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Your first launch

Universal Minecraft Launcher prepares your modpack. The official Minecraft Launcher handles Microsoft sign-in, Java selection and the final Play click.

1. Start with the shared alpha folder

Keep the runtime files together and use Start-Private-Alpha.cmd at the folder root. This selects the alpha library consistently when you replace program files. Close an older alpha before starting the new build. Do not start the raw executable with an existing personal profile.

Install and open the official Minecraft Launcher and sign in normally. You need a legitimate Minecraft Java Edition setup there. No Azure signup or payment card is part of this workflow.

2. Find a pack or import one

Discover searches enabled Modrinth, FTB, ATLauncher and Technic catalogs together. Press Enter or Search to submit; typing or changing a filter alone does not start a search. Check each result's source and exact release.

Filters vary by catalog. Browse all versions opens that source's version browser; choose the intended matching release there. CurseForge currently uses website/import actions without authorized in-app API access. See catalogs and filters or importing packs.

3. Preview and save the official installation

After the pack files are installed, close Minecraft and its launcher. Select the instance in Library and choose Play via Minecraft Launcher…, or double-click it. Select the official launcher's initialized installation file when prompted; it must already exist.

Leave automatic loader preparation selected for supported formats, or choose an existing exact runtime. Confirm both apps are closed, then Preview. Review the game folder, exact Minecraft/loader pins and memory/window settings. Save publishes the supported runtime and the named installation. Preparation does not press Play or read Microsoft account caches.

Use the pack's supported exact runtime. Custom Java overrides, hooks, unsupported components and some inherited settings block preparation rather than being silently ignored. See runtime and settings limits.

Open the official Minecraft Launcher. Sign in there, choose UML - <instance name>, inspect its settings and press Play. The app does not automatically select an installation or launch Minecraft. If Open cannot start the official client, open it normally from Windows.

Never share account passwords, sign-in codes, account caches or installation-file backups with support.

Starting without a modpack

Create a custom instance with the Minecraft version you want, then follow the same official-launcher Preview/Save workflow. Loader and component choices must remain within the supported runtime formats; a visible inherited option is not a promise of tested gameplay.

Before the next adventure

Keep separate backups of worlds you care about. Read updates and recovery before changing a pack version, and check the alpha's platform and compatibility scope.

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