How to Install the CurseForge App (2026): Modpacks in Minutes
The short answer to how to install the CurseForge app: Download the standalone installer from curseforge.com/download, run it, pick Minecraft when the app opens, and click Install on any modpack. The app installs the right mod loader and every mod for you, and you click Play to launch. The whole setup takes about five minutes on Windows or Mac. Linux needs the standalone build from the same page. Full steps for each system are below.
The CurseForge app is the easiest way to play modded Minecraft. It is a launcher that sits next to the normal Minecraft launcher, and it does the jobs that make modding annoying: finding mods, matching versions, installing the right loader, and updating packs when the authors release a fix. You can install a 300-mod pack in two clicks, or build your own pack one mod at a time, without touching a single jar file by hand.
What the CurseForge app is, and what it is not
CurseForge is the largest mod hosting site for Minecraft, run by Overwolf. The app is its desktop launcher for Windows, Mac, and Linux. It downloads mods and modpacks from CurseForge, installs the loader they need (Forge, Fabric, or NeoForge), and launches Minecraft with everything configured. It is free. The Overwolf version shows ads in the app. The standalone version does not, and that is the version this guide recommends.
What it is not: it is not a Minecraft launcher replacement. You still need a real Minecraft account, and the app still launches the game through the official Minecraft launcher. It does not work with Bedrock Edition. It is Java Edition only. It also does not install mods from Modrinth, so if a mod only exists there, you add it by hand.
Before you install
- Minecraft: Java Edition, owned and installed. The CurseForge app does not include Minecraft. Buy and install the game first, and run it once so the game folder exists.
- Java 17 or newer. Modern Minecraft needs it, and the Minecraft launcher installs the right version automatically. If you have an old Java install, update it.
- Disk space. The app itself is small, under 200 MB. Modpacks are not. A big pack like All the Mods 10 needs 2 to 4 GB, plus space for worlds. Check your drive before you install a large pack.
- RAM. Large modpacks need 6 to 8 GB of RAM allocated to Minecraft. Small packs run on 4 GB. Our how to allocate more RAM guide shows the exact setting.
Install the CurseForge app on Windows
- Open the official download page. Go to curseforge.com/download in your browser. Only download the app from the official CurseForge site. Third-party installers and modpack downloaders sometimes bundle adware.
- Pick the standalone installer. The page offers two Windows builds. Download on Overwolf installs the app with the Overwolf overlay and ads. The direct download link installs the standalone app without Overwolf. Pick the standalone build.
Windows · Standalone installer · No Overwolf · Official download
- Run the installer. Double-click the downloaded .exe and follow the prompts. The installer is quick and asks for nothing unusual. If Windows SmartScreen warns you, click More info, then Run anyway, because the file came from the official site.
- Open the app and pick Minecraft. The first screen asks which game you want to manage. Click Minecraft. The app finds your Minecraft installation automatically. If it does not, point it at your game folder under Settings, Game Specific.
- Sign in to Minecraft when asked. The first time you launch a pack, the app opens the Minecraft launcher and asks you to sign in with your Microsoft account. This is the normal Minecraft sign-in. CurseForge never asks for your Minecraft password itself.
Install the CurseForge app on Mac
- Open curseforge.com/download in your browser. The page detects macOS and shows the Mac download.
- Download the .dmg file. This is the Mac installer, and it works on both Intel and Apple Silicon Macs.
macOS · Universal .dmg · Intel and Apple Silicon · Official download
- Open the .dmg and drag the app to Applications. This is the standard Mac install. Eject the disk image when it is done.
- Open the app and pick Minecraft. The first screen asks which game to manage. Click Minecraft. If macOS blocks the app because it is from an unidentified developer, open System Settings, Privacy and Security, and click Open Anyway.
- Sign in to Minecraft when asked. Same as Windows: the first launch opens the Minecraft launcher and asks for your Microsoft sign-in.
Install the CurseForge app on Linux
Linux gets the standalone build from the same download page. Download it, make the file executable with chmod plus x in a terminal, and run it. The app supports the major distributions, and it manages Minecraft the same way as on Windows and Mac. Linux users who prefer a fully open-source launcher sometimes pick Prism Launcher instead, which is a solid alternative if you do not want Overwolf software on your machine at all. Our how to install mods on Java guide covers manual installs if you go that route.
Install your first modpack
- Open the CurseForge app and click Minecraft. You see the My Modpacks screen, which is empty at first.
- Click Browse Modpacks. The app shows the most popular packs. Use the search box to find a specific one, or filter by version and loader.
- Pick a pack and click Install. The app downloads every mod in the pack, installs the right loader version, and configures the profile. A big pack takes a few minutes. Do not close the app while it downloads.
- Click Play. The pack launches through the Minecraft launcher. The first launch takes longer than normal, because Forge or NeoForge has to load every mod. Later launches are faster.
Good first packs: All the Mods 10 is the biggest kitchen-sink pack on CurseForge, with hundreds of mods and a long endgame. RLCraft is the hardest survival pack. Pixelmon brings Pokemon into Minecraft. If you want a smaller start, pick a pack with under 100 mods and add more later.
Minecraft 1.21.1 · NeoForge · v8.3 · Official download
Create a custom profile (your own modpack)
Custom profiles are how you build a pack with exactly the mods you want. They take five minutes to set up and they are the best way to learn how modpacks work.
- Click Create Custom Profile in My Modpacks. Give the profile a name.
- Pick a Minecraft version and a loader. Choose the version your mods support. If you are not sure, pick 1.21.1 with NeoForge, because most current mods support it. You can change the exact loader build in the Modloader Version setting.
- Click Create and wait. The app downloads the loader and sets up the profile folder. This takes a minute or two.
- Add content. Click Add Content, search for a mod, and click Install. CurseForge downloads the mod and its dependencies automatically, and it filters out mods that do not match your version or loader.
- Click Play. The profile launches with your mods. Add or remove mods from the profile screen at any time.
To add a mod that is not on CurseForge, open the profile folder from the three-dot menu, drop the jar into the mods folder, and launch again. To find the folder, click the three dots next to your profile and choose Open Folder.
Updating and removing mods
CurseForge checks for updates automatically. When a mod in your pack has a new version, the app shows an update button next to it. Click it and the app replaces the old file. For modpacks, the app updates the whole pack at once when the author releases a new version, and it keeps your worlds and config changes.
To remove a mod, open the profile, find the mod in the list, and click Remove. If the game crashes after removing a mod, it is usually because another mod depended on it. Put the mod back and remove the dependent mod first. To remove a whole pack, right-click it in My Modpacks and choose Delete. This deletes the profile folder, so back up any worlds in it first.
Moving a modpack to another PC
Copy the modpack folder from the CurseForge Minecraft folder and import it on the other machine. On Windows, the folder is %AppData%\CurseForge\Minecraft\Instances. On Mac, it is in ~/Library/Application Support/CurseForge/Minecraft/Instances. In the app, click Import on the My Modpacks screen and pick the folder. The app installs the loader and verifies the files, and your worlds come with it.
Troubleshooting the CurseForge app
The app will not start
Reinstall using the standalone version from the official download page. If you installed the Overwolf version and it fails, the standalone build fixes most startup problems. Check that your graphics drivers are current, because the app uses hardware acceleration to render its interface.
The app cannot find Minecraft
Set the game path by hand. Open Settings, Game Specific, and point the Minecraft setting at your game folder. On Windows, that is usually %appdata%\.minecraft. On Mac, it is ~/Library/Application Support/minecraft.
A modpack will not launch
Check three things. First, Java 17 or newer is installed. Second, enough RAM is allocated: 6 to 8 GB for a large pack. Third, the pack’s loader matches its mods. If the game crashes on the loading screen, read the crash report in the profile folder. It names the mod that failed, and removing that mod usually fixes the launch. Our mod crash troubleshooting guide walks through reading crash reports.
Overwolf errors
If you installed the Overwolf version and get overlay errors, disable the Overwolf overlay in the Overwolf settings, or reinstall with the standalone build, which has no Overwolf at all. The standalone build is the fix for almost every Overwolf-related error.
Mods break after a Minecraft update
Wait for the authors to post compatible versions before you update. The app will not auto-update your packs to a new Minecraft version, and that is a good thing. Update the pack only when its page lists your target version.
Safety and downloads
Only download the CurseForge app from curseforge.com. Third-party installers sometimes bundle adware or worse. The app itself is free, and the standalone version has no ads. Never download a modpack from a random file host when the same pack is on CurseForge. A real modpack installs through the app or as a zip you import. It never asks for your Minecraft password, your email, or payment. If a site asks for any of that to download a pack, close it.
FAQ
Is the CurseForge app free?
Yes, it is free. Ads appear only in the Overwolf version. The standalone version has no ads and costs nothing.
Can I use the CurseForge app without Overwolf?
Yes. Download the standalone installer from the official download page. It is the same app without the Overwolf overlay.
Does the CurseForge app work with Bedrock Edition?
No. The CurseForge app supports Minecraft: Java Edition only. Bedrock players use add-ons from the Marketplace instead.
How much RAM does the CurseForge app need?
Allocate 6 to 8 GB to Minecraft if you play large modpacks. Smaller packs run on 4 GB. The app itself uses little RAM. The number that matters is what you give the game in the profile settings.
Can I use mods from Modrinth in the CurseForge app?
Yes, by hand. Download the mod jar from Modrinth, open the profile folder, and drop it into the mods folder. The app does not browse Modrinth, so you manage those mods yourself, including updates.
Do I need the CurseForge app to play modpacks?
No. You can install loaders and mods by hand, or use another launcher like Prism Launcher or MultiMC. The app is the easiest route, not the only one. It earns its place by handling versions, dependencies, and updates for you.
