Installing Shaders on Windows

OptiFine includes a shader loader, so you don't need any extra mod. A shader pack is a single .zip file that you place in the shaderpacks folder and enable from the in-game video settings.

Choose your OS

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

Before you start

Install OptiFine first — see Installing OptiFine — and launch the OptiFine profile at least once.

1. Download a shader pack

Popular packs are BSL, Complementary, Sildur's Vibrant and SEUS. Keep the file as .zip; do not unzip it.

2. Open the shaderpacks folder

In game, open Options → Video Settings → Shaders and click Shaders Folder. The folder opens in your file manager.

3. Add the pack and enable it

Move the .zip into the folder, go back to the Shaders screen, and click the pack name. The world reloads with the shader active.

4. Tune performance

• Lower the render distance to 8–12 chunks.
• Use the Lite or Medium preset of the pack.
• Turn off volumetric light and heavy reflections first — they cost the most FPS.
• Give Minecraft more RAM in the launcher if the world stutters when loading chunks.

Where the folder lives

%appdata%\.minecraft\shaderpacks