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How to Install Iris Shaders on Fabric (Minecraft 1.21+)

Published: June 24, 2026 · By Piglix Editorial Team

For years, OptiFine was the undisputed king of Minecraft shaders. However, as the game's codebase grew and alternative mod loaders emerged, a new contender entered the ring: Iris Shaders. Built specifically for the Fabric and Quilt ecosystems, Iris offers jaw-dropping frame rates, excellent compatibility with modern mods, and instantaneous shader reloading.

Prerequisites

Before we begin, you will need to download three key components:

  1. The official Minecraft Launcher installed and updated.
  2. The latest Fabric Installer from the official Fabric website.
  3. The Iris Shaders mod file (available on our homepage or Modrinth/CurseForge).
  4. The Sodium mod file (Iris relies on Sodium for graphics optimization).

Step 1: Install the Fabric Loader

Fabric is the lightweight mod loader that will run Iris and Sodium. Run the Fabric installer jar file you downloaded. Select the "Client" tab, choose your target Minecraft version (e.g., 1.21.x), and click "Install". Once complete, open your Minecraft Launcher to verify that a new profile named "Fabric Loader 1.21" has been created.

Step 2: Add Iris and Sodium to the Mods Folder

Open your Minecraft system directory:

  • Windows: %appdata%\.minecraft\mods
  • macOS: ~/Library/Application Support/minecraft/mods
  • Linux: ~/.minecraft/mods

If the mods folder does not exist, simply create a new folder and name it exactly "mods". Copy the downloaded iris-*.jar and sodium-*.jar files and paste them inside this folder.

Step 3: Load Shaders and Run the Game

Launch the game using the Fabric Loader profile. Once you reach the main menu, go to Options → Video Settings. You will notice a completely redesigned menu powered by Sodium. Click on the Shader Packs button at the top, select your desired shader pack (such as BSL or Complementary), click Apply, and enjoy your beautifully enhanced Minecraft world!