How To Install Shaders in Minecraft – Complete Guide (2021)

Ever since its release, Minecraft has been a fan favorite game that players can’t get enough of. Some of it has to do with the fact that there are almost endless things you can do in the game. On top of that, Minecraft is an extremely mod-friendly game that lets the players install new mods, texture packs, and shaders to the game.

Installing shaders can completely change the outlook of the entire game. From small adjustments to complete lighting overhauls, there are tons of shaders to choose from and install depending on your preference. Without further ado, let’s get started and find out how you can install shaders in Minecraft.

How to Get Shaders in Minecraft

While shaders aren’t technically considered as mods, players usually install them with certain mods to make the game feel fresh. Keep in mind that some shaders are extremely taxing on your graphics card and CPU, so make sure to install them accordingly. The overall process is quite simple but it can be a bit complicated for players that aren’t experienced in this field. Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered.

Install Optifine for Minecraft

If you have the vanilla version of Minecraft, you won’t be able to install the shader packs since they are not supported. However, there is a simple solution that will fix this problem. Optifine is a tool that allows you to install all of the shader packs that you have downloaded. It is an extremely easy and convenient software to use.

Download Shader Packs in Minecraft

How To Install Shaders in Minecraft

Now that you have downloaded and installed Optifine, let’s download some shader packs. There are some great websites – such as Shader Mods – that allow you to download various shader packs. As mentioned earlier, you can find a shader pack that perfectly suits your needs. The majority of the shaders enhance the visuals of Minecraft and make it look beautiful.

We do not suggest installing any shaders if you do not have a high-end PC. Shader packs are extremely taxing and can give even the best PCs a run for their money. If you’re not certain which shader you are looking for, make sure that you sort the list by popularity. This will allow you to look at some of the highest-rated shaders available.

Installing Shader Packs

Before we get to the installation process, let’s find out how to locate and open the shaders folder from Minecraft. Here are all the steps you need to follow:

  • Launch Minecraft Launcher
  • Open the Optifine version
  • Go to Options from the menu
  • Press Video Settings
  • Open Shaders
  • Click on Shaders Folder located at the bottom left

Once you’ve located and opened the shaders folder, everything is a walk in the park from there. Just make sure that you put the shaders you download in the shaderpacks folder. After doing that, restart Minecraft and open it again as mentioned above. You will have the option to install the shaders you put in the folder just by clicking them and pressing install.


That’s everything you need to know about how to install shaders in Minecraft. Hopefully, following this guide made it easier for you to install these packs and beautify your game. Let us know in the comments below which shader is your favorite and why?

Umer Cheema
Umer Cheema

By day, Umer loves writing about games and talking about them; by night, he is an avid gamer that loves playing League of Legends and RTS games. Being a massive fan of Metal Gear Solid, you'll find Umer always praising the legendary Hideo Kojima.

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