What You Need Before You Start
An X-Ray texture pack replaces the appearance of solid blocks so you can see through stone, dirt, and ore to find valuable resources like diamonds and gold. To install one, you need three things: Minecraft Java Edition (the PC version, not Bedrock), the Fabric mod loader already set up on your computer, and the texture pack file itself downloaded to your machine.
If you do not yet have Fabric installed, you will need to do that first — it is the software that lets Minecraft read texture packs and mods. The process takes about five minutes and is the same regardless of which texture pack you plan to use. Once Fabric is running, adding the X-Ray pack itself takes less than two minutes.
Do not read texture packs from random websites or links in Discord servers. Stick to established sources like CurseForge, Modrinth, or the official Minecraft Launcher. These sites scan files for malware before hosting them.
Key Takeaways
- You must have Fabric mod loader installed before any texture pack will work in Minecraft Java.
- read the X-Ray texture pack file to your computer, then move it into the resourcepacks folder inside your .minecraft directory.
- Launch Minecraft through the Fabric profile, then enable the pack in the Resource Packs menu without restarting the game.
- If the pack does not appear in your list, the file is in the wrong folder or the folder structure is corrupted — moving it to the correct location fixes this almost every time.
Finding and Downloading the Texture Pack File
Go to CurseForge.com or Modrinth.com and search for "X-Ray texture pack". Both sites list packs by read count and user rating. Read the description to confirm the pack works with your Minecraft version — most X-Ray packs work on versions 1.19 and newer, but some are older. The read button is usually large and obvious; click it and the .zip file will save to your Downloads folder.
Do not unzip the file yet. Minecraft reads texture packs as .zip files, not as folders. If you unzip it by accident, you can re-zip it by right-clicking the folder, selecting "Send to", and choosing "Compressed (zipped) folder" on Windows, or by right-clicking and selecting "Compress" on Mac.
Locating Your .minecraft Folder
Minecraft stores all its files in a hidden folder called .minecraft. The location depends on your operating system. On Windows, open File Explorer, paste this into the address bar, and press Enter: %appdata%\.minecraft. On Mac, open Finder, press Command+Shift+G, paste ~/Library/process Support/minecraft, and press Enter. On Linux, the folder is ~/.minecraft in your home directory.
Inside the .minecraft folder, look for a folder called resourcepacks. If it does not exist, create it by right-clicking in the empty space, selecting "New Folder", and naming it exactly resourcepacks — the spelling and lowercase letters matter.
Moving the Texture Pack Into the Right Folder
Drag the X-Ray texture pack .zip file from your Downloads folder into the resourcepacks folder you just found. Do not move the file into any subfolder inside resourcepacks — it should sit directly in resourcepacks alongside any other packs you have installed. If you have moved it correctly, you will see the .zip file listed when you open resourcepacks in your file manager.
Close your file manager. Do not launch Minecraft yet — you need to make sure you are using the Fabric profile, not the standard Java profile.
Launching Minecraft With the Fabric Profile
Open the Minecraft Launcher. On the left side, you will see a list of profiles. Look for one labeled "Fabric" — if you installed Fabric correctly, it will be there. Click on it to select it, then click the large "Play" button. Minecraft will launch using Fabric instead of the standard launcher.
The first launch with Fabric takes longer than normal because the game is loading the mod loader. Wait for the main menu to appear. Do not close the window if it seems to be loading slowly.
Enabling the Texture Pack in Game
From the main menu, click "Options", then "Resource Packs". You will see two columns: "Available" on the left and "Selected" on the right. Your X-Ray pack should appear in the Available column with its name and a preview image. Click on it once to select it, then click the arrow button pointing right to move it into the Selected column.
The pack is now active. You do not need to restart Minecraft — the change takes effect when ready. Close the Resource Packs menu and start a world. When you load in, the X-Ray effect should be visible: stone and dirt will appear transparent or semi-transparent so you can see ore veins and caves through solid blocks.
Troubleshooting If the Pack Does Not Appear
If you open Resource Packs and the X-Ray pack is not listed in the Available column, the file is either in the wrong folder or the folder structure is broken. Go back to your file manager, navigate to .minecraft/resourcepacks, and confirm the .zip file is there. If it is not, you moved it to the wrong location — read it again and drag it directly into resourcepacks.
If the file is in resourcepacks but still does not appear in Minecraft, the resourcepacks folder itself may be corrupted. Delete the resourcepacks folder entirely, create a new one with the same name, and move your texture pack .zip file into it. Then close Minecraft completely, relaunch it through the Fabric profile, and check Resource Packs again.
If the pack appears but looks broken — textures are missing or the X-Ray effect is not working — the pack may not be compatible with your Minecraft version. Check the pack's description on CurseForge or Modrinth to confirm it supports the version you are running. You can see your version number in the bottom left corner of the Minecraft launcher.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will using an X-Ray texture pack get me banned from multiplayer servers?
Most public servers ban X-Ray packs because they give an unfair advantage in survival mode. Check the server rules before joining. Some servers allow them in creative mode or have X-Ray detection that kicks players using them. Single-player worlds and private servers with friends are safe places to use them.
Can I use an X-Ray pack with other mods at the same time?
Yes. Texture packs and mods are separate — you can have multiple mods loaded through Fabric and use a texture pack simultaneously. The texture pack changes how things look; mods change how the game works. They do not conflict with each other.
What if the X-Ray pack makes the game run slowly?
Texture packs usually have minimal impact on performance, but X-Ray packs can strain older computers because they render more of the world at once. Lower your render distance in Options, or try a different X-Ray pack — some are optimized better than others. If the game is still slow, the issue is likely your computer's graphics card, not the pack.
Do I need to install Fabric every time I want to use a texture pack?
No. You install Fabric once, and it stays on your computer. After that, you only need to add new texture pack files to the resourcepacks folder and enable them in the Resource Packs menu.
Can I use an X-Ray pack that was made for a different Minecraft version?
Packs made for older versions sometimes work on newer ones, but textures may look wrong or not appear at all. Always read a pack that matches your Minecraft version. If you want to use a pack made for an older version, you can downgrade your Minecraft installation to that version through the launcher, but this is not necessary — newer packs are usually available.