How to Download & Install Shaders in Minecraft?

How to install Minecraft Shaders
How to install Minecraft Shaders


How To Download & Install Shaders in Minecraft? In this article, I’m about to show you exactly how to download & install Shaders in Minecraft, so you can take the beauty of Minecraft to the next level.

Shaders is an unbelievable mod as it truly does change the entire visual experience of Minecraft. Added in new lighting, better graphics, and overall, took the graphics of Minecraft to an entirely new level. So, let’s go ahead and get started!

How to Download & Install Shaders

Download & Install Optifine

Shaders isn’t technically a mod; it is a graphics pack that is installed in a remarkably similar manner to texture packs. The thing is, nevertheless, shader packs aren’t supported by vanilla Minecraft. You require to install Optifine in order to get them up and running. Lucky for you, we have an in-depth tutorial on downloading and installing Optifine which you can see by clicking the link below!

Download AShaders Pack

There are lots of different shader packs out there. From very dark ones that are a bit spooky to extremely bright ones that make you feel like you’re at the beach, there are hundreds. However, some have a greater advantage than others. No matter what kind of shader pack you are looking for, that list has one for you. Also, all of the shader packs are verified to be performing with the latest version of Minecraft and Optifine, so you don’t have to worry about version incompatibility!

Note: Shader packs are typically VERY resource intensive. I cannot suggest playing Minecraft with shaders if you do not have a very good, desktop PC. Some high-end gaming laptops may be able to run shaders, but even those may have a problem depending on when they were released.

Open Your Shaders Folder

Now that you have your desired shader pack, go forward and open the Minecraft launcher and play the ‘Optifine’ version. When you’re on the Minecraft main menu, hit the ‘Options…’ button. Next, press the ‘Video Settings…’ button, and on the next page, click ‘Shaders…’. You’re almost there. Now, simply click the ‘Shaders Folder’ button in the bottom left of Minecraft, and a folder window will open up. (https://primer.com.au/) You are ultimately where you need to be.

Install TheShaders Pack

The most difficult part of getting shaders installed is getting to the shaders folder. Once you’re there, it’s actually pretty easy. Just take the shaders pack you downloaded in step 2, which is most likely in your ‘Downloads’ folder or on your desktop. Move into the ‘shaderpacks’ folder you just accessed. Once you’ve done that, close the folder, and restart Minecraft. Be sure when you are opening it back up you are selecting the ‘Optifine’ version. After you’re back in Minecraft, redo step 3, but stop only before opening the ‘Shaders Folder’. You should see the shader pack you just installed on this screen. Press it, click ‘done’, and go play some Minecraft!

Congratulations. You now understand how to download & install Shaders in Minecraft. Truthfully, the most challenging part of the complete process is getting to the Shaders Folder. Once you’ve accomplished that, it’s drag and drop! If you do, however, have any issues downloading and installing shader packs, comment below. We are pleased to assist you in any way we can.



  • To install shaders in “Minecraft: Java Edition,” you’ll first require to download a free program called OptiFine.
  • Once OptiFine is installed, all you need to do is move the shader files into a distinct folder on your computer.
  • Installing shaders in “Minecraft” can make your game more visually appealing, but also harder to run.
how to install minecraft shaders 1.14
how to install minecraft shaders 1.14


How to enable/disable ‘Minecraft’ shaders while playing

If you find that specific shaders don’t play well with your computer, or you simply don’t like how they look, here’s how to enable or disable shaders while you’re playing, without deleting the files outright.

  • While playing, click the “ESC” key to pull up the menu screen.
  • Just as you added the shaders, choose “Options…” then “Video Settings…” and “Shaders…”
  • To change between shaders – you can only have one shader pack enabled at once – choose the shader you’d like from the list of available options. Then, click “Done.”
  • To disable shaders entirely, choose “OFF” at the top of the Shaders page, and click “Done.”

What to do if your system can’t handle ‘Minecraft’ shaders

Shaders make “Minecraft” more graphically intensive, to the point where some older graphics cards might stumble to keep up. As you’re upgrading “Minecraft,” keep an eye on how your computer is handling the new stress.

If you find that your system doesn’t play well with shaders, one potential solution is to allocate more RAM to “Minecraft.” You can easily allocate more RAM using the “Minecraft” Launcher.

Another solution if you find your frame rates plummeting when running shaders is to adjust other settings with OptiFine.

OptiFine offers you handy summaries when you hover your cursor over its additional video settings. These outlines explain how various changes will affect your game, including which settings make gameplay the most efficient.

However, just note that not everything OptiFine tells you will necessarily be optimal for your type of computer and hardware. Test out changes one at a time, and pull up the debug menu with the F3 key (Fn + F3 on Mac) to observe your frame rate as you try different settings.

Eventually, you can try to find a shader pack that’s less memory intensive. Some savvy developers will release numerous versions of their shader packs, built for different types of computers.

If your system is struggling to render mega-rich shaders, search around for shaders that offer a range of intensities.