How to Make a Minecraft Texture Pack

Written by Travis Boylls

Last Updated: September 20, 2024 Fact Checked

This wikiHow teaches you how to edit Minecraft textures and use them in-game on both Windows and Mac computers. To do this, you'll need a copy of Minecraft Java Edition, an archive program such as WinRAR or 7-zip, and a graphics editing program that can do transparent graphics. You can use Adobe Photoshop , or GIMP which is a free alternative to Photoshop.

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Extracting the Files You Need

Download Article

{"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/9\/98\/Make-a-Minecraft-Texture-Pack-Step-1-Version-6.jpg\/v4-460px-Make-a-Minecraft-Texture-Pack-Step-1-Version-6.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/9\/98\/Make-a-Minecraft-Texture-Pack-Step-1-Version-6.jpg\/aid2192646-v4-728px-Make-a-Minecraft-Texture-Pack-Step-1-Version-6.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\">\u00a9 2024 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc. \n<\/p> \n<\/p><\/div>"}

1
Open the Minecraft directory folder . There are three ways you can navigate to the Minecraft directory folder. ^{[1]
X
Research source} They are as follows:
- Windows: Type "%AppData%" in the search bar next to the Start menu and press "Enter". Then open the ".minecraft" folder.
- Mac: Open the Finder . Click Go in the menu bar at the top. Hold Option and click Library . Click the "Application Support" folder. Click the "minecraft" folder.
- Within Minecraft: Launch Minecraft: Click Options on the title screen. Click Resource Packs . Click Open Pack Folder . Navigate back one folder.
You'll find this in the middle of the ".minecraft" folder.

Advertisement
3
Double-click the most recent version's folder. As of October 2023, the most recent version of Minecraft is 1.20.2. This means that you'll double-click the "1.20.2" folder. ^{[2]
X
Research source}
- When in doubt, look for the biggest number here.
4
Copy the JAR file . The Jar file has an icon with a coffee cup on it. The filename is the latest Minecraft version number. Right-click the Jar file and click Copy .
- If your mouse or trackpad doesn't have right and left buttons, use two fingers to tap on the trackpad (or press the trackpad's button), or press the right side of the button, to simulate a right-click .
On Windows, simply click ".minecraft" in the address bar at the top of File Explorer to go back one folder. ^{[3]
X
Research source} On Mac, click the back arrow twice in the upper-left corner of the Finder.
6
Create a new folder for your texture pack. Use the following steps to create a new folder for your texture pack:
- RIght-click a blank area in the Minecraft directory folder.
- Click New (Windows only)
- Click New folder
- Type in a name.
- Press Enter .
Double-click the folder that you just created to open it. Then right-click and click Paste .
8
Extract the JAR file using WinRAR or 7-zip. The Jar file works a lot like a zip file.
- Right-click the JAR file.
- Click 7-zip (if you are using 7-zip).
- Click Extract to [JAR name]\ (do not click "Extract Here".) ^{[4]
  X
  Research source}

Part 2

Part 2 of 3:

Creating a Texture Pack

Download Article

1
Navigate to the "Textures" folder. It's in the new folder you created when you extracted the JAR file. Use the following steps to navigate to the "Textures" folder inside the new folder you just create when you extracted the Jar file:
- Open the folder with the version number on it.
- Open the "assets" folder.
- Open the "minecraft" folder.
- Open the "textures" folder.
2
Find a texture category that you want to edit and open its folder. Each folder has a different texture category. You can find some textures in the following folders:
- The various blocks are listed in the "Blocks" folder.
- Mobs, animals, villagers, and illagers are listed under the "Entity" folder.
- Items can be found in the "Item" folder.
- Clouds, rain, snow, and the sun can be found in the "Environment" folder.
- Various effects, such as smoke, explosions, dripping, etc can be found in the "Particle" folder.
3
Open a texture in an image editing program. Find a texture that you want to edit, right-click it, select Open with . Then select an image editing program such as Photoshop or GIMP.
- The image will be very tiny. You'll need to zoom in on it to be able to edit it.
Use Paint to make any color changes to your texture. This step is up to you in terms of how you want to redesign the textures.
When you are finished making your changes the image file, just save over it. Make sure you save it as a PNG file, using the same file name and location.
Edit as many textures as you want to edit. When you are finished, you can move on to the next step.
After you are done editing all the textures and you are ready to test them, return to the folder you create when you extracted the Jar file. It has the version of Minecraft you are currently using.
8
Create and open a new text file. Use the following steps to create a new text file:
- Windows:
- Mac:

Enter the resource pack code. Type the following code into your text document. You can add whatever description you want for your texture pack after "Description". Making sure that each line of code is on its own line: ^{[5]
X
Research source}

 { 
 "pack" 
 : 
 { 
 "pack_format" 
 : 
 12 
 , 
 "description" 
 : 
 "[Any description you want to give your pack]" 
 } 
 }

The number behind pack_format is different for different versions of Minecraft:

`pack_format`	Minecraft version
1	1.6.1 – 1.8.9
2	1.9 – 1.10.2
3	1.11 – 1.12.2
4	1.13 – 1.14.4
5	1.15 – 1.16.1
6	1.16.2 – 1.16.5
7	1.17x
8	1.18.x
9	1.19 – 1.19.2
11	22w42a – 22w44a
12	1.19.3
13	1.19.4
14	23w14a – 1.20 release candidate 1
15	1.20 – 1.20.1
16	23w31a
17	23w32a – 23w35a
18	1.20.2 pre-release 2
19	23w42a
20	23w43a - 23w44a
21	23w45a - 23w46a
22	1.20.3 pre-release 1 - 1.20.3
23	Unknown, somewhere between 1.20.3 and 23w51b
24	24w03a - 24w04a
25	24w05a/b
26	24w06a
27	Unknown, 24w07a or 24w08a ?
28	24w09a - 24w10a
29	24w11a
30	24w12a
31	24w13a - 1.20.5 Pre-Release 3
32	1.20.5 Pre-Release 4 - 1.20.6
33	24w18a - 24w20a
34	24w21a - 1.21

10
Save your text file as a ".mcmeta" file. Use the following steps to save the file as a ".mcmeta" file:
- Windows:
- Mac:
11
Create your resource pack. Use the following steps to create a resource pack zip file: ^{[6]
X
Research source}
- Hold "Ctrl" or "Option" and select the "assets" folder and the "mcmeta" file.
- Right-click either file
- Click Compress 2 items (Mac only).
- Click 7-zip (if you are using 7-zip .)
- Click Add to Archive
- Change the file name to whatever you want to name the texture pack.
- Ensure "ZIP" is selected under "Archive format".
- Click Ok .
12
Copy the resource pack zip file to the "resourcepacks" folder. Once you copy the zip file over, you are ready to access the texture pack in Minecraft. Use the following steps to copy the zip file over to the Resource Packs folder:
- Right-click your resource pack zip file.
- Navigate back to the ".minecraft" folder on PC or "minecraft" folder on Mac.
- Open the "resourcepacks" folder.
- Right-click any black space.
- Click Paste .

Part 3

Part 3 of 3:

Accessing Texture Packs In-Game

Download Article

1
Open Minecraft. Re-open the launcher if you closed it, then click PLAY .
- If you didn't close the launcher, click the News tab before clicking PLAY .
It's in the bottom-left corner of the Minecraft start screen.
You'll find this option in the lower-left side of the page.
Doing so will move it from the left-hand column into the right-hand column.
It's at the bottom of the page. This will load your resource pack into the game, after which point you can play any existing (or new) world to experience your updated texture pack.
Once the resource pack is activated, you can start any game of Minecraft. Your texture packs will be active in the game.

Community Q&A

Search

Add New Question

Question

Will this work on a 12-year-old computer?

Community Answer

Most likely, yes, but if you are making big changes and you want the FPS to run smoothly you will most likely want to use it on a newer computer to avoid lag/crash issues.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 46 Helpful 88
Question

Can I make a Minecraft texture pack without owning Minecraft?

Community Answer

Yes, you can. Just run the demo, close the demo, and then look in the game directory. Open the version jarfile (versions\1.11.2\1.11.2.jar etc.) with WinRar or some archive opener. Then extract the assets folder from the archive to a folder, where you will edit the textures. Then copy the whole folder into gamedirectory\resourcepacks\, go into the game, go to options, go to resource packs, and it should work.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 26 Helpful 66
Question

Can something go wrong and cause me to lose the original textures?

Goodvillain034

Community Answer

Yes, but it's unlikely. One thing you can do is copy the texture file/folder and save it somewhere else on your PC in case the texture file or folder accidently gets deleted, destroyed, or improperly edited.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 14 Helpful 81

See more answers

Ask a Question

200 characters left

Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.

Submit

Tips

Tips from our Readers

The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.

To change the size of your crosshair, go to the menu, click on the video settings, then adjust the gui scale. Keep in mind that this will change the size of all the guis.
Instead of installing WinRAR or 7zip, you can rename the "(current version of minecraft).jar" file to "(minecraft version).zip" file, then unzip the zip file.
Make sure to copy your original texture in case something goes wrong!

Submit a Tip

All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published

Name

Please provide your name and last initial

Submit

Thanks for submitting a tip for review!

You Might Also Like

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

Log in

How to Make a Minecraft Texture Pack

Steps

Extracting the Files You Need

Creating a Texture Pack

Accessing Texture Packs In-Game

Community Q&A

Tips

Tips from our Readers

You Might Also Like

References

About This Article

Did this article help you?

Quizzes

You Might Also Like

Featured Articles

Trending Articles

Featured Articles

Featured Articles

Watch Articles

Trending Articles

Quizzes

Explore Categories