For players looking for a more customized and individualized gameplay experience, Minecraft Realms provides a unique opportunity. Frequently, the topic of modifying these private servers comes up.
This guide covers the options and offers a methodical approach to how to add mods in Minecraft Realms.
Can I Add Mods to Minecraft Realms?
Don't allow the fact that Minecraft Realms doesn't support conventional modifications to deter you from customizing the game. Similar levels of game augmentation are provided by the multitude of add-ons and marketplace maps that are available to Realm users.
Related: Why is Minecraft Realms not saving?
How Can I Add Mods to Minecraft Realms?
This is how you can enjoy alternatives to Minecraft mods:
- Understand the Limitations
- Traditional mods, like those you might use in a regular Minecraft server, can't be directly applied to Minecraft Realms.
- Minecraft Realms are designed for a more vanilla, or unmodified, gameplay experience.
- Explore Data Packs
- Data packs are sets of files that can change various aspects of the game, such as game mechanics, visuals, and in-game behavior.
- They are a safer and simpler way to modify the game, as they don't alter Minecraft's core programming.
- Finding Data Packs
- Search for data packs that suit your desired gameplay changes. Look for reputable sources online that host Minecraft data packs.
- For Bedrock users check out the Get More Packs.
- Applying a Data Pack
- In Minecraft, navigate to 'Singleplayer' and either create a new world or select an existing one.
- For Java:
- Access the world's Edit menu, go to Data Packs on Java, and drag the downloaded data pack into the Minecraft window.
- Ensure the data pack is moved to the Selected column to activate it.
- For Bedrock:
- Access the world's Edit menu, go to Resource Packs or Behaviour Packs.
- Ensure you Activate it before you leave the settings menu.
- Verifying Data Pack Activation
- After uploading, enter your World to check if the data pack is active and functioning as intended.
- You should notice changes in gameplay mechanics, new crafting recipes, or other modifications based on the data pack's features.
Note that if your goal is to extensively mod your Minecraft experience, a regular Minecraft server is the way to go, rather than a Minecraft Realm. As an admin of your own server, you can choose from countless mods available in the Minecraft community to enhance gameplay, add new features, or even overhaul the game mechanics entirely.
For more on Minecraft, come check out How to turn on and show Coordinates in Minecraft Realms on Pro Game Guides.
Raul Cosmin is a Contributing Writer at Pro Game Guides who has been immersed in gaming for over a decade. He is a passionate gamer, a die-hard fan of Fortnite, and an expert in mechanics and strategies for multiple titles in the competitive FPS scene. Though Raul has only been writing professionally for less than a year, his love for gaming—and the industry broadly—are long-standing and infectious. Raul is thrilled to continue his exciting gaming career here at PGG, and he hopes you follow along to see his latest and greatest guides!