How do I find my Minecraft Folder?

Often when doing maintenance on a server or Minecraft files on your home computer you will need to find relevant folders and understand the structure of them. This guide will showcase a variety of ways to access your folders both in Minecraft: Java Edition and modded Minecraft launchers as well as explaining the basics of where certain elements of the game are stored on your PC.

Contents

1. Locating your Minecraft Folder and Files
   1. Using the resource pack selector (Recommended)
   2. Using your PCs File Explorer
      1. Windows
      2. Mac
      3. Linux
   3. Modded Launchers
      1. Twitch Launcher
      2. Technic Launcher
      3. ATLauncher
      4. FTB Launcher
   4. Using the Profile Options in the Launcher
2. Minecraft Folder Structure
   1. Crash Reports
   2. Logs
   3. Singleplayer Saves
   4. World Files
   5. Mods and Config Files
3. Troubleshooting
4. Further Reading & External Links

Locating your Minecraft folder and files

Using The Resource Pack folder (Recommended)

STICKY NOTE

This method is recommended because it will work with any version of Minecraft. Everything from modded to vanilla.

1. Start Minecraft
2. From the main menu in game click Options.
   
3. Click on Resource Packs.
   
4. Click on Open Resource Pack Folder to open your file explorer.
   
5. Navigate up one level (into the parent directory) in the window that opens to find the main Minecraft folder.

Using your Computer's File Explorer

Note that these instructions will only work for Minecraft: Java Edition installations.
If you are using modded Minecraft, use a one of the following methods:
Using a Modded Launcher
Using the Resource Pack Selector

Windows File Explorer

1. Start the search window from your desktop start menu.
   On almost every version of Windows, this can be found by clicking on the Start Menu.
2. Type %appdata% into the search and hit enter.
3. Click on the .minecraft folder.

Mac Finder

1. Open Finder on your Mac.
2. Navigate to your user's home directory.
3. Click on Library.
4. Click on Application Support.
5. Click on minecraft.

Linux explorer

1. Open your user's home directory.
2. Click on the .minecraft folder.
   Note: If you cannot find a .minecraft folder in your home directory, find the setting which is similar to View Hidden Files. On Ubuntu, this is the Ctrl+H keyboard shortcut.

Modded launchers

Dependant on which launcher you are using, there will be different ways of finding your files.
The first step for any Modded launcher is to start it and let the main screen open.

• Twitch Launcher
• Technic Launcher
• ATLauncher
• FTB Launcher

Twitch/Curse Launcher

1. Click on Mods.
   
2. Click on Minecraft.
   
3. Right click one of your Minecraft profiles (These are the images displaying each modpack you have installed).
4. Click Open Folder.
   

Technic launcher

1. Click on Modpacks.
2. Click the gear next to Modpack Options.
   
3. Click Open (This is next to the field showing your file path for Minecraft).
   

ATLauncher

1. Click Instances.
2. Click Open Folder on your chosen Pack.

FTB launcher

1. Select the pack you wish to open the folder for.
2. Click Edit Mod Pack.
   
3. Click Open Folder on the lefthand side.

Profile options in the Launcher

Note that these instructions will only work for Minecraft: Java Edition installations.
If you are using modded Minecraft, use a one of the following methods:
Using a Modded Launcher
Using the Resource Pack Selector

1. Start the Minecraft launcher.
2. Do not click play. This method uses the launcher window.
3. At the top of the splash screen click Installations.
   
4. Select and edit a profile or create a new one.
   
5. Click the Browse button next to the Game Directory box.
   

STICKY NOTE

Using the resource pack folder will work on any version of Minecraft, from Vanilla to Modded. It will always work, which is why it's the way we recommend doing it.

Minecraft folder structure

Crash Reports

• Crash reports are used to help find the reason the game crashed as well as providing details on which mods are or are not working.
• Within the Minecraft root directory, they are found in a folder called crash_reports.
  If you do not see this folder then you most likely, have not had a crash yet.

Logs

• Log files are a record of everything that has happened during loading of the modpack as well as tracking all activity ingame.
• They can be used to locate a specific time, location and cause of crashes and other problems.
• Within the Minecraft root directory, they are found in a folder called logs.
• Scroll down the list of logs and find latest to obtain the most recent information.

Singleplayer Saves

• Saves contain all information about a world and dimensions in a game.
• Within the Minecraft root directory, they are found in a folder called saves. This folder does not contain any world data for servers.
• This folder does not exist on a server.
• If you want to find similar information on a server use the world folder as detailed below.

World Files

• World folders contain all the information about a world both on single player and servers.
• On single player they can be found by first opening the saves folder.
• The world folders on single player and servers will have the same name as the world that you created.

Mods and Config Files

• Mods for Minecraft create two folders within the root directory.
• mods contains all the .jar files that activate and process mods in your save.
• configs contains text files that set the functions and options of a mod.
• The configs will always have names that relate to or match the appropriate mods. This can make them easier to find.
  On occassion a mod will create a folder in configs rather than a single file. These can be accessed and adjusted in the same way as the standard config files.

Troubleshooting

• The biggest issue that you may come across when trying to find your Minecraft folders occurs when a custom installation path was chosen. In this case, the resource pack folder button is still effective at finding your folders for you.
• If you have experienced a crash but no crash reports have generated then the issue may be related to Forge, JAVA, or the launcher itself. Make sure that they are all up to date and working properly.

Further Reading & External Links

• How To: Read a Minecraft Crash Report
• Minecraft Folder Structure

StickyPiston Support

Whether you own a server with StickyPiston or don't, we are always happy to help with any and all issues you may be having. Open a support ticket with our team and we will be in touch.

Open Support Ticket