecraft using the correct version.
Step 1: Accessing the Forge Download Page
The first step of getting Forge is getting to the download page. You find the Forge Download page at https://files.minecraftforge.net/net/minecraftforge/forge/ or by clicking the Download Forge button above.
Step 2: Choosing the Forge Version You Want
Once you are on Forge’s website, we need to select the version you need. Forge’s versions correspond with Minecraft versions.
That means you simply need to select which version of Minecraft what Forge for, and the correct version will appear.
You can select these versions in the left-hand sidebar.
Step 3: Downloading Forge
With your version of Forge selected, click the ‘Installer’ button under download recommended. That will take you to Ad Focus.
Step 4: Get Through The Ad-Wall
The creators of Forge have to make some money if they want to keep it up and running. Because of this, you must get through an ad wall in order to download Forge.
After clicking the download button, you will be taken to a site that looks like the one below. No matter what the content on the page says, do not click ANYTHING except the red “SKIP” button that will appear after about 10 seconds in the top right. Once you see and click the red skip button, Forge will begin downloading.
You may need to keep or save Forge depending on your browser. This is safe as long as Forge is in the title.
How to Install Minecraft Forge
You now have Forge downloaded, so we can move on to how to install Forge in Minecraft. This will work for any version of Minecraft Forge.
Step 1: Opening The Forge Installer
To open the Forge Installer, right-click on it, select ‘Open With’, and select Java. Then, click ‘Okay’, and the Mod System Installer for Forge should open.
You may need to download Java if you don’t have Java in the Open With screen. Java is required for Forge.
Step 2: Installing Forge
After you've got the Forge program open, it's time to install it into Minecraft. Just make sure ‘Install Client’ is selected at the top, and then click ‘OK’ at the bottom of the program. It will now download and install Forge in Minecraft.
If you have any issues, make sure you must have played the vanilla, non-modded version of the version you are trying to install. Also, Minecraft and the Minecraft Launcher must be closed to install Forge.
How to Play Minecraft with Forge
With Forge installed, we can move on to actually playing Minecraft with Forge.
Step 1: Opening Minecraft with Forge
To open Minecraft with Forge, just open the Minecraft Launcher. Then, once you are in the Minecraft Launcher, click the little arrow next to the Play button.
In this list, you will see ‘forge’ select this, and click Play.
When you first play Minecraft with Forge, you will have a window appear saying that you are playing Modded Minecraft. Click the play button again on this page, and Forge will open in Minecraft!
Step 2: Confirming Forge is Installed
From the Minecraft main menu, you should see a ‘Mods’ button. You will also see the version of Forge you are running in the bottom left of Minecraft.
If you see these, you know you have Forge installed!
How to Install Forge Mods
Now that you have Forge, you will probably want to install some mods.
Step 1: Download Minecraft Mods
Before you can install mods, you will need to download them. Most Minecraft mods are found on CurseForge.
The biggest thing to look for when installing Forge mods is that you will need to make sure that you are downloading the version of the mod for the version of Minecraft you are playing. If you don't get the mod for the right version, it won't work.
Step 2: Installing Forge Minecraft Mods
With your Forge mods downloaded, we can install them.
Start by opening up Minecraft with Forge. Then, on the Minecraft main menu, click the ‘mods' button. Next, click the ‘Open mods folder' button in the bottom left of Minecraft. Your mods folder will open.
Now, all you need to do is drag and drop the mods you want to install into this mods folder. It's that easy to get Minecraft Forge mods installed.
I do want to note, though, that you will need to restart Minecraft and reopen it with Forge for your mods to be active. Once you do that, the mods will appear in the ‘Mods' button on the Minecraft main menu.
Troubleshooting
We hope your Forge installation goes incredibly smooth. However, it is unrealistic to assume that no one will have problems. Thus, here we are going to troubleshoot some of the potential issues you may have when getting Minecraft Forge.
Unable to Open the Forge Installer
If you are unable to open the Forge Installer, this is most likely due to the fact you don't have Java. Luckily, we have a complete guide to getting Java that will help you set up Java specifically for Forge and Minecraft mods.
With Java installed, you may also need to run the Jarfix. This is a simple program that is designed to like your .jar files to Java in order to make them work together.
After you have got Java and ran the Jarfix, you will be able to open up the Forge Installer without any issues.
There is no Forge version in the Minecraft Launcher
After have installed Forge with Mod System Installer, you should have a Forge profile in your Minecraft Launcher. What if you don't have a Forge profile, though?
First things first, try reinstalling Forge with both Minecraft and the Minecraft Launcher closed. Usually, this will fix this issue. If it doesn't, though, you will need to create a profile for Forge.
Do this by clicking ‘Installations' at the top of the Minecraft Launcher. Then, make sure modded is checked in the top right. Next, click the ‘New Installation' button.
In this installation, name it ‘Forge', and click the version drop-down box. In this drop-down, you need to select the Forge version. This is usually towards the top, but you may need to scroll down depending on the Forge version you are installing.
Save the profile once the version is selected, and you will be able to play Minecraft with Forge!
How To Fix Minecraft Forge Exit Code 1
Error code 1 in regards to playing Minecraft with Forge usually occurs due to issues with mods that you have installed or issues with your graphics drivers.
Issues with Mods Being Installed
The most common reason that Forge will have the Exit Code 1 error is due to old mods for older or different versions of Forge being in your mods folder. When installing a new version of Forge, it is recommended to remove all the mods from your mods folder.
This can be done by opening the Minecraft Launcher, clicking the “Installations” tab at the top, hovering over Forge and click the folder icon that appears to open your .minecraft folder. Open the mods folder here and remove all the mods.
As far as adding new mods to Minecraft after you have Forge, we recommend only installing 2-5 mods at a time. That way, you can easily uninstall them one by one if there is an issue. So, if you do have the exit code 1 issue with Forge, start removing mods you've added one by one.
Eventually, you will remove a mod, and Minecraft Forge will open. When this happens, you have found the mod causing the issue.
Graphics Driver Issues
The second most common reason for the Exit Code 1 error with Minecraft Forge is due to having the wrong graphics drivers.
This is going to be different for Nvidia and AMD, and it is an especially common issue if you are using integrated graphics meaning your graphics processing is also handled by the CPU and you don't have a dedicated graphics card.
For Nivida Systems
- Use the Geforce Experience to update your graphics drivers.
- Open the Nvidia Control Panel. This can be done by searching for in the start menu.
- Select “Manage 3D Settings”, and under the “Global Settings” section, find the “Preferred Graphics Processor” setting.
- Change this setting to “High-Performance Nvidia Processor”.
- Open Minecraft with Forge.
For AMD Systems
- First, we need to find which AMD graphics driver your system needs. This may be integrated graphics or an AMD GPU. To do this, open up the Task Manager by searching for it in the start menu. Then, click on “Performance”. On the bottom of the left-hand sidebar, click on “GPU”. In the top right, you will see your graphics card or CPU.
- Navigate to the AMD Drivers and Support page.
- On this page, either select your specific graphics card or processor with graphics or use the auto-detect driver tool.
- Install the drivers for your AMD GPU or CPU with integrated graphics. You will most likely need to restart your computer after the driver is installed.
- Minecraft will now be able to be opened with Forge!
How To Fix Forge Exit Code 0
Just like error code 1 we just covered, Forge exit code 0 is usually caused by mods not working correctly with either the version of Minecraft or Forge you are using.
We recommend using the same process of uninstalling mods one by one until Minecraft will open. When it does, you now know which mod is causing the issue. You may just need to update the mod, or you may have to remove it altogether.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some of the most common questions we receive about getting Minecraft Forge.
What is Minecraft Forge?
Forge is the most popular mod loader for Minecraft. It allows you to install mods in Minecraft easily by simply, once Forge is installed, adding mods to your mods folder.
Do you need Java to install Forge?
Yes, you will need Java in order to install Forge. This is because the Forge installer is a Java program.
Luckily, we have a complete guide on Java that will allow you to make sure you have the correct Java version to get Forge from the start.
How do you use Forge in Minecraft?
With Forge installed, it is very easy to use.
Just open up the Minecraft Launcher, click on the ‘Installations' tab at the top, and hover over the Forge installation. A Play button will appear. Click that play button, and click Play again on the pop-up that appears. Minecraft will open with Forge!
From there, you can use Forge to add mods to Minecraft!
How can you update Minecraft Forge?
To update Forge, you will need to follow the steps to download and install Forge in this tutorial. When you reinstall Forge, your Minecraft Forge installation in the launcher should update automatically.
We recommend updating Forge and all of your Minecraft mods every few weeks to ensure that you get the most up-to-date, bug-free versions of Forge and your mods.
Is it possible to uninstall Forge?
Yes, it is possible to remove or uninstall Forge from your computer. However, it must been done in multiple steps.
Step 1: Removing Forge for The Launcher
First off, you will need to remove Forge from the Minecraft Launcher. Open the Minecraft Launcher and click the ‘Installations' tab at the top.
Hover over your Forge installation and click the three dots that appear.
Click ‘Delete' and click the ‘Delete' button on the dialogue box that appears. Forge has now been uninstalled from the Minecraft Launcher.
Step 2: Deleting Forge from Your Versions Folder
To officially uninstall Forge from your computer, though, you will need to remove it from your versions folder as well. This can be found in your Minecraft folder.
Accessing your .minecraft folder is actually very easy. Open up the Minecraft Launcher, click the installations button, hover over the ‘Latest Release' installation, and click the folder. The .minecraft folder will open.
In this folder, you will see a versions folder. Open that, and there will be all of the Minecraft versions you have downloaded locally. Right-click and delete any Forge versions here to complete uninstall Forge from your computer.
