Command line

arctic.exe is a headless companion to the launcher. It uses the same data folder, accounts, settings and downloads as the GUI, so you can script installs and launches, make desktop shortcuts, or run Minecraft on a machine you only reach over SSH.

arctic launch                       # latest release as the active account
arctic launch 1.21.4
arctic launch latest --account Alex --memory 6G --wait
arctic launch --instance fabric     # an instance, with its own version and mods
arctic open --launch 1.20.1         # open the launcher window and start 1.20.1

Download arctic-windows-x64.exe or arctic-linux-x64 from the latest release (opens in a new tab) and put it on your PATH as arctic.

Global options#

Exit codes: 0 success, 1 error, 2 bad usage. launch --wait returns the game's own exit code.

Commands#

arctic versions#

arctic versions [--all] [--installed] [-n <LIMIT>]

Lists releases, newest first. --all includes snapshots and old alpha/beta versions. --installed shows only downloaded versions.

26.3                   2026-09-15  installed  latest
26.2                   2026-06-16

JSON: {"id","type","released","installed","latest"} per version.

arctic install [VERSION]#

Downloads everything a version needs (Java runtime, libraries, assets) without starting it. It uses the same parallel downloader as the launcher. VERSION may be an id, latest (default) or latest-snapshot.

arctic launch [VERSION] [options]#

Downloads whatever is missing, then starts Minecraft.

Without --wait, the game is started detached: it keeps running after arctic exits, and its output goes to profiles\<profile>\logs\game-vanilla.log. Microsoft sessions are refreshed automatically when needed.

arctic instances#

arctic instances list
arctic instances create <NAME> [--version <VERSION>] [--loader <LOADER>] [--loader-version <V>]
arctic instances show <INSTANCE>
arctic instances edit <INSTANCE> [--name N] [--version V] [--loader L] [--loader-version V]
    [--memory 4G|default] [--icon classic|stellar|dendrite|plate|star|crystal] [--color #rrggbb|default]
    [--arctic-client on|off] [--java PATH|default] [--jvm-args "FLAGS"] [--performance on|off] [--shaders on|off]
    [--game-dir FOLDER|default [--keep-files]]
arctic instances remove <INSTANCE>

edit changes only what's given. Changing the version or loader picks the newest stable loader build unless --loader-version says otherwise. The Vanilla instance follows the version picked to play, so its version and loader can't be pinned (make another instance).

--loader is vanilla (default), fabric, quilt, neoforge or forge. Without --loader-version, the newest stable loader build for that Minecraft version is used. Removing an instance moves its folder (worlds included) to instances/.trash.

--game-dir puts the instance's game (worlds, mods, packs, options) in a folder on any drive. Its files move there (the folder must be empty) unless --keep-files, which uses the folder as it is, for one that already holds a game. default brings it back inside the instance's folder. A game folder elsewhere is left alone when the instance is removed.

arctic instances create "Fabric" --version 26.3 --loader fabric
Created Fabric (Fabric 0.19.5, Minecraft 26.3). Start it with: arctic launch --instance fabric

JSON (list): {"id","name","version","loader","loader_version"} per instance.

arctic mods#

Mods come from Modrinth (opens in a new tab) and are matched to the instance's Minecraft version and loader. Required dependencies are installed too.

arctic mods search <QUERY> --instance <INSTANCE> [-n <LIMIT>]
arctic mods install <SLUG_OR_ID> --instance <INSTANCE>
arctic mods list --instance <INSTANCE>
arctic mods toggle <FILE> on|off --instance <INSTANCE>
arctic mods remove <FILE> --instance <INSTANCE>
arctic mods check --instance <INSTANCE>

arctic mods install sodium-extra --instance fabric
Installed Sodium Extra 0.6.1
Installed Sodium 0.6.13 (dependency)

JSON: search prints {"id","slug","title","author","downloads","description"}, install prints one {"event":"installed",...} per file, list prints {"file","enabled","title","size"}.

check lists what would stop the game while loading (the same mod twice, a mod that breaks another, a missing or too old requirement, a mod for another Minecraft version) with the fixes the launcher offers, and exits with 1 when it finds any. The launcher runs the same check when you press Play. JSON: one {"event":"clash","problem","fixes"} each, or {"event":"clean"}.

arctic modpacks#

arctic modpacks search [QUERY] [-n <LIMIT>]
arctic modpacks install <SLUG_OR_ID | FILE.mrpack>

Each modpack becomes a new instance with its loader, mods and config.

arctic modpacks install fabulously-optimized
Installed Fabulously Optimized (Fabric 26.3). Start it with: arctic launch --instance fabulously-optimized

arctic skins#

Your skin library (the skins in the launcher's Cosmetics tab) and the community gallery.

arctic skins list
arctic skins add <PNG> [--name N] [--model classic|slim]
arctic skins rename <SKIN> <NAME> | model <SKIN> classic|slim | remove <SKIN> | export <SKIN> <PNG>
arctic skins wear <SKIN|none> [--account A]      (your Arctic look; `none` = your Minecraft skin)
arctic skins gallery [QUERY] [--new] [--page N]
arctic skins take <GALLERY_ID> [--wear] | share <SKIN> [--name N] | report <GALLERY_ID>

SKIN is a library skin's id (or its first characters) or name.

arctic screenshots, replays, logs#

arctic screenshots list [--instance I] [-n N] | remove <FILE>
arctic replays list [--instance I] | remove <NAME> [--instance I]
arctic logs [--instance I | --launcher] [-n N] [--level warn|error] [--follow] [--path]

Removed screenshots and replays go to a .trash folder next to them. Watch a replay with arctic launch --instance I --replay FILE. logs shows an instance's last game log (--follow keeps printing new lines while the game runs).

arctic accounts#

arctic accounts list
arctic accounts login [--browser]     # device code by default (works over SSH)
arctic accounts use <ACCOUNT>
arctic accounts remove <ACCOUNT>

<ACCOUNT> is a username (case-insensitive), a Minecraft UUID (with or without dashes), or the internal id.

arctic profiles#

arctic profiles list
arctic profiles create <NAME> [--switch]
arctic profiles use <PROFILE>
arctic profiles rename <PROFILE> <NEW_NAME>
arctic profiles remove <PROFILE>        # folder moves to profiles/.trash

Every command works on the active profile unless you pass -p, --profile <NAME> (or set ARCTIC_PROFILE), e.g. arctic -p Speedruns launch 1.16.1.

arctic migrate#

Brings instances over from other launchers and clients: version, loader, mods, configs, worlds, resource and shader packs, options and servers. Originals are never changed and accounts never come along. Supported: Minecraft Launcher, TLauncher, Prism, PolyMC, MultiMC (with --folder), Modrinth App, CurseForge, ATLauncher, GDLauncher (new and old), and the own mods of LabyMod, Lunar and Feather. LabyMod and Lunar HUD layouts and keys can be applied too.

arctic migrate list [--folder <DIR>]
arctic migrate instance <KEY_OR_NAME> [--skip mods,worlds,resourcepacks,shaderpacks,settings,screenshots] [--name <NAME>]
arctic migrate all [--skip ...]
arctic migrate hud <KEY> [--instance <INSTANCE>] [--on fps,coords,...]

While importing, mods are checked the way the loaders check them: mods their own files say won't run on that Minecraft version come switched off, a required mod the pack is missing is fetched from Modrinth, and mods are matched to Modrinth by hash so they can be updated and shared. Lunar saves only settings that differ from its defaults, so widgets without a saved on/off state are listed; --on picks them (default: the ones that were moved somewhere).

arctic share and arctic import#

Share an instance (version, loader and the exact Modrinth versions of its mods, no jar files), a HUD layout, a crosshair, all Arctic Client settings, or a whole profile.

arctic share instance|hud|crosshair|client|profile [--instance <INSTANCE>] [--as code|text|file] [--out <FILE>]
arctic import <CODE | TEXT | FILE> [--instance <INSTANCE>]

A code (abcd-efgh) is stored on the Arctic server and needs a signed-in account; text (arctic1.…) and .json files work without it. Accounts, the proxy, Java paths and JVM arguments are never included, and everything imported is checked value by value first.

arctic bedrock#

Minecraft: Bedrock Edition (Minecraft for Windows). --preview works on Minecraft Preview instead, and --account <ID> picks an Xbox account's folder for worlds and servers (the ids are in status; the default is the one played last).

arctic bedrock status | play
arctic bedrock versions [--all] | install <VERSION|latest>
arctic bedrock worlds list | import <MCWORLD_OR_FOLDER> | export <WORLD> [--to FILE] | backup <WORLD> | remove <WORLD>
arctic bedrock packs list | import <MCPACK_OR_MCADDON> | remove <NAME|UUID>
arctic bedrock servers list [--no-ping] | ping <ADDRESS> | add <ADDRESS> [--name N] | remove <ADDRESS>

install switches the installed game to any version since 1.21.120, older or newer: Windows downloads the package from Microsoft and installs it over the current one, keeping worlds, packs and settings. The game must be owned on the Microsoft account signed in to the Microsoft Store, and the Store may update it again later. Removed worlds and packs go to com.mojang\arctic-trash; backups go to bedrock\backups in Arctic's folder.

arctic worlds, waypoints, servers, friends, defaults, skin, look, proxy, settings, crash, together#

arctic worlds list|sources [--instance <I>]
arctic servers list [--instance <I>] [--no-ping] | ping <ADDRESS> | add <ADDRESS> [--name N] [--instance <I>]
arctic servers move <ADDRESS> [--before <ADDRESS>] [--instance <I>]
arctic servers browse [--premium|--cracked] [--random]
arctic servers submit <ADDRESS> --name N [--description D] [--tag T]... | verify <ID>
    (submit goes straight to review; verify only reports that state)
arctic servers review [--state pending] [--approve|--reject|--remove <ID>]   (needs ARCTIC_ADMIN_KEY)
arctic friends list | add <CODE|NAME> | accept <NAME> | remove <NAME> [--account A]
arctic friends recovery | restore <RECOVERY_CODE> [--account A]
arctic friends chat <NAME> [--send TEXT]
arctic defaults show | set <KEY> <VALUE> | unset <KEY> | capture [--instance I] | apply [--instance I] | clear
arctic share options   (default game settings as a code)
arctic friends invite <NAME> --server <ADDRESS> | --together <CODE>
arctic friends profile [--name N] [--share-online B] [--share-server B] [--invites B] [--show-accounts B] [--link ACCOUNT] [--unlink ACCOUNT]
arctic worlds import <FOLDER_OR_ZIP> | backup <WORLD> | remove <WORLD> [--instance <I>]
arctic waypoints list [--world W] | add <NAME> <X> <Y> <Z> --world W [--dim D] | remove <NAME> --world W [--instance <I>]
    (W is a server address, or sp:<world name>; the game's Compass and Minimap show them)
arctic skin show | set <PNG> [--model classic|slim] | reset | cape <NAME|none>
arctic look show | skin <PNG|none> | cape <PRESET|PNG|none> | wear [IDS...] | fit <ID> [--up N] [--forward N] [--mirror]
arctic proxy show | set <HOST> [PORT] [--username U] [--password P] | off | test
arctic settings show | get <KEY> | set <KEY> <VALUE>
arctic crash [FILE] [--instance <I>]
arctic together host [--port N] | join <CODE>

arctic java <VERSION>#

Prints the Java executable that version uses, installing the runtime if needed. This is handy for running tools against the same JVM.

arctic paths#

Shows the data folder layout: settings, accounts, versions, libraries, assets, runtimes, instances and logs.

arctic storage#

arctic storage show
arctic storage move <FOLDER|default>
arctic storage use <FOLDER>

Where Arctic keeps everything (Settings → Storage in the launcher). move copies it all to an empty folder (another drive, say) and uses it from then on; the old copy is removed the next time the launcher starts. Close the launcher first. default moves back to the usual place. use switches to a folder that already holds Arctic's files, copying nothing. Not available when ARCTIC_DATA_DIR, --data-dir or portable mode (portable.txt) sets the folder.

arctic update [--beta]#

Checks GitHub Releases for a newer launcher. It only checks; installing happens in the GUI.

arctic open [options]#

Starts the launcher window, detached. Options are passed through to the GUI:

The launcher exe is looked up next to arctic.exe (as arctic-launcher.exe or Arctic Launcher.exe) or via ARCTIC_LAUNCHER_EXE.

GUI flags#

The same flags work on the launcher itself, which is useful for desktop shortcuts:

"Arctic Launcher.exe" --launch 1.21.4 --account Steve --profile Speedruns --no-intro

JSON output#

With --json, every line on stdout is one JSON object. Long operations emit progress events:

{"event":"progress","stage":"Downloading game files","files_done":812,"files_total":5634,"bytes_done":201326592,"bytes_total":695500800}
{"event":"launched","version":"26.3","account":"Steve","pid":12345,"log":"C:\\...\\logs\\game-vanilla.log"}

With launch --wait --json you also get the parsed game output and the exit:

{"event":"log","level":"info","text":"[Render thread/INFO] Setting user: Steve"}
{"event":"window_ready"}
{"event":"exited","code":0}

Errors are reported as {"event":"error","message":"…"} with exit code 1.