What is Iris Shaders (irisshaders.dev)?

Iris Shaders is an open-source shader mod for Minecraft: Java Edition, distributed at irisshaders.dev. It lets you run shader packs — including OptiFine-compatible packs and Iris-enhanced packs — and it ships with Sodium for optimized rendering out of the box. If you play Java Edition on Fabric or NeoForge and want shaders without switching to OptiFine, Iris is the tool this site provides.

What Iris actually does

Iris is a rendering mod, not a shader pack itself. You install Iris, then load a separate shader pack through it. The site describes two compatible categories:

• OptiFine shader packs — packs written for OptiFine's shader format
• Iris-enhanced packs — packs that take advantage of Iris-specific features

Because Sodium is bundled, you get the performance benefits of Sodium's rendering optimizations alongside shader support, rather than running a shader mod on top of unoptimized rendering.

Version and mod loader support

Versions missing from the installer were likely removed because the next release is compatible with servers on that version, according to the site's FAQ.

How to get it

Iris is available through three routes:

1. The official installer — the site's primary download method
2. Modrinth
3. CurseForge

The installer is the simplest path since it handles Iris and Sodium together. If you manage mods manually or through a launcher, Modrinth and CurseForge both host the files.

Compatibility notes worth knowing before you install

Most mods work with Iris, but rendering-related mods are the common exceptions:

• Nvidium — disables itself when shaders are enabled, but can stay installed
• Voxy and Distant Horizons — compatible only with some shader packs; the pack must explicitly support them
• OptiFine, Canvas, or Vulkan mods — incompatible and will crash the game
• Indium — fine below 1.21.1, but should not be used on 1.21.1 or higher
• Hacked clients (Meteor, Wurst) — not supported
• Other clients (e.g. Lunar Client) — may have support from their own team, but you must contact them for client-specific issues

For texture packs: most just work. Resource packs that use "core shaders" (shaders that don't require mods) will not work while a shader pack is enabled.

If a shader doesn't load

Iris aims for broad compatibility, but some shaders may not support some devices. If you believe the failure is an Iris bug, the site directs you to their Discord. Otherwise, contact the shader pack's developer — the issue is likely on the pack side.

Bedrock Edition

Iris does not run on Bedrock Edition. The site notes that Bedrock cannot be modded this way due to restrictions on mobile devices, and that any mobile Bedrock "shader mod" not using built-in features is a scam. Windows users are pointed toward BetterRTX instead.