Optifine Installation for Shaders

Prerequisites

• Minecraft Java Edition is already installed.
  • I am currently using 1.15.2. This should be a universal instruction set for all versions unless something major changes in Minecraft.

Installing Optifine

• If you're stuck at any time, you can watch the companion video here (no sound)

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Getting Optifine

Note:

After upgrading to 1.15.2, I thought shaders were lost to me. I've read so many website comments concerning "just install 1.14.4 and it will work" and I've never gotten that to work. I have yet to find a set of directions out there that have any mention of Preview Versions on Optifine.net and one day after some frustration, I clicked the Preview Versions link (I didn't realize it was a link previously). Insert scene from Pulp Fiction when the briefcase opens here.

That one item prompted this entire instruction set. I hope someone finds it useful.

1. Go to Optifine.net/downloads
   • Only use downloads from the official Optifine.net website.
   • At the time of this recording, it appears that Optifine only goes up to 1.14.4. What do we do?
2. Click on Preview Versions at the top
   • An additional batch of downloads should now be visible. We are looking for 1.15.2, you can choose whatever version you are seeking.
3. Download the appropriate file
   • preview_OptiFine_1.15.2_HD_U_G1_pre30.jar
   • Both download links have ads and screen clutter: I suggest you grab from the mirror.
   • We will assume it goes to your Downloads folder

Installing Optifine

1. Open a Command or Powershell prompt
   • Some users may be able to hold shift and right click within the folder, then select Open [Command Prompt or Powershell] Window Here
     • If you have Powershell, wait for the window to open and then type CMD <enter> to shift over to Command Prompt
2. Type java -version <enter> at the prompt
   • If you get a version you skip to Launching the Optifine Installer, otherwise you probably got a java is not recognized recognized error message and will need to continue to Get the Path to Java. We're still assuming you have a working version of Minecraft Java Edition installed.

Get the Path to Java

• I do not have java installed at the system level, however as I have Minecraft Java Edition running, the java executable is available somewhere, I just need to find it and get the path.

1. Windows 10: Right click the Minecraft shortcut and open Properties, then Open File Location
2. Click on the following folders in order: Runtime, JREx64, bin
3. Scroll down to "java.exe"
4. Hold SHIFT and right click 'java.exe', then select COPY AS PATH
   • You will now have the path to Java in your clipboard (you can test this by opening notepad and pasting (CTRL+V))
   • Mine happens to be "D:\Games\Minecraft Launcher\runtime\jre-x64\bin\java.exe"
   • Leave the folder window open in case you need to grab the full path again.

Launching the Optifine Installer

• Make sure you either have java installed (java -version) or the path to the java executable and that your command prompt window open and is where the downloaded Optifine file is (we're assuming the Downloads folder).

1. type the following command as it applies to your set up:
   • Example format: java -jar path/to/preview_OptiFine_1.15.2_HD_U_G1_pre30.jar
   1. Java is installed:
      • java -jar preview_OptiFine_1.15.2_HD_U_G1_pre30.jar <enter>
   2. Java is not installed:
      • "D:\Games\Minecraft Launcher\runtime\jre-x64\bin\java.exe" -jar preview_OptiFine_1.15.2_HD_U_G1_pre30.jar <enter>
        • I pasted the clipboard (CTRL+V) to the command prompt window to get the "D:\Games\Minecraft Launcher\runtime\jre-x64\bin\java.exe" path in place, then I typed -jar preview_OptiFine_1.15.2_HD_U_G1_pre30.jar

Optifine Installer

1. The installer window should be open now and it will have a path already entered. We are going to assume that this is correct for most people.
   • Click INSTALL
     • C:\Users\<your account name>\AppData\Roaming\.minecraft
     • or type %appdata% <enter> from the search bar and you will see the .minecraft folder
2. Click OK when the Optifine is successfully installed window pops up

Minecraft

Get A Shader Zip

• You'll need a shader zip file for the next step. If you have one, great skip ahead. If not, go get one. For 1.15.2 I have the following zip files
  • https://www.mediafire.com/file/sklp0fgipb3a1kk/Sildur%2527s_Vibrant_Shaders_v1.27_Lite.zip/file
  • https://www.mediafire.com/file/jpu0qoghvd4q07m/Sildur%27s_Enhanced_Default_v1.11.zip/file
  • https://www.mediafire.com/file/movrtppug5n8qs8/Sildur%2527s_Vibrant_Shaders_v1.27_Extreme-VL.zip/file
  • http://www.mediafire.com/file/uyz7iv3fx9gevee/Sildur%2527s_Vibrant_Shaders_v1.27_High.zip/file
  • https://www.mediafire.com/folder/4ndat18ou95kt/Official_releases

Start Minecraft with Optifine

1. Open Minecraft
2. Click Installations
3. Play the newly installed Optifine profile
4. Once Minecraft starts, click on Options, Video Settings, Shaders

Adding Shader Files

1. • Click on Shaders Folder
     • A folder (C:\Users\<your name>\AppData\Roaming\.minecraft\shaderpacks) opens
   • Drag and drop your shader zip into the folder
   • Go back to Minecraft

Selecting Shaders

1. Click on the Shader in the Minecraft menu and wait for the video screen to reload
   • Click Done, Done, Done to get back to the main menu

Enjoy!

1. Start a Minecraft session and enjoy!