What is a resource pack in Minecraft?
18 February 2026
A resource pack (formerly called a texture pack) is a collection of files that lets you customize the look and sounds of Minecraft. You can, for example, change the textures of blocks and items, add custom sound effects, or even modify the game’s interface.
What can you customize with a resource pack?
With a resource pack, you can:
Change textures: give blocks, items, and mobs a new appearance, from realistic to cartoonish.
Replace sounds: add custom music or new sound effects.
Modify language files: adjust in-game text, for example for translations.
Update the interface: give menus, buttons, and HUD elements a new design.
How does a resource pack work?
A resource pack is a folder or .zip file containing custom textures, sounds, language files, and other elements. It always includes a pack.mcmeta file that specifies which Minecraft version the pack is compatible with and which elements are modified.
You can manually add a resource pack to Minecraft, but server owners can also configure it so the pack is automatically downloaded and activated when a player connects to the server.
Texture pack vs. resource pack
The terms texture pack and resource pack are often used interchangeably, but there’s a difference:
Texture packs: the old method (before Minecraft 1.6) that only allowed textures to be changed.
Resource packs: the modern replacement that allows you to change textures, sounds, language files, music, interface elements, and more.
Want to set up a resource pack for your server?
👉 Read our tutorial on setting up a resource pack.