Installing OptiFine on macOS

OptiFine is a Minecraft Java Edition mod that boosts performance, adds shader support, and unlocks fine-grained video settings. It installs as a custom Minecraft profile: you download one .jar file, run it, click Install, then launch the OptiFine profile from the Minecraft Launcher. The whole process usually takes under two minutes.

Choose your OS

Pick your operating system if you'd like to switch guides:

Prerequisites

Before you start, make sure you have the following ready:

• Minecraft Java Edition installed and launched at least once for the version you want to mod. The first launch downloads the game files OptiFine patches into.
• Java — the Minecraft Launcher ships a compatible Java runtime, so launching Minecraft once is usually enough. See the Installing Java guide if the installer won't open.
• The right OptiFine build for your Minecraft version. Grab the matching .jar from the Downloads page.

1. Download OptiFine

Grab the .jar that matches your Minecraft version from the Downloads page. Save it to your Downloads folder.

2. Run the installer

Double-click the .jar. If macOS blocks it with an "unidentified developer" warning, right-click the file, choose Open, then confirm Open in the security prompt. If nothing happens, Java is missing — install the latest Temurin JRE or launch Minecraft once so the bundled runtime is available.

3. Click Install

In the installer window, click Install. The default Minecraft folder is ~/Library/Application Support/minecraft — the installer should pick it up automatically. Confirm when the success dialog appears.

4. Launch the OptiFine profile

Open the Minecraft Launcher, go to Installations, choose the new OptiFine profile, then click Play.

Verify the install

Launch the OptiFine profile from the Minecraft Launcher. On the main menu, open Options → Video Settings. If you see extra tabs like Shaders, Details, and Performance, OptiFine is running.

Troubleshooting

The .jar file does not open

The system is trying to open the file with an archive tool instead of Java. Right-click the file, choose Open with, and pick the Java runtime. If Java isn't listed, install it first — see the Installing Java guide.

OptiFine profile does not appear

Open the Minecraft Launcher, go to Installations, and toggle the Modded filter on. If the profile is still missing, re-run the OptiFine installer.

Wrong Minecraft version

OptiFine builds are tied to a specific Minecraft version. Double-check the version on the Downloads page and use the matching .jar.