Prism Launcher Technical Glossary
Clear definitions of Minecraft modding and launcher terms: `.mrpack`, Fabric vs NeoForge, JVM heap flags, G1GC/ZGC, and Exit Code 1.
Instance (Isolated Minecraft Environment)
Glossarywhat is minecraft instanceprism launcher minecraft instanceinstance (isolated minecraft environment)
A self-contained folder holding its own Minecraft version, mod loader, `mods/`, `config/`, `saves/`, and Java settings.
- Term
- Instance (Isolated Minecraft Environment)
- In Short
- A self-contained folder holding its own Minecraft version, mod loader, `mods/`, `config/`, `saves/`, and Java settings.
- Applies To
- Prism Launcher on Windows 10 & 11
Definition: Instance (Isolated Minecraft Environment)
A self-contained folder holding its own Minecraft version, mod loader, `mods/`, `config/`, `saves/`, and Java settings.
In Prism Launcher, creating a new instance means your 1.21.4 Fabric shaders setup never conflicts with your 1.20.1 Forge or 1.12.2 RLCraft modpack.
How Prism Launcher handles this on Windows
Every instance in Prism Launcher exposes its version stack, mod list, resource packs, shader packs, and JVM settings in one clean Edit Instance window.
Grab the latest Windows installer or portable ZIP from /download to manage all your Minecraft versions in one place.
Frequently asked questions
What does Instance (Isolated Minecraft Environment) mean in Prism Launcher?
A self-contained folder holding its own Minecraft version, mod loader, `mods/`, `config/`, `saves/`, and Java settings. In Prism Launcher, creating a new instance means your 1.21.4 Fabric shaders setup never conflicts with your 1.20.1 Forge or 1.12.2 RLCraft modpack.
Where can I configure this inside the launcher?
Right-click any instance on the Prism Launcher dashboard and select **Edit** (or open global **Settings** on the top toolbar).
Get Prism Launcher
Windows, macOS & Linux
Free and open source. Sign in with the Microsoft account that owns Minecraft, then create your first instance.
