How to Install Data Packs
Data packs are installed differently depending on whether you are playing singleplayer or running a server. Follow the appropriate guide below.
Singleplayer World
Download the data pack
Download the data pack as a .zip file from its official source. Do not extract the ZIP file.
Open your Minecraft saves folder
Open Minecraft, go to Singleplayer, select your world, click Edit, then Open World Folder. Alternatively, navigate to .minecraft/saves/[your world]/ manually.
Place the ZIP in the datapacks folder
Inside your world folder, find or create a folder called datapacks. Place the downloaded .zip file directly into this folder. Do not unzip it.
Reload or restart
If the world is open, type /reload in chat to activate the pack. Otherwise, just enter the world and the pack will load automatically.
Verify installation
Run /datapack list in chat. Your data pack should appear in the enabled list with a green entry.
New World (During Creation)
Download the data pack
Download the data pack .zip file from its official source.
Create a new world
In the Create New World screen, click the Data Packs button.
Open pack folder or drag & drop
Click Open Pack Folder and place the ZIP file there, or drag and drop the ZIP directly onto the Minecraft window.
Activate the pack
The data pack will appear in the Available list. Click the arrow to move it to the Selected list, then create the world.
Multiplayer Server
Download the data pack
Download the data pack .zip file. Verify it is compatible with your server's Minecraft version.
Access server files
Connect to your server via FTP, SFTP, or the file manager in your hosting panel.
Navigate to the datapacks folder
Go to your server's world folder (usually /world/) and find or create the datapacks directory inside it.
Upload the ZIP file
Upload the .zip file directly into the datapacks folder. Do not extract it.
Reload the server
Run /reload from the server console or in-game with operator permissions. The data pack will activate immediately.
Verify installation
Run /datapack list to confirm the pack is enabled. Share the pack name with players so they know what is active.
Useful Commands
| Command | Description |
|---|---|
| /datapack list | Lists all data packs and their status (enabled/disabled) |
| /datapack enable "file/pack-name.zip" | Enables a specific data pack |
| /datapack disable "file/pack-name.zip" | Disables a specific data pack |
| /reload | Reloads all data packs without restarting |
Troubleshooting
Data pack does not appear in /datapack list
Make sure the ZIP file is placed directly in the datapacks folder and not inside a subfolder. The ZIP must contain a pack.mcmeta file at the root level.
Data pack shows as incompatible
The pack was made for a different Minecraft version. Check the pack_format number in pack.mcmeta matches your game version. Some packs work across versions despite the warning.
World generation pack does not affect existing terrain
World generation data packs only affect newly generated chunks. You need to explore new areas or create a new world to see the changes.
Multiple data packs conflicting
Use /datapack list to check priority order. Packs loaded later override earlier ones. Adjust order with /datapack enable or disable commands.