Go Back - Nov 14, 2022
Minecraft Client Setup
Instructions on how to setup an optimal client version of vanilla minecraft. Included are performance enhancements, quality of life changes, and optional graphical improvements.
Tutorial was written assuming the reader is using Microsoft Windows, although you should be able to follow along on other operating systems.
I make mentions to scoop which is a package manager for Windows, which makes installing and updating programs much easier. You can find out more about it here.
- Install Java
If you have scoop, you can install Java with scoop bucket add java and scoop install openjdk.
Navigate to the downloads page for Java, scroll down, and download the latest version. At the time of writing, the latest version is Java 19. Select the download for either the x64 Installer (.exe) or x64 MSI Installer (.msi). Either one will work.
Run the installer you just downloaded, and go through the setup process like you would with any other installation process for other software.
- Install a launcher
Next, you need to install an alternative launcher for minecraft that supports having multiple instances. This allows you to create and manage different installs of minecraft to help keep things separate.
You have the choice between two launchers. MultiMC requires you to log into your Microsoft account in order to play the game. UltimMC is a fork of MultiMC and doesn’t require you to log into a Microsoft account, however you may only play on offline or “cracked” servers.
MultiMC
- “Uncracked” - Select the download for Windows (32/64-bit).
If you have scoop, you can install MultiMC with scoop bucket add games and scoop install multimc.
UltimMC - “Cracked” - At the time of writing, pre-built binaries are provided in the readme. You can scroll down to view the readme.
You should now have downloaded a zip. These launchers don’t have included installers, so you must remember the file path for where you extract it.
You should extract it to a place that you can easily remember. I would recommend extracting it to C:\Program Files (x86), where most programs are,
however you can extract it to wherever you’d like.
Afterwards, I would recommend creating a desktop shortcut and/or a start menu shortcut for your launcher’s executable, so you can more conveniently run it.
- Download client mods
Be sure to download the appropriate versions of the mods for the version of minecraft you’ll be playing on.
| Required | Description |
|---|---|
| Fabric API | Required in order to run any of the mods, including the performance mods. |
| Performance | |
| Sodium | Improves frame rates, reduces micro-stutter, and fixes graphical issues. |
| Lithium | Additional optimizations focused on “correctness”. |
| Phosphor | Optimizes the lighting engine while fixing many bugs. |
| Distant Horizons | Adds a Level Of Detail (LOD) system, greatly increasing performance and perceived render distance. Note: The mod is sometimes slightly buggy as it’s in its infancy but its future looks very promising. |
| Optional | |
| Grid | Displays a configurable grid-like overlay in the world trivializing counting - a must have for builders. |
| WI Zoom | Adds zooming capabilities into the base game. By default, you can press “V” to zoom and use the scroll-wheel to adjust the zoom level. |
| Iris | Adds shader compatibility with pre-existing OptiFine shader packs. Note: At the time of writing, Distant Horizons doesn’t function properly with shaders. |
| No Telemetry | Disables the usage data collection introduced in version 1.18. Note: This mod is rendered redundant with the installation of No Chat Reports. |
| No Chat Reports | Makes it impossible to associate your chat messages with your Minecraft/Microsoft accounts. Note: You can easily enable or disable the mod in game so you can join servers that have enforce-secure-profile enabled in their server configuration file. |
- Create and configure an instance
When you first open your launcher, it’ll begin the initial setup process. It should prompt you to select your java version, and if you’ve done everything correctly,
it should show up right away, however if it doesn’t for some reason, you can look for it under C:\Program Files it may be under a folder called Oracle, OpenJDK or Java.
Under the bin folder, find javaw.exe.
It will then prompt you asking you for permission to enable telemetry, I would recommend declining, however you may accept if you would like.
Now you should be greeted with the main screen for your launcher. You may begin by logging into your Microsoft account if you’re using MultiMC or specifying a username if you’re using UltimMC. You can do this by clicking Profiles at the top-rightmost of the screen.
From here you can create your first minecraft instance. Begin by clicking “Add Instance” in the top left of the application. In the window that pops up, you can first give the new instance a name of your choosing. Choose the version of minecraft you want to play on. You can enable Snapshots or older versions of the game with the filter menu, on the right.
Now an icon should have appeared in the previously blank space of the main screen with the name you gave it. Select it if it isn’t already selected. At the rightmost of the main screen is a menu allowing you to easily launch or modify the selected instance. Click “Edit Instance”. At the rightmost of the new window, in the menu near the middle of the available options, click “Install Fabric” and choose the latest available version.
Next, at the leftmost of the window, click “Loader mods”, the second option of the menu. At the rightmost of the window, click “Add” and select ALL of the mods you downloaded. If you need to update your mods, be sure to remove the older pre-existing ones before you add the updated ones.
- Process Complete
If you’ve done everything correctly, you should now be able to launch and play the game without any issues. You can click launch at the main screen of your launcher and enjoy minecraft with many optimizations and bug fixes, and if you chose to; with added user-experience changes and graphical enhancements.