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Datapack Compatibility Guide

· 2 min read
Efe Ketenci
Efe Ketenci
Minecraft Datapack Developer

Compatibility between different Minecraft versions is an important topic for datapacks.

Minecraft Versions​

Java Edition Versions​

1.16+ (Nether Update)

  • Modern datapack format
  • Most commonly used version
  • Most datapacks are written for this version

1.13+ (Update Aquatic)

  • First datapack support
  • Basic features available
  • Old datapacks work on this version

1.12 and Earlier

  • No datapack support
  • Only mods can be used

How to Check Compatibility​

How to Know if a Datapack is Compatible?​

  1. pack.mcmeta File
{
  "pack": {
    "pack_format": 15,
    "description": "Datapack description"
  }
}
  1. Pack Format Numbers
  • 1.20.x: 15
  • 1.19.x: 12-14
  • 1.18.x: 9-11
  • 1.17.x: 7-8
  • 1.16.x: 6
  • 1.15.x: 5
  • 1.13.x: 4

Version Incompatibility Issues​

Common Errors​

"Invalid pack format" Error

  • Datapack is made for a newer version
  • Update your Minecraft version

"Unknown pack format" Error

  • Datapack is too old
  • Look for a newer datapack

Function Errors

  • Command syntax may have changed
  • Update the datapack

Solutions​

1. Update Minecraft​

  • Use the latest version
  • Enable automatic updates

2. Find a Compatible Datapack​

  • Check the version info
  • Look for datapacks written for your version

3. Convert the Datapack​

  • Change the pack format number
  • Update old commands

Best Option: 1.20.x

  • Latest features
  • Most datapack support
  • Best performance

Server Compatibility​

  • Singleplayer: Any version
  • Server: All players must use the same version
  • Realms: Only versions supported by Mojang

Important Notes​

  1. Backward Compatibility: Newer versions support old datapacks
  2. Forward Compatibility: Older versions do not support new datapacks
  3. Backup: Always backup your world before changing versions
  4. Test: Test datapacks after updating your version