How to install mods in Horizon
Horizon has two mod formats and one rule: a mod is installed into a profile, not into the game folder. This guide covers both paths.
Content mods and native mods
A content mod (.hmod) adds blocks, items, recipes or world generation. It is data plus assets, and it loads on its own.
A native mod (.hnmod) hooks the engine. It is compiled against a Horizon commit, which is why some mods are pinned and some packs trigger “Build anyway”.
- Content mod: .hmod, no compiler, loads immediately.
- Native mod: .hnmod, compiled once, tied to a Horizon API or commit.
- Pack: .hpack, a manifest that names both kinds plus versions and hashes.
The easy path: the launcher
Open Mods, search the registry by name or use case, and press Install. The launcher picks the version that matches your Horizon build and checks the hash.
If the mod needs a second part (ProjectE, Voltz, Wayfarer Stones, Deepbore Quarry), the launcher installs both. Installing one half alone is the most common “it does nothing” report.
The manual path
Download the file from the author's official source. In the launcher, open the profile, choose Import, and select the file. Do not drop it into the game installation; profiles are separate on purpose.
For a pack, import the .hpack. The manifest tells the launcher what to fetch; the file itself is a few kilobytes.
Check that it loaded
- Open Options > Mods in game and find the mod by name.
- If it is missing, check the launcher log for the file name and the reason.
- Content mods with a namespace collision are rejected; turn one of them off.
- Native mods that fail to compile appear in native-mods.json under left_out.
When mods fight
Two maps, two recipe viewers or two HUD editors are not a feature. They are a conflict, and the launcher cannot fix a decision that was never made. Pick one.
If a pack needs a newer Horizon than you have, the mod may ask for a higher hook API. Update Horizon or use Near Vanilla, which stays on hooks 1-2.
Read the crash, not the vibe
The launcher keeps logs and crash reports inside the profile. Open the newest report, search for the mod id, and read the first error, not the last. A missing texture is usually a content mod; a panic in a hook is usually a native mod.
If you report a bug, include the pack version, the mod list and the log. A screenshot of the title screen is not enough.
Ready to install?
The launcher handles the manifest, the hashes and the native build. Start with Better+ or Near Vanilla.
How to install Horizon (and the launcher)
Install Horizon, sign in with a Microsoft account that owns Java Edition, then add the xHorizon launcher without replacing the official client.
Which Horizon pack should I start with?
A practical map of the 20 xHorizon packs: the all-rounder, the safe vanilla profile, the laptop pack, tech, terrain, PvP, multiplayer and hardcore.