Almost every add-on, texture pack and shader for Minecraft Bedrock comes as one of two files: a .mcpack or a .mcaddon. A .mcpack holds one pack. A .mcaddon is a bundle that can hold a behavior pack and a resource pack together. Minecraft knows both of them, so installing is mostly about opening the file the right way on your device. This guide shows you how to do it on every platform, how to turn the pack on, and what to do when something goes wrong.
Before you start
- Download packs only from places you trust. All of my projects are on CurseForge and MCPEDL. A real pack never asks you to install an app or an extension.
- Check which Minecraft version the pack is made for. Most project pages say it near the top.
- Make a copy of your world before you add a new add-on to it. If you do not like the add-on, you can go back to the copy.
Windows 10 and 11
- Download the .mcpack or .mcaddon file.
- Double-click it. Minecraft opens by itself and shows "Import started", then "Successfully imported".
- If double-clicking opens something else, right-click the file, choose Open with, and pick Minecraft.
If your browser saved the file as a .zip, rename it back to .mcpack or .mcaddon before you open it.
Android
- Download the file. It usually goes to your Downloads folder.
- Open your file manager app and tap the file.
- When your phone asks which app to use, choose Minecraft. The game opens and imports the pack.
If tapping the file does nothing, open it from a different file manager. Some built-in ones do not pass the file to Minecraft.
iPhone and iPad
- Download the file. Safari saves it in the Files app.
- Open Files, go to Downloads, and long-press the file.
- Tap Share, then pick Minecraft from the list of apps. Minecraft opens and imports the pack.
Turn the pack on
Importing a pack does not switch it on. You still have to add it to a world or to your global packs.
- Texture packs and shaders: go to Settings, then Global Resources, open My Packs and press Activate. Global packs work in every world.
- Add-ons: open the world's settings, go to Behavior Packs, open Available and press Activate. Minecraft usually turns on the matching resource pack for you.
- Experiments: some add-ons need experimental features. If the project page says so, turn them on in the world's Game settings before you play.
Pack order matters
When you use more than one pack, the pack at the top of the list wins when two packs change the same thing. If a pack looks like it is not working, move it up and try again. Some of my tools, like Buildmatica, need two packs together, and the page for that tool tells you which one goes on top.
Common problems and fixes
- "Import failed" or "Duplicate pack": you already have this pack, often an older version. Delete the old one in Settings > Storage, then import again.
- Nothing changes in the game: check that the pack is active, that it is above other packs that change the same blocks, and that experiments are on if the add-on needs them.
- The world will not open after adding an add-on: remove the add-on from the world or go back to your copy of the world. Then check if there is a newer version of the add-on.
- The file opens as a .zip: rename it to .mcpack or .mcaddon and open it again.
Updating a pack
To update, download the new version and import it like before. If Minecraft says the pack already exists, delete the old one from storage first. Your worlds keep the pack turned on, so you do not have to set it up again.
That is all you need. Have a look at my projects for add-ons and texture packs to try, and if you get stuck, ask in my Discord server.
