{
"pack": {
"pack_format": 107,
"description": "My custom pack"
}
}Adds a supported_formats range so one pack loads without the "made for a different version" warning across several versions.
Supports Minecraft formatting codes (§ color codes)
pack.mcmeta in your pack's root folderThis pack.mcmeta generator creates the required pack.mcmeta file for Minecraft datapacks and resource packs. Select your pack type, pick the target Minecraft version, write a description, then copy a correctly formatted JSON file ready to drop into your pack's root folder.
Every Minecraft datapack and resource pack requires a pack.mcmeta file in its root directory. This JSON file tells Minecraft what kind of pack it is, which format version it targets, and provides a description shown in the pack selection screen. Without it, Minecraft will not recognize your pack at all.
The pack format number changes frequently: Mojang increments it with most snapshots and releases. Picking the wrong number does not break your pack, but it triggers a compatibility warning in the game. The generator above keeps track of the correct format numbers for every Minecraft version so you do not have to.
Both pack types use a pack.mcmeta file, but they serve different purposes and use separate format version numbers.
| Feature | Datapack | Resource Pack |
|---|---|---|
| Side | Server-side | Client-side |
| Location | world/datapacks/ | .minecraft/resourcepacks/ |
| Contents | Functions, recipes, loot tables, advancements, world gen, tags | Textures, models, sounds, languages, shaders |
| Multiplayer | Applied per-world on server | Each player selects independently |
| Format (1.21.2) | 57 | 42 |
Important: datapack and resource pack format numbers are completely independent. Minecraft 1.21.2 uses format 57 for datapacks but format 42 for resource packs. Using a datapack format number for a resource pack, or the reverse, shows a compatibility error.
Multi-version support: use the supported_formats field to mark a range of versions your pack works on. A resource pack targeting 1.20.2 through 1.21.2 would use a min of 18 and a max of 42. This suppresses the incompatible warning for every version in that range.
Colored descriptions: the description field supports Minecraft JSON text components and section sign color codes, so you can show colored or styled text in the pack selection screen. Use a newline escape for multiline descriptions.
Pack icon: add a pack.png file alongside your pack.mcmeta in the pack root. This 64x64 or 128x128 PNG appears as the pack's icon in the selection screen. It is optional but recommended for anything you distribute.
Datapack file structure: a minimal datapack needs pack.mcmeta in the root and a data/<namespace>/ folder containing your content. For functions, place .mcfunction files in data/<namespace>/function/.
The pack.mcmeta file is a JSON file that identifies a datapack or resource pack to Minecraft. It must sit in the root of the pack and contains the pack format version number, a description, and optionally a supported_formats range. Without this file, Minecraft will not recognize the pack.
Datapacks modify server-side data: recipes, loot tables, functions, advancements, world generation, and tags. Resource packs modify client-side assets: textures, models, sounds, languages, and shaders. Both use pack.mcmeta files but with different pack format numbers. A datapack goes in the world's datapacks folder; a resource pack goes in the resourcepacks folder.
The pack format number changes with Minecraft versions, and it differs between datapacks and resource packs for the same version. For example, Minecraft 1.21.2 uses format 57 for datapacks but format 42 for resource packs. The generator above selects the correct number for the version and pack type you pick. Using the wrong format shows a compatibility warning but the pack still loads.
The supported_formats field, added in 1.20.2, lets you specify a range of pack format versions your pack supports using min_inclusive and max_inclusive values. This tells Minecraft your pack works across multiple versions. For example, a range of 18 to 42 covers resource packs from 1.20.2 through 1.21.2 without triggering the incompatible warning.
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