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How to Make a Minecraft Texture Pack (Full 2026 Guide)

October 1, 2026Ssomar Team
texture-packsresource-packguide2026

To make a Minecraft texture pack, create a folder with a pack.mcmeta file and an assets/minecraft/textures folder. Copy the vanilla PNG you want to change into that folder, keep its exact file name, and edit it. Zip the folder, or leave it unzipped, and drop it in your resourcepacks folder. Then select it in Options, Resource Packs. Texture packs and resource packs are the same thing in Java Edition: the game only knows "resource pack".

This guide covers the file structure, the pack_format for every recent version, where to find the original textures, the tools worth knowing, 3D models, testing, and what you can legally sell.

What is the structure of a Minecraft resource pack?

A pack is a root folder with one mandatory file, pack.mcmeta, an optional pack.png icon (the wiki recommends 128x128 pixels), and an assets folder. Vanilla replacements go in the minecraft namespace. Custom content gets its own namespace folder.

My Pack/
  pack.mcmeta
  pack.png
  assets/
    minecraft/
      textures/
        block/
          stone.png
        item/
          diamond_sword.png
      models/
        item/

All file names must be lowercase (rule since 1.11, per the wiki tutorial). Here is a pack.mcmeta for a pack targeting Minecraft 1.21.4:

{
  "pack": {
    "description": "My first texture pack",
    "pack_format": 46
  }
}

One missing comma or brace and the pack will not load, so check your JSON carefully.

Which pack_format should I use?

Each Minecraft version has a number. The table below is copied from the Pack format page of the Minecraft Wiki, read on October 1, 2026.

ValueMinecraft versions
341.21 to 1.21.1
421.21.2 to 1.21.3
461.21.4
551.21.5
631.21.6
641.21.7 to 1.21.8
69.01.21.9 to 1.21.10
75.01.21.11
84.026.1 to 26.1.2
88.026.2
97.126.3

Minecraft now uses year-based version numbers (26.1, 26.2, 26.3), so "1.21" is no longer the latest version.

The wiki also notes that since snapshot 25w31a, the single pack_format field is replaced by min_format and max_format. Its example for newer versions looks like this:

{
  "pack": {
    "description": "My first texture pack",
    "min_format": 88,
    "max_format": 88
  }
}

The numbers above are the wiki's example, not a recommendation: put the values for your own version from the table. The wiki also mentions an optional supported_formats field that declares a range of formats your pack supports. The wiki's tutorial says it was introduced in 1.20.2, that the legacy pack_format is still required alongside it, and that it must contain the pack_format value. That description predates the min_format and max_format change, so check the Pack format page for your version before relying on it.

How do I extract the vanilla textures?

You need the original files to edit them. Steps:

  1. Open your Minecraft folder (%appdata%\.minecraft on Windows, Library/Application Support/minecraft on macOS, ~/.minecraft on Linux).
  2. Go to versions/ then the folder of your version.
  3. Find the .jar file. Make a copy and rename it to .zip, or open it directly with an archiver such as 7-Zip.
  4. Open assets/minecraft/textures/. Copy only the files you want to change into your pack, in the same sub-folders.

Do not copy the whole folder. A small pack loads faster and keeps your own work easy to see. These files belong to Mojang, which matters for the selling section below.

How do I edit the textures?

Item and block textures are PNG files. Most vanilla textures are 16x16 pixels. A pack at 32x, 64x or higher gives more detail. The wiki's tutorial does not set a required resolution, so pick the one you can finish: 16x16 is the quickest way to ship a complete pack.

What each tool does, according to the Minecraft Wiki tutorial:

  • Image editor: paint.net and Pixlr are listed. Pick one that supports transparency, because many textures use it.
  • Text editor: Notepad++ or Visual Studio Code for pack.mcmeta and model JSON.
  • File archiver: 7-Zip on Windows, The Unarchiver on macOS, to open the .jar and zip your pack.
  • Blockbench: a free, open source low-poly 3D model editor. It handles modeling, texturing and animation, and its site says it is used by Mojang Studios.

How do 3D models and custom items work?

A texture says what a surface looks like. A model says what shape it has. Item models are JSON files in assets/minecraft/models/item/, and Blockbench can export them so you do not write the JSON by hand.

Since Java Edition 1.21.4 (snapshot 24w45a), an item also needs an item model definition, a JSON file in assets/<namespace>/items. The wiki describes these as files that choose which model an item uses, based on components, interactions or its position in the inventory. The smallest example from the wiki:

{
  "model": {
    "type": "minecraft:model",
    "model": "minecraft:item/stick"
  }
}

Save a file like this as assets/minecraft/items/stick.json to control how the stick renders. For brand new items, use your own namespace folder.

Making an item look different on a server (a katana instead of a renamed iron sword) is a separate problem: the server has to tag the item and send your pack to players. We cover that in custom item textures for Minecraft servers.

How do I test my texture pack and fix errors?

  1. Put the pack folder (or zip) in your resourcepacks directory.
  2. Open Options, Resource Packs, and move your pack to the selected side.
  3. Press F3 + T in game to reload after each change. No restart needed.

If something looks wrong:

  • "Incompatible" label: the format number in pack.mcmeta does not match your version. Check the table above.
  • Purple and black checkerboard: a model points to a texture path that does not exist, or a file name uses capital letters.
  • Pack missing from the list: pack.mcmeta is not at the root of the folder, or the zip contains an extra folder level.
  • Nothing changes: the file name or sub-folder differs from the vanilla one.

Need the step-by-step on the player side? See how to install your texture pack. To compare your work with finished packs, browse the best Minecraft texture packs.

Can you sell a texture pack?

Sometimes, depending on what is inside it. This is a summary of the Minecraft Usage Guidelines for Fans and Creators, read on October 1, 2026. It is not legal advice, and Mojang says its permissions may be revoked at any time.

  • The guidelines define Mojang's "assets" as the code, graphics, textures, images, models and sounds from its games. That includes vanilla textures.
  • They do not contain a dedicated rule for selling resource packs. The sections I read cover servers (including paid access and selling cosmetics), mods, and handmade physical products.
  • Their essential rules say not to "redistribute our games or any alterations of our games or game files" and not to "make commercial use or commercially exploit anything that we have made unless these guidelines say it's okay". Selling Mojang's assets, such as vanilla textures, is therefore not allowed.
  • They also say that if something is not covered and Mojang has not said it is okay, it probably means they do not want you to do it, and that you should get written permission first.
  • For handmade products, Mojang says it does not want people to "commercialize our name, brand and assets". A pack made of lightly edited vanilla textures is therefore the risky case, and the one to avoid selling.
  • A pack made of your own original art is a different situation. You created it, so you decide the license: personal use, server use, or one license per server. The guidelines still require that nothing in it suggests Mojang approved or endorsed your pack.

If in doubt, draw your textures from scratch and ask Mojang before selling anything built on its assets.

When your pack is original, you can sell it on the Minecraft texture packs marketplace on SPlugins. Any creator can publish a pack from their dashboard, payment goes through Stripe, and SPlugins keeps a 10% commission on each sale.

Frequently asked questions

What pack_format is Minecraft 1.21?

Minecraft 1.21 and 1.21.1 use pack format 34, according to the Minecraft Wiki. Later 1.21 releases changed it: 42 for 1.21.2 and 1.21.3, 46 for 1.21.4, 55 for 1.21.5, 63 for 1.21.6, and 64 for 1.21.7 and 1.21.8. Check the full table above for newer versions.

What program do I use to make a texture pack?

You need a file archiver to unzip the game files and zip your pack, a text editor for pack.mcmeta, and an image editor that supports transparency for the PNG textures. The Minecraft Wiki suggests paint.net or Pixlr for images, and Blockbench for 3D block and item models.

Can I sell my Minecraft texture pack?

Only with care. The Minecraft Usage Guidelines have no dedicated rule for selling resource packs, and they forbid redistributing game files or commercially exploiting Mojang's assets without permission. Original art is yours to license, but edited vanilla textures are risky. Read the guidelines and ask Mojang in writing if unsure.

Why does my texture pack say incompatible?

The pack_format (or min_format and max_format) in pack.mcmeta does not match your Minecraft version. Look up your version in the pack format table above and update the number, then press F3 and T in game to reload. Matching the number removes the message.

How do I reload a texture pack without restarting Minecraft?

Press F3 and T together in game. The Minecraft Wiki tutorial describes this shortcut as the way to reload resource packs without restarting. Use it after every change to a texture, model or pack.mcmeta file, so you can see the result in seconds.

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