How to make a Minecraft modpack (2026 guide)
How to make a Minecraft modpack in 2026: pick a version and loader, add mods in Modrinth App or CurseForge, export it and share the modpack with friends.
Published 6 min readby the Synagy team, written with AI
Short answer: to make a Minecraft modpack, create a new instance in a free launcher such as the Modrinth App or CurseForge, pick one Minecraft version and one loader (for example Fabric), add your mods and test the game. Then export it: Modrinth makes a .mrpack file, CurseForge a .zip. Friends import that one file and get the same pack. A first pack of 10 to 30 mods is easy to test, and you can grow it later.
A modpack is just a list of mods plus their settings, saved so other people can install the exact same set. You do not need to code. You do need to be careful with versions, because one wrong file can stop the whole pack from starting.
- Pick a versionone Minecraft version and one loader for every mod
- Create an instancea separate game folder in your launcher
- Add modsfrom the launcher's search, one at a time
- Teststart the game, open a world, fix crashes
- Export and shareone .mrpack or .zip file for your friends
What do you need before you start?
You need three things, and all of them are free:
- Minecraft: Java Edition. Modpacks in this guide are for Java on PC. Bedrock uses add-ons, which work differently.
- A launcher that handles modpacks. The two most used are the Modrinth App and the CurseForge app. Prism Launcher is a free open-source option that can also export packs.
- A plan. Write down what the pack is for: a tech pack, a survival pack for friends, or a pack that only adds performance mods.
Then choose the version. Every mod in a pack must match the same Minecraft version and the same loader. If you want the newest mods, pick 26.3 with Fabric. If you want the big classic mods, many still live on 1.21.1 or 1.20.1. Our guide on installing Fabric mods on Minecraft 26.3 explains why versions matter so much.
How do you make a modpack in the Modrinth App?
Create an instance with Fabric, add mods with "Add Content", then export it as a .mrpack. These steps follow the Fabric wiki guide to the Modrinth App:
- Click the button to create a new instance (the Fabric wiki calls it "Create Profile"; newer versions say "Create Instance").
- Give it a name, choose Fabric as the loader and pick your Minecraft version.
- Click Create. The app installs Fabric Loader for you.
- Open the instance and click Add Content. Search Modrinth for mods and install them one at a time.
- Press Play and test. Load a world, walk around for a few minutes and check for crashes.
- To export, open the instance, go to the mods list and choose Export modpack. If the option is missing, unpairing the instance in its settings usually brings it back.
The .mrpack file is a ZIP archive. Its format description shows it holds a list called modrinth.index.json and up to 3 optional folders: overrides, client-overrides and server-overrides. Mods from Modrinth are linked, not copied, so the file stays small. Config files and other extra files go into the override folders.
How do you make a modpack in CurseForge?
In the CurseForge app, you build a custom profile and then use "Share Profile". The steps below come from the CurseForge support article on exporting modpacks:
- Open the Minecraft tab and create a custom profile with your version and loader.
- Add mods from the profile's browse page and test the game.
- Select the profile, click the three dots in the top-right corner and choose Share Profile.
- Tick the parts to include. For a pack without worlds, config and mods are usually enough.
- Click Export as .zip and save the file.
You can also share a profile code instead of a file. CurseForge says codes need you to be logged in and expire after 7 days.
Modrinth or CurseForge: which one should you use?
Both are free and both work well. The main difference is where your friends already play:
| Modrinth App | CurseForge app | |
|---|---|---|
| Export file | .mrpack (ZIP) | .zip with a manifest.json |
| Quick sharing | send the file | send the file or a code that lasts 7 days |
| Publishing | review usually within 24 to 48 hours | upload as a modpack project |
| Loaders in the format | Fabric, Quilt, Forge, NeoForge | depends on the profile you build |
| Files from outside | allowed with the author's permission | CurseForge mods are linked in manifest.json, not copied |
your pack is mostly Fabric mods and you want a small file that is easy to share
your friends already use CurseForge or your key mods are only hosted there
How do you share or publish your modpack?
For friends, sending the file is enough. Upload the .mrpack or .zip to any cloud drive and send the link. Your friends open their launcher, choose import and pick the file. The pack installs as a new instance.
To publish publicly on Modrinth, you create a project on the website, upload the .mrpack as a version and submit it. The Modrinth guide on sharing modpacks says moderators review it within 24 to 48 hours. You must also have permission for every file that is not hosted on Modrinth. The Modrinth permissions article puts that responsibility on the pack author.
Can you add your own mod to a modpack?
Yes. Any mod that is a normal .jar for the same version and loader can go into the pack. If it is not on Modrinth or CurseForge, it travels inside the pack as an extra file, for example in the overrides/mods folder of a .mrpack. Because you made it, you already have the permission to include it.
This is one place where Synagy fits. With Synagy for Minecraft you describe a mod in one line inside the game, watch it being built and tested, and keep it as a .jar with full source code. Every account gets 25 Free Credits a day, and payments are paused during the free beta, see the pricing page. If you have never made a mod, start with our guide on how to make a Minecraft mod without coding.
Where Synagy stops: it builds for Minecraft: Java Edition 26.2 with Fabric today. Ports to 26.3, 1.21.1 and 1.20.1 are in development, and Forge, NeoForge and Bedrock are not available. So a Synagy mod only fits a pack that runs on 26.2 with Fabric. Synagy does not build or export modpacks for you; you still use a launcher for that.
FAQ
Is it free to make a Minecraft modpack?
Yes. The Modrinth App, the CurseForge app and Prism Launcher are free, and most mods are free to download. You only need a copy of Minecraft: Java Edition. Publishing a pack on Modrinth or CurseForge is also free.
How many mods should a modpack have?
There is no fixed number. A first pack of 10 to 30 mods is easy to test and fix. Big packs with hundreds of mods need much more memory and much more testing, so add mods in small groups and start the game after each group.
Can I mix Fabric and Forge mods in one modpack?
No. A pack runs on one loader, and every mod must be made for it. Fabric mods need Fabric Loader, Forge mods need Forge. Pick the loader your most important mods use, then look for the Fabric or Forge version of the rest.
How do my friends play my modpack on a server?
Everyone needs the same pack on the same version. Share your export file so each player imports it. For the server, install the same loader and copy in the mods that run on the server side. Mods that only change graphics stay on the clients.
Written with AI and checked automatically before publishing, without a human editor. Spotted a mistake? Tell us and we fix it.
