How To Fix a Minecraft Forge Install That Keeps Crashing

Aaron Donald Read more August 22, 2022

Minecraft was first released over a decade ago, and its grassroots origins have made it a target for modders. Today, many players enjoy using Forge, a free mod loader that lets them add entirely new content to the game. It doesn’t come without problems, however.

How To Fix a Minecraft Forge Install That Keeps Crashing

Some players report crashes and aren’t sure how to fix them. The good news is that many solutions are available. Read about them below.

Minecraft Forge Keeps Crashing with Exit Code 1

Some users even received this error without mods or Forge installed, so it’s an issue vanilla Minecraft may have too.

Here are some solutions that you’ll find helpful.

Modify the Executable Path

The executable path refers to a chain of files and folders the Forge and Minecraft launchers run. If you received exit code 1, it’s likely the fault of a single letter in the path. That letter is an extra “w” in the “java.exe” file.

However, the exit code should disappear once you change the file name. If not, you should try a different solution. Here’s how you can change the name.

Open your original Minecraft Launcher, not Forge.
Select “Launch Options.”
Toggle “Java Executable” on.
Take a look at the path and locate the “javaw.exe” part.
Remove the extra letter and take care not to change anything else.
Save the button.
Relaunch the game and see if the exit code returns.

By following these steps, you should remove the error entirely.

Reinstall Java

Sometimes, you either have the wrong Java version or have an outdated build. To fix this, you should reinstall Java.

Type “Apps And Features” in the Windows Search Bar.
Go to the menu and scroll down.
Once you find Java, uninstall it.
Follow the uninstall instructions on-screen.
Go to this page and download the newest version of Java.
Install this new Java copy and try rerunning Minecraft.

A new copy of Java tends to smooth out most problems. But there’s one exception to this rule. Minecraft versions before 1.16 must use Java 8, as newer versions aren’t compatible with these ancient builds.

To address the issue, do the following:

Look for the “Apps And Features” section on Windows.
Uninstall your current Java build.
Go to this page and download Java 8.
Install Java 8.
Test Minecraft and see if it works now.

If everything goes well, Java 8 will work with older versions of Minecraft.

Reinstall Minecraft

While this isn’t everyone’s favorite solution, there are times when reinstalling everything is more straightforward than finding the error source. Once you reinstall Minecraft, ensure you then follow the proper methods of installing Forge.

Go to “Apps And Features” and locate Minecraft.
Uninstall the game.
Install Minecraft again.
Do the same for Minecraft Forge, and make sure you have the corresponding version as your current Minecraft build.
Download and Install Forge.
Open Minecraft.
Set the profile to “forge.”
Test if the game runs.

Hopefully, the uninstall process removes whatever bugs are plaguing your game client. It should remove exit code 1 and perhaps the others.

Minecraft Forge Keeps Crashing with Exit Code 0

Exit code 0 is another common error Minecraft players encounter when trying to play with mods. While the fixes above can also fix it, here are some alternative solutions that are proven to work.

Remove or Disable Mods

Minecraft Forge mods are usually only compatible with a single version, such as 1.18. Therefore, mods designed for older versions won’t run and may cause errors like exit code 0.

Here’s how to check your mod error logs:

Press Windows Key + R.
Type “%AppData%” in the text box.
Go to the “.minecraft” folder.
Locate the “logs” folder.
Open “latest.txt” and read it.
If a mod is causing issues, remove it from the mod folder.

A handy trick is to create a shortcut to the %AppData% file. Many Minecraft veterans will tell you how much time they’ve saved. In addition, you can also make a shortcut to your mods folder for instant access.