Iris Shaders
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Loads supported shader packs; the pack and matching dependencies are separate.
How can I use shader packs with Iris?
Install Iris, the Sodium version it requires and a shader pack that supports your setup. Iris loads the pack; it does not include the lighting effects by itself. This guide is for Minecraft Java Edition.
On this page
The part that often causes confusion is the download list. Iris, Sodium and the shader pack are three separate pieces, and “newest” is not a useful rule for combining them. Start with your Minecraft version and loader, then follow the dependencies of the Iris file you choose.
Match Iris and Sodium before adding a shader pack
On Iris’s Modrinth page, filter the versions by your game version and loader. Install the selected file and its required dependencies in the same launcher instance. If you install manually, the mod JARs go in that instance’s mods folder.
A concrete example shows why the dependency list matters: the Iris 1.8.12+1.21.1-neoforge release declares Sodium mc1.21.1-0.6.13-neoforge as its required dependency. A newer standalone Sodium release does not automatically replace that requirement. This is a checked release example, not a recommendation to use those versions for every installation.
Launch once before adding shaders. If the game stops at a dependency error, resolve the named mismatch first. Adding more rendering mods makes that error harder to isolate.
Put the shader pack in the right place
- Download a shader pack from its author’s project page and check its Iris requirements.
- In Minecraft, open Options → Video Settings → Shader Packs.
- Use the button that opens the shader-pack folder, then copy the pack’s ZIP into it. For packs distributed as a ready-to-use ZIP, leave the archive intact.
- Return to the list, select the pack, enable shaders and apply the change.
Iris belongs in mods; the shader pack belongs in shaderpacks. If the list stays empty, check the folder and whether you downloaded the actual pack rather than its source-code archive.
Find settings you can comfortably play with
Start with the pack’s lower preset, if it offers one. Walk around your base, enter a forest and look across water before turning effects up. Shadow distance, volumetric effects and rendering resolution can be expensive, but the available controls depend on the pack.
If something looks wrong, switch shaders off and compare. A problem that appears only with one pack is a useful clue when checking that pack’s documentation. For low FPS even with shaders off, use the Sodium performance checklist.
Common questions
- Does the server need Iris?
No. Iris renders shaders on your client. Other players can use different visual settings while sharing the same server, subject to its rules.
- Can I use Iris without downloading a shader pack?
You can install it, but you will not get a pack’s lighting and shadows until you add and enable that pack. Iris is the loader, not the visual preset.
- Does Iris include every OptiFine feature?
No. Do not assume that zoom, connected textures or other unrelated OptiFine features are included. Check the feature you want separately instead of treating Iris as an exact replacement for every function.
- Will Iris run every shader pack?
Compatibility depends on the pack and versions involved. Check the pack author’s Iris support information. A pack loading successfully is also different from it running at a comfortable frame rate on your hardware.
Continue setting up your game
See how Sodium affects performance, or return to the Minecraft mod overview.
If you want help narrowing the options, search Minecraft mods on ModGenie with your game version, loader and graphics goal, such as “Fabric shaders with softer lighting for a modest GPU.”
Sources
- Iris project and version dependencies
- Iris installation and shader controls
- Iris frequently asked questions
- The example Iris release
Source information checked October 2, 2026. Older installation examples in upstream guides should not override the dependency list of your selected release.