How to Download and Install Iris Shaders for Minecraft in 2025

Getting Started with Iris Shaders: What You Need to Know

Want to install Iris Shaders in 2025 and make your Minecraft world look more realistic with stunning lighting and smooth performance? Iris Shader is the perfect mod for enhancing graphics while keeping your game running fast, thanks to its integration with Sodium. In this step-by-step guide, we’ll show you exactly how to download and install Iris Shaders 2025, so you can upgrade your Minecraft visuals with ease.

⚠️ Important before we install Iris Shaders in 2025

Java Installed: Make sure you have the latest version of Java installed on your computer, follow the steps in this article: How to Install Java 21.

Step 1: Download Iris Shaders

Now that we’re ready to get started, let’s start by downloading the Iris Shader.

Open your web browser and navigate to the Iris Shaders download page, or click the Button below.

Click the “DOWNLOAD UNIVERSAL JAR” button.

Iris Shaders official website's download page. The "Download Universal JAR" button is highlighted in purple with an arrow pointing to it, indicating the main download option for installing Iris Shaders. The page also includes alternate download options from Modrinth and GitHub.

Once the download is complete, you can find the “Iris-Installer” in your browser’s “Recent Downloads History” history or in the default “Downloads” folder on your system.

The browser's download bar showing the Iris-Installer.jar file successfully downloaded. A purple highlight surrounds the file, and red numbered markers indicate the download icon (1) and the completed download notification (2).

Now that we have successfully downloaded the Iris-Installer, we need to install it.

Step 2: Install Iris Shaders

Let’s install the file we just downloaded in the previous step.

⚠️ Important: Remember that in order to open the “Iris-Installer.jar” we just downloaded, you need “Java 21 or Java 17″ installed in your computer, if you don’t have it installed, just follow the tutorial here.

Open the “Iris-Installer.jar” file we downloaded.
Select the “game version” that you want to install and Click “Install“.

Iris & Sodium installer interface displaying options to select the Minecraft game version, installation type (Iris Only or Iris + Fabric), and installation directory. The "Install" button is highlighted in purple with an arrow pointing to it, indicating the next step in the installation process.

Once it’s completed, just close the Iris Installer.

Iris & Sodium installer showing a successful installation with a green progress bar and a "Completed!" button highlighted in purple. A purple arrow (1) points to the installation directory, and a red marker (2) highlights the close button in the top-right corner, indicating the next step is to exit the installer.

Now we have successfully installed the Iris Shaders loader mod.

Step 3: Using Iris Shaders in Minecraft

After we have installed the Iris Shaders loader, I’ll show you how it works.

Open the Minecraft Launcher as you normally do and select “Minecraft Java Edition“.
Check that the “Iris & Sodium” installation is selected in the button left side and click Play

Check that you understand the risk and click “Play” again. (Feel free to Read more about player safety features)

Minecraft Launcher warning message about playing a modified Java Edition installation. The "I understand the risks" checkbox is highlighted and checked, and the "Play" button is outlined in purple, indicating the final step to launch Minecraft with Iris Shaders.

After the game opens go to Options…

Minecraft Java Edition main menu with the "Options..." button highlighted in purple, indicating the next step to access video and shader settings. The background features a forest scene, and the Omnipot text appears in the top-right corner.

Click “Video Settings…”.

Minecraft Options menu, with the "Video Settings..." button highlighted in purple, indicating the next step to access graphical and shader settings. The menu includes other customization options like Skin Customization, Controls, Resource Packs, and Accessibility Settings.

And here you will see a much different menu from what you are used to.

Click “Shader Packs“.

Minecraft Video Settings menu with various graphical options. The "Shader Packs..." button is highlighted in purple, indicating the next step to manage and apply shaders. Other settings like Render Distance, VSync, and Max Framerate are visible.

In my case, I have Kappa Shaders already installed, but yours will be empty since the Iris Shaders mod doesn’t come with any shaders preinstalled.

If you have some shaders installed, just select the one you want to use and click “Apply“.

Click “Open Shader Pack Folder“.

Minecraft Shader Packs menu showing the Kappa_v5.2.zip shader pack selected. The "Open Shader Pack Folder..." button is highlighted in purple, indicating where to place new shader packs for use in the game.

A new window will open, and here is where you will have to copy all the Shaders that you want to use within Iris Shaders loader. (You can copy multiple shader packs and easily switch between them within the game.)

💡Tip: You can download some of our favorite shaders from here.

File explorer window open to the shaderpacks folder inside the .minecraft directory. The Kappa_v5.2.zip shader pack is visible, indicating it has been placed correctly for use in Minecraft.

After you add your shaders, close the folder and head back to the game.

📝 Note: If you want to know how to install Kappa Shaders click here, follow the same steps there to download Kappa Shaders, then copy the “Kappa.zip” file to the shaderpacks folder and enjoy this beautifulness.

Minecraft gameplay with shaders enabled, showcasing realistic water reflections, detailed lighting, and vibrant sky effects after we install Iris shaders in 2025. The Kappa Shaders pack is applied, enhancing the overall visual quality of the game.

That’s it, you now know how to download and install Iris Shader in 2025, a great shader loader mod to get better frame rates, whether you’re exploring caves or building some crazy structures, shaders make the experience even more immersive when playing Minecraft.

If you had any trouble while installing Iris Shaders mod loader, read the next section for troubleshooting and frequently asked questions.

Iris Shaders Troubleshooting

Black Screen or Game Crash on Startup

This issue often occurs due to incompatible or outdated graphics drivers. Make sure your GPU drivers are updated to the latest version. Additionally, check that you are using a compatible Minecraft version, Fabric Mod Loader, and the correct Iris Shader installation.

Low FPS or Lag Issues

While Iris Shader is optimized for performance, some shader packs can be very demanding. Try reducing render distance, or using Sodium’s optimization features to improve performance.

Shader Pack Not Showing Up or Not Applying

If your downloaded shader pack is not appearing in the Shader Packs menu, ensure it is in the correct folder. Also, check that the pack is in .zip format and that you are using a compatible shader version. (Not all shader packs are compatible with Iris, so be sure to research compatibility before installing.)

FAQs about Iris Shader

Is Iris Shader better than OptiFine?

Iris Shader is optimized for performance and works seamlessly with Sodium, making it a great alternative to OptiFine. While OptiFine has more customization options, Iris offers better FPS and supports modern rendering technologies.

Can I use Iris Shader with Forge?

No, Iris Shader is designed to work with Fabric, not Forge. If you need to use shaders with Forge, you will have to look for OptiFine or other shader loaders compatible with Forge.

Why aren’t my shaders working with Iris?

Ensure that you have placed the shader pack in the correct folder (.minecraft/shaderpacks) and that the shader is compatible with Iris and Sodium. If the shaders still don’t work, try using a different shader pack or updating Iris Shader to the latest version.