Texture packs change how Minecraft looks without changing how it plays
A texture pack is a folder of image files that replaces the default blocky appearance of Minecraft with a different visual style. You download a texture pack file, put it in the right folder on your computer, and select it from the Minecraft launcher. The game then displays those new textures instead of the originals. Texture packs do not alter gameplay, add new blocks, or change how the game works — they only change what things look like on your screen.
The process is the same whether you play on Java Edition or Bedrock Edition, though the folder locations differ. Most texture packs are free and come as a single .zip file that you do not need to unzip.
Key Takeaways
- Texture packs are .zip files that you place in your resourcepacks folder, not files you unzip or install like software.
- Java Edition stores resourcepacks in a folder inside your .minecraft directory; Bedrock Edition uses a different path that depends on whether you play on Windows, Mac, or console.
- You select an installed texture pack from the Minecraft launcher before you start a world, and you can switch between packs at any time.
- Texture packs made for one Minecraft version may not work on another, so check the pack's version before downloading.
Finding and downloading a texture pack
Texture packs are hosted on several sites. The most common are Planet Minecraft, CurseForge, and the official Minecraft Marketplace. Planet Minecraft and CurseForge are free and user-run; the Marketplace sells official packs but also hosts free ones. Search for a pack by name or by style — "realistic", "cartoon", "dark", "bright" — and read the description to confirm it matches your Minecraft version.
Download the texture pack file to your computer. It will arrive as a .zip file, usually named something like "SomePack.zip" or "SomePack-1.20.zip". Do not unzip it. Leave it as a .zip file — Minecraft reads it directly.
Locating your resourcepacks folder on Java Edition
Java Edition stores texture packs in a folder called resourcepacks inside your .minecraft directory. The path depends on your operating system.
On Windows: Open File Explorer and type this into the address bar at the top: %appdata%\.minecraft\resourcepacks — then press Enter. This takes you directly to the resourcepacks folder.
On Mac: Open Finder, click Go in the menu bar, select Go to Folder, and type this: ~/Library/Application Support/minecraft/resourcepacks — then press Enter.
On Linux: Open a file manager and navigate to ~/.minecraft/resourcepacks.
If the resourcepacks folder does not exist, create it yourself. Right-click in the .minecraft folder, select New Folder, and name it resourcepacks.
Locating your resourcepacks folder on Bedrock Edition
On Windows 10 or 11: Open File Explorer and type this into the address bar: %localappdata%\Packages\Microsoft.MinecraftUWP_8wekyb3d8bbwe\LocalState\games\com.mojang\resource_packs — then press Enter.
On Mac: Open Finder, click Go in the menu bar, select Go to Folder, and type this: ~/Library/Application Support/minecraft/resource_packs — then press Enter.
On Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, or Xbox: Bedrock Edition on consoles does not support custom texture packs in the same way. You can purchase official packs from the in-game Marketplace, but you cannot add your own files. Check the Marketplace inside the game instead.
Moving the texture pack file into the folder
Once you have located your resourcepacks folder, drag the .zip file you downloaded into that folder. That is all you need to do — do not unzip it, do not rename it, do not move it anywhere else. Minecraft will find it there.
If you downloaded the file to your Downloads folder, open Downloads in one window and your resourcepacks folder in another, then drag the .zip file from Downloads into resourcepacks. You can also cut and paste it if dragging does not work on your system.
Selecting the texture pack in Minecraft
Open the Minecraft launcher and start the game. On the main menu, click Options, then Resource Packs. You will see a list of available packs on the left side — this includes any .zip files you placed in the resourcepacks folder. Click the pack you want to use, then click the arrow button to move it to the right side under "Selected". The pack at the top of the right-side list is the one that will be active.
Close the Resource Packs menu and start a world. The texture pack is now active. You can switch between packs at any time by returning to the Resource Packs menu, and you can use multiple packs at once by selecting more than one — Minecraft will blend them together, with packs higher in the list overriding lower ones.
Troubleshooting texture packs that do not appear or work
If a texture pack does not show up in your Resource Packs list, the most common cause is that it is in the wrong folder or the folder path is incorrect. Double-check that the .zip file is directly inside resourcepacks, not inside a subfolder. Also confirm that you used the correct path for your operating system — Windows and Mac paths are different, and a typo will create a new empty folder instead of opening the real one.
If a texture pack appears in the list but looks broken or shows missing textures, it may be made for a different Minecraft version than the one you are running. Check the pack's description on the download site to see which versions it supports. A pack made for version 1.19 will not work correctly on version 1.20, for example. Download a version of the pack that matches your Minecraft version, or check if the pack creator has released an updated version.
If Minecraft crashes when you select a texture pack, try removing it and restarting the game. Then add it back one at a time if you have multiple packs selected, so you can identify which one is causing the problem. Some packs conflict with each other or with certain mods.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use texture packs on Minecraft Realms or multiplayer servers?
Yes. Texture packs are client-side, meaning they only change what you see on your screen. Other players see the default textures unless they have installed the same pack. Realms and servers do not need to allow or support texture packs — they work automatically.
Do texture packs work with mods?
Usually yes, but not always. Most texture packs work fine alongside mods. However, if a mod adds new blocks and the texture pack does not include textures for those blocks, you will see missing or default textures for them. Some packs are designed specifically to work with certain mods.
What if I want to uninstall a texture pack?
Go back to your resourcepacks folder and delete the .zip file. Then open Minecraft, go to Resource Packs, and remove the pack from the selected list. The default textures will return the next time you start a world.
Can I edit a texture pack or combine two packs together?
Yes, but it requires unzipping the .zip file, editing the image files inside, and rezipping it. This is more advanced and requires image editing software. Most players use packs as-is rather than modifying them.
Why does my texture pack look different on my friend's computer?
Texture packs can look different depending on your graphics settings, especially if you have changed brightness, contrast, or shader settings. Also, if you are both using the same pack but different Minecraft versions, the pack may render slightly differently. Make sure you are both running the same Minecraft version and the same texture pack version.