Iris Shaders

An open-source shader loader for Minecraft Java. Loads OptiFine-format shader packs on Fabric and NeoForge. Designed to work with Sodium. Over 139 million downloads on CurseForge [citation:2].

Quick facts

CategoryShaders / Rendering
LoaderFabric, NeoForge
Minecraft26.3 and older supported versions
SourceCurseForge / Modrinth
Downloads139.4M (CurseForge, Sep 2026) [citation:2]
LicenseOpen source (LGPL-3.0)
SideClient-side

Source status

Verified

The download button links to the creator's CurseForge page. We do not host this file. Metadata last checked October 2026.

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What Iris does

Iris is a shader loader, not a performance mod. It allows Minecraft to load and apply shader packs in the OptiFine format. If you want to use shaders like Complementary, BSL, or Photon on Fabric, Iris is what makes that possible.

Iris is designed to work alongside Sodium. Sodium handles rendering optimization; Iris handles shader loading. Together they provide shaders with better frame rates than OptiFine alone.

What it supports

  • OptiFine shader packs — most existing packs load without modification.
  • Iris-exclusive packs — some shaders use features that OptiFine does not support (colored lighting, compute shaders).
  • Sodium integration — no conflict. Install both.

Installation

  1. Install Fabric or NeoForge for your Minecraft version.
  2. Download Sodium and Iris from CurseForge. Both are required for the best experience [citation:2].
  3. Place both JARs in the mods folder.
  4. Launch the game. Shader packs go in .minecraft/shaderpacks. Select them from Video Settings > Shader Packs.
Iris vs OptiFine: Iris supports most OptiFine shader packs but does not include OptiFine's other features (zoom, connected textures, custom entity models). Those come from separate mods on Fabric: Zoomify, Continuity, and EMF/ETF. See the full comparison guide.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need OptiFine to use Iris?
No. Iris loads OptiFine-format shader packs without OptiFine installed. In fact, you should not install OptiFine alongside Iris — they conflict.
Does Iris work without Sodium?
Iris can run without Sodium, but it is designed to work with Sodium. Without Sodium, you lose the rendering performance benefits and may see lower frame rates with shaders enabled.
Why is my shader pack not showing in Iris?
Check that the shader pack is in the correct folder (.minecraft/shaderpacks) and that it is a supported format. Some packs require Iris-specific features and may not load on older Iris versions.

Related mods

Sodium

Rendering performance mod. Install alongside Iris.

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