How to Install NeoForge (Step by Step) for Minecraft 26.3

NeoForge is a mod loader for Minecraft: Java Edition and the direct continuation of the Forge ecosystem. After most of the Forge team, including lead maintainer cpw, left in 2023, they started NeoForge with open governance and a faster release cycle. As of October 2026, NeoForge 26.3.0.95 is the current stable build for Minecraft 26.3 (Wilderness Bound). To install it: download the installer from neoforged.net, run it on a PC with Java 25 installed, select “Install client”, click Proceed, then open the Minecraft Launcher and pick the new “NeoForge” profile. Launch the game once to create the mods folder, then add NeoForge-compatible mods to it.

What is NeoForge, and who should use it

A mod loader sits between Minecraft and your mods. It loads the mod files you put in the mods folder and gives them a stable API to talk to the game. NeoForge is one of three loaders people still use in 2026: it is a fork of Forge with the same roots, started by the developers who were running Forge until a governance dispute split the team in late 2023. Since then, most new Forge-style development has moved to NeoForge.

Use NeoForge if you want modern Forge-style mods or big modpacks on Minecraft 1.20.2 or newer, including the current 26.x releases. Two names worth knowing: All the Mods 10, the most-played kitchen-sink pack of 2026 with 499 mods on NeoForge 1.21.1 and over 22 million downloads, and its successor All the Mods 11, already in early alpha for Minecraft 26.1. That is the ecosystem NeoForge powers today.

The three loaders at a glance:

Loader	Best for	Minecraft versions
NeoForge	Modern Forge-style mods and large modpacks (ATM10, ATM11)	1.20.2 through 26.x
Forge	Older packs and mods that were never ported forward	1.20.1 and older
Fabric	Lightweight, fast-updating small mods and performance mods	All modern versions

My verdict: for Minecraft 26.x, NeoForge is the only sensible choice in the Forge-style ecosystem. For 1.20.1 and older, stick with Forge. If your mod list is ten tiny tweaks and no big content mods, Fabric is lighter. If you are still deciding, read the full Forge vs Fabric vs NeoForge comparison.

Download the official NeoForge installer

NeoForge’s installer is a small Java program. The file name tells you exactly what it targets: neoforge-26.3.0.95-installer.jar is for Minecraft 26.3, and the number after 26.3 is the NeoForge build. Always match the installer to the Minecraft version you actually play.

Minecraft 26.3 · NeoForge 26.3.0.95 · stable · Official download

What you need before you install

• Minecraft: Java Edition with the version you want to mod (26.3 here). NeoForge does not work on Bedrock, consoles, or mobile. If you have never played, launch the vanilla game once first so the launcher downloads it.
• 64-bit Java, version 25, installed on your system. Minecraft 26.1 and newer need Java 25 (the Minecraft Wiki lists Java SE 25 as the minimum for 26.3). The official launcher bundles its own runtime for running the game, but the NeoForge installer runs outside the launcher, so it needs a system Java. If you are installing for 1.20.5 to 1.21.11 instead, you need Java 21; for 1.20.2 to 1.20.4, Java 17.
• The Minecraft Launcher closed. Shut it completely before running the installer, or the install will fail.

Check your Java first: open a terminal or Command Prompt and run java -version. The first number in the output must read 25. If Java is missing, grab Eclipse Temurin 25 from adoptium.net, which is free and ships the same runtime Mojang’s own launcher bundles.

How to install NeoForge: step by step

1. Download the installer. Get neoforge-26.3.0.95-installer.jar from neoforged.net (the official site) or the blue button above. Save it somewhere easy to find, like Downloads.
2. Run the installer. Double-click the .jar file. If nothing happens, Java is missing or Windows has given .jar files to another program. In that case open a terminal in your Downloads folder and run: java -jar neoforge-26.3.0.95-installer.jar. (On Windows, the free Jarfix utility repairs broken .jar associations.)
3. Choose “Install client”. The installer window has three options. Pick Install client for playing on your PC. Check that the path points at your .minecraft folder. The default is correct unless you moved it. (The other options are for servers: --installServer from the command line if you ever host one.)
4. Click Proceed. The installer downloads the NeoForge files and registers a new installation in the Minecraft Launcher. When it reports success, close the installer.
5. Open the Minecraft Launcher and select the NeoForge profile. Look under Installations for an entry named NeoForge. If the launcher was open during installation it may not show it; close the launcher fully and reopen it.
6. Click Play and let it boot once. The first launch takes a while. Close the game when you reach the title screen. This first run creates the mods folder inside your .minecraft directory.
7. Add your mods. Put NeoForge-compatible mod .jar files into .minecraft/mods. Then open the launcher, make sure the NeoForge installation is selected, and hit Play. The Mods button on the title screen confirms everything loaded.

Where to get mods that run on NeoForge

Two sites carry the NeoForge library: CurseForge and Modrinth. On both, filter by the NeoForge loader and your Minecraft version before downloading anything. A mod page must list NeoForge for 26.3; a version for Forge or Fabric will not load and will usually crash the game on startup.

Three rules that save most people a crash report:

• The Minecraft version, the NeoForge version, and every mod must match. A mod built for 26.2 will not run on 26.3.
• NeoForge and Forge mods are not interchangeable on 1.20.2 and newer. Download the file that says NeoForge.
• Mods that need a library (Kotlin for Forge, NeoForge’s event bus shim, etc.) list it under “Dependencies” on the mod page. Install those too, or the mod silently fails.

For modpacks, the easy route is a third-party launcher. Install the CurseForge App or the Modrinth App, search for the pack (All the Mods 10, Better MC, a skyblock pack) and click Install. The app pulls NeoForge, every mod, and the configs with no manual setup. Our complete Java mod installation guide walks through CurseForge and Prism Launcher in detail if you want the full picture.

Does NeoForge work on Bedrock Edition

No. NeoForge is Java Edition only, and nothing on Bedrock supports mod loaders. Bedrock has official add-ons and the Marketplace instead. If someone offers you “NeoForge for Bedrock” or a mobile installer, it is a scam. Report it and delete the file.

NeoForge troubleshooting: 5 common problems and fixes

1. The installer will not open

This is almost always Java. Run java -version in a terminal: if it errors or shows 17/21 instead of 25, install 64-bit Java 25 from adoptium.net and try again. If Java is fine but double-clicking does nothing, the .jar file association is broken, so run the installer from the terminal with java -jar neoforge-26.3.0.95-installer.jar or repair the association with Jarfix.

2. No NeoForge profile in the launcher

Close the Minecraft Launcher completely (including the background process), then run the installer again with “Install client” and click Proceed. Reopen the launcher and check Installations. The profile is sometimes sorted to the bottom of the list.

3. “This mod requires a newer version of NeoForge”

Your installed NeoForge build is older than the mod expects. Re-run the installer for a newer build (26.3.0.95 is current as of October 2026) with “Install client”. This upgrades the profile in place. You do not need to reinstall Minecraft or your mods.

4. The game crashes on startup after adding a mod

Pull every mod out of the mods folder, launch to confirm NeoForge works clean, then add mods back one at a time. The usual culprits: a Forge-only build of the mod on a NeoForge install, a mod for the wrong Minecraft version, or a missing dependency library. The crash log names the offending mod in the first few lines. Search for it with “NeoForge” to find the right file.

5. A performance mod crashes or does nothing

OptiFine does not support NeoForge and has not kept up with modern Minecraft versions. For rendering performance on NeoForge use Embeddium (the NeoForge port of Sodium) plus Oculus for shaders. Both are free, open source, and updated regularly. If a crash keeps you stuck after this, the deep-dive mod crash troubleshooting guide covers every remaining case.

Download NeoForge safely

• The only safe sources for the installer are neoforged.net and its official Maven mirror at maven.neoforged.net. The button in this guide points at the Maven mirror, which is where the official site serves the file from.
• NeoForge is free. Any site charging for it, or asking you to “verify” with a download manager, is scamming you.
• Mods never ask for your Mojang/Microsoft password, your email, or payment details. If a mod installer does, stop and delete it.

FAQ: installing NeoForge

Is NeoForge the same as Forge?

No. NeoForge started as a fork of Forge in 2023 and they are now separate loaders with separate mod ecosystems. On Minecraft 1.20.2 and newer, a mod built for one does not work on the other unless the author ships both variants.

Is NeoForge safe to install?

Yes, when you get it from neoforged.net. The project is open source and maintained by the team that used to run Forge. The installer only touches your .minecraft folder and registers a launcher profile. It does not ask for your password or touch your account.

Can I use NeoForge on a server?

Yes. Run the installer with java -jar neoforge-26.3.0.95-installer.jar --installServer in an empty folder; it generates the server files and the mods folder. Players joining that server need the same NeoForge version and the same server-side mods installed on their clients.

Can I install NeoForge for 1.21.1 instead of 26.3?

Yes. The steps are identical. Just pick the installer that matches your game version and have the matching Java installed (Java 21 for 1.20.5 through 1.21.11). This guide uses 26.3 because it is the current release, but most big packs like All the Mods 10 still run on NeoForge 1.21.1.

Do I really need Java 25?

For Minecraft 26.1 and newer, yes. The game itself lists Java SE 25 as the minimum. The vanilla launcher handles the game side automatically, but the NeoForge installer is a plain Java program that needs Java installed on your system. Without it the installer simply will not open.

Why do my old Forge mods not work on NeoForge?

Because the APIs diverged after the fork. A Forge mod on 1.20.2+ calls functions NeoForge does not provide, so the game crashes at startup. The fix is to find the NeoForge build of that mod on CurseForge or Modrinth. Most active mods now publish both.