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How to Install Minecraft Bedrock Mods on Every Device (2026 Guide)

March 16, 2026 10 min read

You found an amazing Minecraft Bedrock mod. Maybe you built it yourself with BlockSmith. Now you have a .mcaddon file sitting on your device and you're staring at it wondering what to do next.

This guide covers every platform Minecraft Bedrock runs on. Follow the steps for your device and you'll be playing with mods in under two minutes.

Before You Start: What Is a .mcaddon File?

A .mcaddon file is a packaged Minecraft Bedrock add-on. It's actually just a renamed .zip file that contains one or both of these:

  • Behavior Pack — Changes how the game works: new mobs, custom items, crafting recipes, game logic, and scripts.
  • Resource Pack — Changes how the game looks: textures, models, sounds, and animations.

When you open a .mcaddon file, Minecraft automatically imports both packs. You then activate them on a specific world. That's the process on every platform — the only difference is how you get the file to Minecraft.

Windows 10/11 (Easiest)

Windows is the simplest platform for modding because Minecraft can directly open .mcaddon files.

  1. Download the .mcaddon file to your Downloads folder. If your browser asks what to do with it, choose "Save" or "Keep."
  2. Double-click the file. Minecraft should launch automatically and display a message saying the pack was successfully imported.
  3. Open Minecraft and go to the world you want to mod. Click the pencil icon to edit it.
  4. Scroll down to Behavior Packs (or Resource Packs). You'll see your new pack listed under "Available." Tap it and click "Activate."
  5. Launch the world. Your mod is now active.

If double-clicking doesn't work: Right-click the file, choose "Open with," and select Minecraft. If Minecraft isn't in the list, try renaming the file extension from .mcaddon to .zip, extract it, and manually copy the folders to %localappdata%\Packages\Microsoft.MinecraftUWP_8wekyb3d8bbwe\LocalState\games\com.mojang\ — behavior packs go in the behavior_packs folder, resource packs go in resource_packs.

Android

Android is almost as easy as Windows since the file system is accessible.

  1. Download the .mcaddon file using Chrome or your preferred browser. It'll save to your Downloads folder.
  2. Tap the downloaded file in your notification bar or go to your Downloads folder and tap it. Your phone will ask which app to open it with — choose Minecraft.
  3. Minecraft opens and imports the pack. You'll see a success message at the top of the screen.
  4. Edit your world and activate the packs under Behavior Packs and Resource Packs.
  5. Play.

If tapping the file doesn't offer Minecraft: Use a file manager app (like "Files by Google") to navigate to the download. Long-press the file, tap "Open with," and select Minecraft. Alternatively, rename the file to .zip, extract it, and copy the folders to games/com.mojang/behavior_packs/ and games/com.mojang/resource_packs/ in your internal storage.

iOS (iPhone and iPad)

iOS is slightly trickier because Apple restricts file system access, but it still works smoothly.

  1. Download the .mcaddon file in Safari. When the download finishes, tap the download arrow icon in the top-right corner of Safari.
  2. Tap the file name in the downloads list. iOS will ask which app to use — select "Minecraft" from the share sheet. If you don't see Minecraft immediately, tap "More" and scroll through the app list.
  3. Minecraft imports the pack and shows a confirmation.
  4. Edit your world, activate the packs, and play.

Alternative method: Open the Files app, find the .mcaddon in your Downloads folder, tap it, then tap the share icon and choose Minecraft. This works if Safari doesn't give you the Minecraft option directly.

If nothing works: Sometimes iOS doesn't recognize the .mcaddon extension. Try these fixes: clear Safari's cache, restart your device, or re-download the file. Make sure Minecraft is updated to the latest version.

Xbox (Series X/S and One)

Console modding requires a workaround since you can't download files directly on Xbox. The trick is using Minecraft's built-in Realms sync or a companion device.

Method 1: Realms Transfer (Recommended)

  1. Install the mod on Windows or mobile using the steps above. Apply it to a world.
  2. Upload that world to a Realm you own (Settings > Game > Replace World).
  3. On Xbox, download the world from your Realm. The packs come with it.

Method 2: .mcworld File

  1. On Windows or mobile, export your modded world as a .mcworld file (Settings > Game > Export World).
  2. Upload the .mcworld file to OneDrive.
  3. On Xbox, open the Microsoft Edge browser, go to OneDrive, download the .mcworld file, and open it with Minecraft.

Note: Not all mods work perfectly on Xbox. Script API mods that use @minecraft/server generally work, but mods requiring experimental toggles might need you to enable those in world settings first.

PlayStation (PS4/PS5)

PlayStation is the most restrictive platform for Bedrock mods, but it's not impossible.

Method: Realms Transfer

  1. Apply the mod to a world on Windows, iOS, or Android using the steps above.
  2. Upload that world to your Realm.
  3. On PlayStation, download the world from your Realm.

This is currently the only reliable method for PlayStation. Sony's file system is locked down, so you can't import .mcaddon files directly. The Realms method works because the server handles the mod integration — PlayStation just downloads the finished world.

Nintendo Switch

Switch is similar to Xbox — no direct file access, but workarounds exist.

Method 1: Realms Transfer

Same process as Xbox and PlayStation. Apply the mod on another device, upload to a Realm, download on Switch.

Method 2: Local Network Transfer

  1. Apply the mod on a mobile device connected to the same Wi-Fi as your Switch.
  2. Open the modded world to LAN on the mobile device.
  3. On Switch, join the LAN world. While you're in it, the game caches the packs locally.
  4. Save and quit. The world — with the mod — should now be available offline on your Switch.

Note: This method doesn't always carry over behavior packs. Realms transfer is more reliable.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

"Import Failed" or "Duplicate Pack Detected"

This means you've already imported a version of this pack. Go to Settings > Storage > and delete the old version of the behavior/resource pack. Then try importing again.

Mod Doesn't Show Up in World Settings

Make sure you're looking in the right section. Behavior packs and resource packs are listed separately in world settings. Scroll all the way down — sometimes they're hidden below the default packs. If you still don't see it, the import may have silently failed. Try importing again.

Game Crashes When Loading the World

This usually means the mod has an error in its JSON files or is incompatible with your Minecraft version. Try these fixes:

  • Update Minecraft to the latest version.
  • Make sure the mod's min_engine_version in its manifest.json matches or is below your game version.
  • Try the mod on a brand new world instead of an existing one.
  • If the mod uses experimental features, enable them in world settings before activating the pack.

Mod Works but Custom Items Are Missing

Check that both the behavior pack AND the resource pack are activated. Custom items need both — the behavior pack defines what the item does, and the resource pack defines how it looks. If only one is active, you'll get invisible items or items that exist but have no functionality.

Entities Spawn as Black-and-Purple Cubes

This is the classic "missing texture" error. It means the resource pack isn't loaded correctly. Deactivate and reactivate the resource pack, or re-import the .mcaddon file. If the problem persists, the mod might be missing texture files — contact the mod creator.

How to Manage Multiple Mods

You can run multiple mods on the same world, but there are some things to watch for:

  • Pack order matters. Packs higher in the list take priority. If two mods change the same entity, the one on top wins.
  • Namespace conflicts. If two mods use the same identifier for an item or entity (like "custom:sword"), they'll conflict. Good mods use unique prefixes.
  • Performance. Each active behavior pack adds processing overhead. On mobile and Switch, keep it to 3-4 packs maximum to avoid lag.
  • Experimental toggles. Some mods require experimental gameplay features. Enable them in world settings, but know that this disables achievements for that world.

The Easy Way: Build and Install in 30 Seconds

BlockSmith generates .mcaddon files that work on all platforms. Describe a mod, download the file, and follow the steps above for your device. No coding. No JSON editing. No guesswork.

The mods you build are standard Bedrock add-ons — they work exactly like any mod you'd download from anywhere else. The only difference is you designed it yourself.

⚒ Build Your First Mod