What is Optifine? Optifine is a free client mod that you can use to help your Minecraft run more smoothly, feel faster, and look better.
Optifine can help you get better fps. Better fps can reduce that feeling some players describe as "lag". Low fps is not true lag- but it does make you feel like you are moving slower, so it is often mistaken for lag.
Optifine allows you to configure many new options in Minecraft by adding additional settings. It can be very helpful for older, or slower computers, or those relying on on board video chips, instead of a graphics card.
Optifine is easy to install, and even easier to use. The options are not "hidden" or difficult to navigate. They are under your normal Minecraft>Options>Video Settings section. You'll just see more settings there than you do without Optifine.
I use Optifine myself, and it doubles my fps. It is difficult for me to enjoy the game without it.
What are some of the optional settings Optifine offers? Optifine adds A LOT of new options. We won't go over every one here, but these are my favorite fps-saving options:
Variable Render Distance (example)
- from Tiny to Extreme (2 x Far) in 16m steps
- sun, moon and stars are visible in Tiny and Short distance
Configurable Smooth Lighting (examples)
- from 1% - smooth lighting without shadows
- to 100% - smooth lighting with full shadows
Clear Water
Clear, transparent water with good visibility underwater
Connected Textures
Connects textures for glass, glass panes, sandstone and bookshelf blocks which are next to each other.
Configurable Details
- Clouds - Default, Fast, Fancy
- Cloud Height - from 0% to 100%
- Trees - Default, Fast, Fancy
- Grass - Default, Fast, Fancy
- Water - Default, Fast, Fancy
- Rain and Snow - Default, Fast, Fancy
- Sky - ON, OFF
- Stars - ON, OFF
- Sun & Moon - ON, OFF
- Depth Fog - ON, OFF
- Weather - ON, OFF
- Swamp Colors - ON, OFF
- Smooth Biomes - ON, OFF
- Custom Fonts - ON, OFF
- Custom Colors - ON, OFF
- Show Capes - ON, OFF (supports HD capes)
Configurable animations
- Water Animated - OFF, Dynamic, ON
- Lava Animated - OFF, Dynamic, ON
- Fire Animated - OFF, ON
- Portal Animated - OFF, ON
- Redstone Animated - OFF, ON
- Explosion Animated - OFF, ON
- Flame Animated - OFF, ON
- Smoke Animated - OFF, ON
- Void Particles - OFF, ON
- Water Particles - OFF, ON
- Rain Splash - OFF, ON
- Portal Particles - OFF, ON
- Dripping Water/Lava - OFF, ON
- Terrain Animated - OFF, ON
- Items Animated - OFF, ON
How do I download and install Optifine? (For Windows, Mac, and Linux)
**Please make sure you have a parent/guardian/PC owner's permission before downloading files on their computer**
There are several versions of OptiFine available at any given time. For the tutorial, I will use OptiFine HD Ultra for Minecraft 1.16.5, as it should work for most players.
1.) Make sure you have Minecraft 1.16.5 installed on your PC
You can do this by closing your game and opening the launcher
Choose "Installations" near the top of the launcher
Click "⊕ New..." near the top of that screen
Name it 1.16.5 (or anything you like)
Under version selection choose "release 1.16.5"
Save Profile
Click "Play" to load the 1.16.5 files
Close Minecraft after it finishes and starts the game up
2.) Download the Optifine HD Ultra installation file for 1.16.5 here:
http://optifine.net/downloadx?f=OptiFine_1.16.5_HD_U_G7.jar3.) Locate and run the Optifine file you downloaded.
You can double click the file to run it. If you can not find the file, check your Downloads folder.
When you run the file, click the option to "Install"
You will see a message that says: "OptiFine successfully installed"
4.) Start the Minecraft launcher.
*Near the bottom of the launcher, near the green "Play" button, click the version selection button " ⌵ "
*In the dropdown menu that appeared, find and click: OptiFine-1.16.5_HD_U_G7
*Click Play
5.) Play as is, or adjust the options under: Options > Video Settings
Good Luck!
