A step-by-step guide to creating and managing Minecraft installations for different versions

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Overview

As Minecraft continues to release new versions, server owners may want to run different versions for various reasons, such as mod compatibility, plugin updates, or to experience older Minecraft versions. The Minecraft Java Edition launcher defaults to the latest release, but changing the version is simple with the Installations feature. This tutorial will guide you through creating and managing installations for different Minecraft versions.

Creating a New Installation

Open the Minecraft Java Edition launcher.
At the top of the application, navigate to Installations.
Press New Installation.
Select an icon and name for the installation.
Open the Version dropdown and select the desired version.
Once all settings have been selected, press Create.

You'll return to the Installations tab, where you can view all existing versions, including your newly created one. To start playing, hover over your installation and press Play.

Managing Installations

You can also manage or edit installations later on. When on the Installations page, there are several options available:

Search and Sorting: Use the search bar and the sorting function at the top of the page to find the desired installation or change the sorting order.
Version Filters: Choose which versions appear in the list, allowing you to hide unnecessary installations during your search.

When hovering over a version, you'll see buttons for various functions:

Open Directory: Opens a file explorer to the installation files. Useful for installing mods or accessing different installation paths.
More Options: Allows you to edit, duplicate, or delete a version. Editing lets you change the profile, duplicating clones the profile, and deleting removes it altogether. Default versions, such as the Latest Release, can't be deleted.

Changing Versions

After creating a new installation, you can find it in the default Play page within the launcher. To change the version:

Open the dropdown menu to the left of the Play button.
Select your new version from the menu.
Press Play to install any necessary files and start the game.

Conclusion

Understanding how to match your server version is crucial for seamless gameplay. Some servers use ViaVersion, which allows players to join from different game versions. When unavailable, players can only join a server running the same version on their device. When creating new installations, give them a unique or memorable name for easy distinction. You can further customize installations by allocating more RAM, adjusting resolution, and more. With this knowledge, you're ready to explore various Minecraft versions and jump into the action.

Updated on: 13/04/2023