How to use shaders in Minecraft 1.20.1

Shaders are powerful mods that enhance the visual appeal of Minecraft by introducing realistic lighting, shadows, water effects, and more. While they can improve immersion and beauty, it's important to note that shaders require a powerful computer setup for smooth performance. Various shaders are present for all players ranging from low graphic intensive to high-end ray tracing.

This article will explain how one can install shaders in Minecraft 1.20.1

---

Installing and using Shaders in Minecraft 1.20.1

What do you need?

Before installing shaders in your game, ensure the following prerequisites:

1. Minecraft Java Edition 1.20.1 must be installed on your computer.
2. A shader loader mod to implement shader packs into the game. Two popular options are OptiFine HD and Iris Shaders Mod. OptiFine HD improves performance and supports HD textures and custom fonts. On the other hand, Iris Shaders Mod is a newer variation compatible with Fabric and Quilt mod loaders, aiming for enhanced performance and compatibility.
3. A shader pack that matches your preferences and computer specifications. Numerous shader packs are available for Minecraft 1.20.1, each offering distinct features and styles. Some notable options include Sildur’s Shaders, SEUS PTGI, Continuum Shaders, Chocapic13 Shaders, Overimagined Shaders, GLSL Shaders, SEUS Renewed, Sonic Ether’s Unbelievable Shaders, Raspberry Shaders, Oculus Mod. You can discover a list of compatible shaders online or refer to your favorite shader resource.

---

How to install it?

After obtaining the shader loader mod and choosing a suitable shader pack, follow these steps for a successful installation:

Locate your Minecraft folder on your computer. The default locations are as follows:

• Windows: C:\Users\YourName\AppData\Roaming\.minecraft
• Mac OS X: ~/Library/Application Support/minecraft
• Linux: ~/.minecraft

Create a "mods" folder within the game folder if one doesn't already exist. Copy the shader loader mod file (OptiFine HD or Iris Shaders Mod) into the "mods" folder. After that, create a "shaderpacks" folder within the main folder. Place the shader pack file (usually a zip file) into the "shaderpacks" folder, and launch Minecraft with the shader loader mod enabled.

---

How to use it?

After launching the game with the shader loader mod enabled, follow these steps to access shader settings:

1. Go to Options > Video Settings.
2. If you are using OptiFine HD, click on "Shaders." For Iris Shaders Mod users, click on "Shaders..."
3. The left panel will display a list of available shader packs. Select your desired pack and click "Done."
4. Players can adjust shader options such as brightness, shadow quality, clouds, water reflections, dynamic lighting, and more.

---

Tips and tricks

These are the tips and tricks to help utilize shaders:

1. Before installing shaders, ensure your computer meets the requirements to run high graphics settings. Shaders are quite demanding on CPU and GPU, so adjusting settings or choosing less resource-intensive shader packs is a good option to mitigate lag or low FPS.
2. If you have a powerful PC, you can combine shaders with texture packs. Texture packs add details and variety to blocks, items, and the environment.
3. You can always replace shaders, so experiment with different shader packs and options to find your preferred style and mood.

---

Shaders can change the appearance and atmosphere of your game, so try out various combinations.