Mods for Minecraft [duplicate]

Question

I'm trying to help my young son to download/install Mods for Minecraft - but it seems like an impossible task. I know nothing about Minecraft, but have tried to download many Mods from different sites - some seems to be downloaded and some don't.

However - when downloading the files I'm never asked where to store the files, I don't know where they need to be stored, and even if some have been stored in the folders where all the other Minecraft files are, nothing happens in Minecraft when starting the game. So - what to do and how? Step-by-step please - as you undertsand from the above I'm on deep water here...

1. How to download and where to store the files
2. Any action to "activate" the files in Minecraft?

A million thanks from me & my son:-)

Answer 1

I feel your pain, mods can be the hardest things to actually get working no matter how many tutorial you watch. I found this amazingly easy thing called technic. What it is, is a ton of mod combined into one pack so it'll be like a whole new Minecraft, your son will love it! It's very simple too, download the technic launcher (link below) and login with you Minecraft account and there you go! You just click the modpack you want to play (which ever you son wants) and then wait the 1-2 minutes it takes to download (time varies depending on your internet speed but it doesn't take that long. If you have any problems just comment them below! Have fun!

Technic Launcher - http://www.technicpack.net/

Answer 2

Note: Mods are the files which modifies/overrides the original game files to change, remove, add a game mechanics or assets. Installing mods is fundamentally changing the way Minecraft was meant to be played. So Mojang will not be able to help you in any way, and are not responsible for crashes, data loss, etc.

1. Only download mods from these sites : Minecraft Forum, Minecraft Curseforge, Planet Minecraft or the sites that author of the mod suggests.
2. Normally there is How to install section in the forum post, so just follow it. Some mods have automatic installer, so you don't have to mess around with anything. But some mods that are built on top of modding API such as ModLoader or Forge you have to put a .jar or .zip file to .minecraft\mods\ folder(This case you have to have installed API on minecraft beforehand). There are many good tutorials on youtube.
3. = 2.

Some custom launchers such as MultiMC or Magic Launcher helps managing mods.

Helpful article: https://minecraft.wiki/w/Mods/Installing_mods (Might be outdated)

Answer 3

1. All the mods that you download will be located in your downloads folder. This can be easily accessible by selecting the start button in the bottom left hand corner of your screen and then searching "Downloads"
2. Mods need to be loaded on a Minecraft Version called Minecraft Forge. Forge is what holds your mods and unpacks them to be used through out the game. The Link to download Forge is below.
3. Once you have forge and the mods you want downloaded in the start button search feild type "%appdata%". This will bring you straight to the Minecraft folder. Select the .minecraft file folder to open it. Then under the "mods" folder click and drag your mods into it.

Now that doesn't solve everything.

The next thing you need to do is open up the versions folder. Make a new file called Forge and put the downloaded Forge into the newly created folder.

Now open up Minecraft. You should see under the dropdown list your file name "Forge". Click on that version and play the game. The mods should now be activated.

Here is the link to download forge. Now because most mods are still run on version 1.7.10 I would recommend you download that version of Forge. Each mod is different though so please check the mods beforehand.