Minecraft Java pack.mcmeta Download (All Versions) + Beginner Guide

Looking for a pack.mcmeta download for Minecraft Java Edition?
This page includes ready-to-use pack.mcmeta files for every major Minecraft version,
plus a simple explanation of what the file does and how to use it in your own
resource packs or data packs.

The downloads below are kept up-to-date for the latest Minecraft release and only include stable versions,
since preview and beta formats change frequently.

What Is pack.mcmeta in Minecraft?

The pack.mcmeta file is the required metadata file that tells Minecraft a folder or ZIP archive is a
resource pack or data pack and defines which game versions it supports.

Inside the file, JSON code stores:

• the pack description shown in-game
• the pack format (version compatibility)
• optional supported format ranges or extra metadata

Without this file, Minecraft cannot properly recognize or load your custom pack.

Basic pack.mcmeta Code Template (Minecraft Java)

Here is a simple example used for modern Minecraft versions:

{
  "pack": {
    "description": "Custom Pack 1.21.11",
    "min_format": [75, 0],
    "max_format": [85, 0]
  }
}

This is for Minecraft Java 1.21.11

The pack_format value determines which Minecraft versions your pack works with, and this number changes as the game updates.

Because of this, many creators prefer downloading a ready-made file instead of building one from scratch.

I recommend editing the pack.mcmeta file with Notepad++ Free Download

Download pack.mcmeta Files by Minecraft Version

Below are prebuilt pack.mcmeta downloads, with the newest Minecraft versions listed first.
Each download is provided as a ZIP file—after saving, unzip it to access the actual .mcmeta file.

Minecraft 1.21

• 1.21.11 — pack format 75
• 1.21.9–1.21.10 — pack format 69
• 1.21.7–1.21.8 — pack format 64
• 1.21.6 — pack format 63
• 1.21.5 — pack format 55
• 1.21.4 — pack format 46
• 1.21.2–1.21.3 — pack format 42
• 1.21–1.21.1 — pack format 34

Minecraft 1.20

• 1.20.5–1.20.6 — pack format 32
• 1.20.4 — pack format 22
• 1.20.2–1.20.3 — pack format 18
• 1.20–1.20.1 — pack format 15

Minecraft 1.19 and Earlier

• 1.19.4 — pack format 13
• 1.19.2–1.19.3 — pack format 12
• 1.19–1.19.1 — pack format 9
• 1.18 — pack format 8
• 1.17 — pack format 7
• 1.16.2–1.16.5 — pack format 6
• 1.15–1.16 — pack format 5