Minecraft Wiki

Why not...[]

Why not just use Minecraft's built-in support for changing which directory the content is saved to? LB 19:19, 26 May 2012 (UTC)

  • Because that is not actually support for changing the directory, but telling you what directory it is. It is weird. Pokechu22 21:20, 24 July 2012 (UTC)
I was successfully able to do this with the Windows native launcher. Start it as Minecraft.exe --workDir Data. - Andrio Celos (talk) 04:21, 20 April 2016 (UTC)

Mods?[]

Could this also be used for modding, and having a batch script that choses which version of minecraft? Pokechu22 21:20, 24 July 2012 (UTC)

This could potentially be used for modding, but there wouldn't really be a difference, aside from having it more portable. I'm not sure what you mean, a batch script that chooses which version of Minecraft to use... 99.21.48.81 03:33, 5 April 2014 (UTC)
The official launcher can already do that. - Andrio Celos (talk) 04:21, 20 April 2016 (UTC)

Minecraft[]

If you have Minecraft on a flash drive are you able to play online with your minecraft account?

  • Yes it all works the same, as long as your version is current to the server. -cdash

Using "Drive" as the launcher folder[]

There was an edit by an anonymous user claiming that the name "Launcher" doesn't work with a portable Minecraft installation for Windows. "22:15, 6 April 2015‎ 24.119.102.138 (Talk)‎ . . (12,607 bytes) (-24)‎ . . (Launcher doesn't work for folders, so it needs to be replaced with drive.)" Through testing, I have found that you can use any name with folders, and it will still work, as long as the names are consistent. I originally used the Launcher name for semantics (and, again, using the name "Launcher" does work). If anyone can explain why it must be "drive", that'd be helpful. LunarShard (talk) 21:22, 4 May 2015 (UTC)

I assume that user was referencing the first version of the standalone executable version of th minecraft launcher, which generates a folder named "launcher" where it is generated. Since the game is now installed to "Program Files", it is not exactly required anymore, but I guess some people may still use that version however unlikely. KnightMiner t/c 23:12, 4 May 2015 (UTC)

Why use a Shortcut?[]

Why use a shortcut? Using a shortcut does not make Minecraft truly portable. Say the letter of the drive is E on the computer you make the Portable Minecraft on. Say the next computer has the CD/DVD drive labeled as E. Then what? The shortcut looks in the CD/DVD drive and says "Oh would you look at that? Its not there! Well sucks to be whoever launched me" and does absolutely nothing. I have tested using a batch file rather than a shortcut, and it works just fine, and doesnt even specify the drive letter, meaning that the batch file will look only on the drive, regardless of the letter that the drive has been assigned to. Here is the code, modified so that it works with the instructions provided on the wiki itself:

  start bin\Minecraft.exe --workDir .."\PortableMinecraft\data"

kkellogg378 (talk) 13:05, 10 May 2018 (UTC)

Good point, I didn't think about that. I just rewrote this article because it was really bad when I saw it. I edited it with the setup I use to keep my .minecraft folders separate. Feel free to edit the article yourself and fix it. ―HalfOfAKebab (talk, contribs) 01:16, 10 May 2018 (UTC)
Done! kkellogg378 (talk) 13:33, 10 May 2018 (UTC)

Java?[]

Minecraft does require java to run, and the tutorial completely disregards this. This makes the installation not truly "portable", as you still have to install java. Is there a way to get around this or not? I don't have administrator access to the computers, and cannot install java, and by association cannot play minecraft from computer to computer unless I use my dedicated computer Ominous boom (talk) 02:14, 25 February 2019 (UTC)

You trying to play Minecraft at school or something? Yes you do need to install Java and the game won't run without it. Admin access will be needed so unless you have that you won't be able to play. – Nixinova   02:31, 25 February 2019 (UTC)
perhaps No, I use a work computer in a cubicle and tend to get projects done early. Literally 1/2 the time I spend idle and we arn't allowed to modify the computer. As such, I need a version of Minecraft that I can "yoink" and leave without a trace - Ominous boom (talk) 17:30, 5 March 2019 (UTC)

Running both Windows and Linux versions from same USB drive[]

I use both Windows and Linux machines, and it would be cool to have it run form the same USB for continuity of playing.

I followed the tutorial to create a Windows USB drive and it works great.

I assume that if I follow the Linux instructions and point to the same "MyMinecraft" folder, I will be able to play the same worlds in either Linux or Windows.

My question is: since MC is Java, can I install the Linux launcher in the same place as the Windows Launcher, and then I won't even have to have two copies of the actual game downloaded? Meaning, if I used the Windows Launcher to play version 1.15.0, when I start the Linux Launcher, will it see version 1.15.0 installed?

(will try and report back! :-) )

(Y.farkash (talk) 20:03, 30 September 2020 (UTC))