Creating Your Own Minecraft Texture Pack

Imagine the potential to reshape the Minecraft universe at your fingertips. With the best Minecraft texture packs, you’ve glimpsed this power. Yet, it’s restricted. While these packs can drastically alter your gaming experience, they’re confined to preset designs. If you crave full autonomy over Minecraft’s aesthetics, crafting your own texture pack is the answer. Curious? Here’s your guide:

Demystifying the Process (2022)

Texture packs enhance Minecraft by altering textures for mobs, blocks, and liquids, transforming the game’s look and feel. This article delves into crafting your own Minecraft texture pack and sharing it with the community, potentially leading to listing on the official marketplace for monetization.

The texture pack creation process involves several steps, which we’ve segmented for simplicity in the following table:

Note: Ensure you have Minecraft Java or Bedrock installed to proceed.

How Texture Packs Work

In Minecraft, the game’s simplistic blocky and pixelated environment relies on images wrapped around cubes. These cubes form various structures, creatures, and items within the game. Altering these image files directly impacts the visuals in your Minecraft world.

Resolution Consideration

Initially set at 16×16 pixels, players have the option to increase texture resolution up to 128×128 pixels. However, higher resolutions may not perform optimally across all platforms. Hence, adhering to 16×16 pixels or 32×32 pixels is advisable.

Creators of Texture Packs

To create Minecraft texture packs, the simplest method is using one of the many free creators available. Let’s explore the top options for each platform.

Nova Skin Resource Pack Creator for PC Users

The Nova Skin resource creator is the most comprehensive and user-friendly tool online for making Minecraft texture packs. It offers a folder-based structure to locate textures for every model in the game, along with a built-in paint-like editor for on-site texture editing. Additionally, it enables users to extend beyond textures.

Nova Skin allows you to edit font, music, particles, and more. It’s an all-in-one online tool to create a resource pack quickly. Once done, you can save it on the cloud or download it for your Minecraft world.

Try Nova Skin Resource Pack Creator

AddOns Maker for Minecraft PE on Android

This Android app is among the most popular Minecraft tools on the Play Store and for good reasons. It features a built-in editor for painting over existing in-game textures. Alternatively, you can select from various in-app textures and apply them directly to items.

The app lets you add structures, sounds, trees, biomes, and new recipes to Minecraft. Going beyond texture packs, it enables you to create modpacks for Minecraft PE. However, its major downside is the abundance of ads. Despite this, the app offers extensive functionality.

Download AddOns Maker for Android

Note: As of February 2022, there’s no reliable app or tool for iOS, iPad OS, and console users to create texture packs. They must rely on the manual process for making texture packs on the Bedrock edition, which we’ll cover later in the guide.

Manually Make Texture Pack for Java Edition

Unlocking Minecraft’s texture files and editing them on the Java edition is remarkably simple thanks to the unencrypted game files. Surprisingly, downloading additional software isn’t necessary to create a Minecraft Texture pack manually. Here’s what you’ll need:

Whether you’re using Mac, Windows, or Linux, it’s highly probable that you already have access to the aforementioned apps or suitable alternatives on your device.

Extracting Minecraft Texture Files

Texture packs are tailored to individual preferences and custom edits. Once you’ve identified the changes you wish to make, follow these steps to edit Minecraft’s textures:

1. To begin, open the game’s directory. If it’s not set as custom, paste this address – %appdata%\.minecraft\ in your Explorer address bar or the Run window to open the default location. Access the Run window through the Windows 10 keyboard shortcut “Win + R”.

2. Then in the Minecraft directory, open the “versions” folder. And within, open the folder with the most recent version of the game, currently Minecraft 1.18.1.

3. In the version folder, copy (Ctrl + C) the Jar file with your game’s version number. Unless mods are installed, it will be the only file with a “.jar” file extension.

4. Create a new folder in the Minecraft directory or on your PC and paste (Ctrl + V) the Jar file there. It can have any name.

5. Change the file extension from “.jar” to “.zip” by renaming it. Then extract the file by right-clicking on it and choosing the “extract option”. Alternatively, if you have WinZip or WinRAR installed, you can directly extract the Jar file too.

Edit Textures

Now, let’s edit the texture files to make a Minecraft texture pack. Here’s how:

1. Open the newly extracted folder and navigate to the “textures” folder. You need to go through the extracted folder, then “assets”, and finally, the “Minecraft” folder to reach it.

2. In the texture folder, you’ll find subfolders categorically dividing in-game textures. All Minecraft placeable blocks are in the “block” folder, while animals and mobs reside in the “entity” folder. Additionally, there are folders for environment elements, items, and more. Select the texture category you wish to edit and open its corresponding folder.

3. Within the folder, locate the PNG texture file you wish to edit and open it in Paint using the “open with” option. Other image editors can also be used, but MS Paint suffices. Some texture files may be nested in subfolders due to a layering system.

4. Within your photo editor, edit your desired textures, then save the file as PNG in the same location with the same file name. Repeat this process for all desired edits.

Create MCMETA File

1. After editing textures, return to the main extracted folder containing the “asset” subfolder. Create a new text file by right-clicking and selecting the new option.

2. Open the text file and paste the following code:

< "pack": < "pack_format": 7, "description": "[Custom Description for your Texture Pack]" > >

Replace the description with your text, avoiding special symbols. For the “pack format” number, refer to the table below:

pack_format	Game Version
5	1.15 to 1.16.1
6	1.16.2 to 1.16.5
7	1.17 & above

3. Finally, save the file using the save as option as “pack.mcmeta“. Make sure to select “all files” in the “save as type” drop-down box.

Save & Install Texture Pack

Once every texture you want to change is edited and the “.mcmeta” file is saved in the pack’s folder, it’s time to make your texture pack usable in the game.

To create a texture pack file, select both the “assets” and the “.mcmeta” files, then right-click and choose “compress to zip file.” The file can be named anything.

• %AppData%\.minecraft\resourcepacks (Minecraft 1.16.1 and later)
• %AppData%\.minecraft\texturepacks (Minecraft 1.16 and earlier)

Next, open your game and click on “options” on your home screen, then select “resource packs” within options.

4. Click the resource pack’s icon to activate your Minecraft texture pack, moving it from the left side column to the right.

5. With your pack activated, load your Minecraft world and search for blocks, items, or entities you modified. If you don’t find the desired results, check our FAQ section for solutions.

Note: Refer to our detailed guide on installing Minecraft texture packs for additional assistance.

Create Texture Packs for Bedrock

Texture or resource packs for the Bedrock edition function slightly differently from the Java edition, although there are no changes in how you edit the texture itself. Here’s how.

What You Need

To create a texture or resource pack add-on for the Bedrock edition, you need:

• Minecraft Bedrock (Xbox Gamepass edition works too)
• Zip file extractor like Windows Explorer
• Basic image editor such as MS Paint (use GiMP, Paint 3D, or Photoshop for transparency)
• Text editor like Notepad
• Vanilla resource pack

Unlike the Java edition, you can’t extract texture files from the game. Download the vanilla resource pack separately here.

Edit Texture Files

Once you’ve downloaded the vanilla resource pack, follow these steps to edit your Bedrock texture pack:

1. Extract the vanilla resource pack zip file in a new folder. Use any file management software for extraction. On Windows, right-click the file and choose “extract all.”

2. Then, in the extracted folder, locate the “textures” subfolder.

3. Within the “textures” folder, you’ll find categorically divided subfolders of Minecraft textures. Open the one containing the texture you want to edit.

4. In each categorical folder, there are PNG, TGA, or subfolders with PNG and TGA files for in-game textures. Edit the texture’s PNG file in paint. For TGA files, use Adobe Photoshop or GiMP.

5. Make your desired changes to the texture in your image editor and save it in the same location with the original filename. Repeat for all textures you want to edit.

Prepare the JSON File

Once editing is complete, follow these steps to prepare the resource pack’s JSON file. This file communicates with the game to allow external textures to replace built-in ones.

1. Prepare a JSON file with two UUID codes. Generate two unique UUIDs using this tool, ensuring they are version 1 UUIDs, and note them down for later use.

2. Create a new text file in the main folder, which previously contained the “textures” subfolder. Open it using Notepad or any other basic text editor.

3. Paste the following code into your text editor:

 < "format_version": 2, "header": < "description": "Enhanced Tutorial Resource Pack", "name": "Tutorial Resource Pack - Enhanced", "uuid": "dcf11606-8e52-11ec-b909-0242ac120002", "version": [1, 0, 0], "min_engine_version": [1, 17, 30] >, "modules": [ < "description": "Enhanced Tutorial Resource Pack", "type": "resources", "uuid": "3f958580-8e53-11ec-b909-0242ac120002", "version": [1, 0, 0] >] >

Insert text before the name and description of your texture pack. For the UUID, use the ones generated earlier, ensuring no repetition between sections. Keep the remaining code untouched as any small alteration may render the file unusable.

4. Finally, save the file as “manifest.json“. Ensure to select “all files” in the “save as type” drop-down box. Double-check the code lines and refrain from using special characters in your pack name or its description.

Install and Test Minecraft Texture Pack for Bedrock

Follow these steps to add the texture pack to Minecraft Bedrock:

1. First, to personalize your pack, rename the extracted “vanilla resource pack” folder to your preferred name. Avoid using symbols in the folder name.

2. Open the “resource packs” folder of Minecraft Bedrock. Depending on your device, the folder address in the default installation location will be similar to the following:

For Windows 10 and 11:
%localappdata%\Packages\Microsoft.MinecraftUWP_8wekyb3d8bbwe\LocalState\games\com.mojang\resource_packs

For Android:
/storage/emulated/0/Android/data/com.mojang.minecraftpe/files/games/com.mojang/resource_packs

3. Copy and paste your resource pack folder into your Minecraft directory’s “resource packs” folder. Ensure no files are missing, especially the JSON and texture files.

4. Open Minecraft Bedrock and access the “settings” tab on the homescreen.

5. Within settings, select the “global resources” button in the left pane.

6. Here, locate your resource pack under “my packs”. Click the pack, then “activate” to apply it.

7. Open your Minecraft world and locate your edited textures in the game.

Distribute Your Minecraft Texture Pack

Congratulations! Now you possess the ability to entirely alter the appearance of your Minecraft world. You’ve learned how to create a Minecraft texture pack and effectively apply it to any edition of the game. The next step is to share it.

Share the Pack for Java Edition

For users on the Java edition, simply share the archived file of your resource/texture pack. As long as the file has a “.zip” extension, anyone can download and install it in their game. However, they should restrict usage to the version it was designed for to prevent glitches.

• Planet Minecraft
• Resource Packs Collection
• Curse Forge

Alternatively, share it on one of the many Discord servers for Minecraft.

Share for Bedrock Edition

Unlike the Java edition, you can’t directly share your resource pack folder with other players. However, with slight preparations, you can simplify the installation process for everyone. Here’s how:

Create MCPACK File

Follow these steps to create an MCPACK file for your resource/texture pack:

1. Archive your texture pack folder into a zip file by right-clicking on it and selecting the “compress to zip file” option on Windows. Alternatively, you can use software like WinZip, Winrar, and more on most platforms.

2. Rename the file to “your pack name.mcpack”. Replace the “.zip” extension with “.mcpack”. The pack’s icon will immediately change to the Minecraft icon.

3. Any player can double-click on the MCPACK file to add the texture pack to their Minecraft Bedrock. This simplifies installation and distribution. The process takes only a couple of minutes, and the game shows an “import successful” notification upon completion.

Minecraft Partner Program

The Bedrock edition’s texture pack file can be shared on the same community sites as the Java edition. However, developers also offer an official space to share and sell your texture packs through the official Minecraft marketplace, exclusive to the Bedrock edition.

Minecraft allows only a few creators to submit content to the marketplace. To join, apply for the Microsoft or Minecraft Partner Program using this link. Both companies and individuals can register using the same form. The developers assess your creative portfolio, which should include sample texture packs, skins, or add-ons for Minecraft Bedrock.

Enable RTX for these textures

Finally, we have ray-tracing mechanics, enhancing texture packs. Note that RTX for Minecraft Bedrock only functions with the game’s Windows edition due to platform restrictions. Your texture pack must include PBR-enabled textures for ray tracing compatibility.

Enabling PBR requires a separate guide. For those interested, NVIDIA’s official guide can prepare your Minecraft texture pack for RTX.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

How to View File Extensions

On Windows, access “folder options” by searching in the start menu. Then, find the option to “hide file extensions for known file types” in the view section. Uncheck it to reveal all file extensions on your system.

Mac users can enable “show all filename extensions” in the advanced preferences of the Finder app.

Confusion Around Installing Texture Pack

We have a guide to help install any texture pack on Minecraft platforms. Follow the linked guide for a step-by-step tutorial.

Texture Pack File Extension

Minecraft Java accepts only ” .zip” texture pack files. Bedrock users can use ” .mcpack” files or place the texture pack folder directly in the game’s directory.

Version Compatibility Warning

If you use a texture on a version different from the one it was made for, the game will show an “incompatible” warning. You can still use the texture pack, but you may encounter glitches. This warning also appears when using texture packs on beta or snapshot versions of the game.

Understanding UUID

A UUID, or universally unique identifier, is a digital label for identifying information in Minecraft. Adding one to your texture pack ensures the game distinguishes it from others or default textures.

Texture Didn’t Change After Applying Minecraft Texture Pack

• You’re using it on an incompatible game version.
• The texture pack wasn’t saved correctly or named with the right extension.
• If the texture has a TGA file alongside the PNG, but only the PNG was edited, the game won’t recognize the changes.

Which Texture File Should I Edit: PNG, JPEG, or TGA?

By default, Minecraft is programmed to prioritize TGA files, then PNG files, and finally JPEG texture files. If you’re only editing a PNG file for a texture, delete the TGA file for your texture to be detected. Avoid using JPEG files for the Bedrock edition as they don’t support transparency.

Changing the Texture Pack Icon

To change your texture pack’s icon, add a 256 x 256 pixels PNG file with your desired icon in your main texture pack folder. The icon file should be named “pack_icon.png” for Bedrock edition and “pack.png” for Java edition. Ensure the icon file is archived in MPACK or ZIP files of your pack.

Using My Texture Pack in Multiplayer: Is it Possible?

Texture packs solely impact the user, allowing for their unrestricted use on online servers. However, many popular servers already incorporate a default resource pack. Additionally, some servers prohibit texture pack usage due to past incidents of players exploiting them to locate rare items.

Create Your Minecraft Texture Pack Effortlessly

Now equipped with comprehensive knowledge, you’re ready to dive into crafting your own Minecraft texture pack. Whether for commercial ventures or personal enjoyment, this guide equips you to create custom texture packs for any Minecraft edition. Avoid replicating others’ ideas; instead, explore the vast array of themes waiting to be discovered. The diverse range of Minecraft content, coupled with the fascinating mobs of Minecraft 1.19, offers endless inspiration.

If merely altering the game’s aesthetics isn’t sufficient, delve into the realm of Minecraft modpacks for a more immersive experience. These modpacks not only revamp in-game textures but also introduce an array of mods simultaneously. However, note that installing Forge in Minecraft is necessary to run these modpacks.

Enhance the visual appeal of your texture packs further by incorporating shaders in Minecraft. Utilizing shaders demands the installation of Optifine, but once implemented, your game’s graphics can rival even those of RTX graphics.

Should you encounter queries or require assistance during the texture pack creation process, don’t hesitate to reach out in the comments section. Our dedicated team member will provide guidance and support. Crafting a Minecraft texture pack is a labor-intensive yet immensely fulfilling endeavor. Wishing you success and enjoyment in your creative pursuits!