Datapack Load Failure
A datapack fails to load and the world either rejects it or starts without it. The pack contains invalid JSON, targets the wrong format, or uses features your Minecraft version does not support.
What does this error mean?
Datapacks add data-driven content (recipes, loot, functions, worldgen) and, like resource packs, carry a pack.mcmeta with a format number. A load failure means a file inside the pack is malformed or incompatible with the current version.
Failed to load datapack
Most Common Causes
- Invalid JSON in a recipe, loot table, or function file.
- A pack_format number that does not match the Minecraft version.
- Use of features added in a different version.
- A datapack placed in the wrong folder.
- A partially extracted or corrupted pack.
How To Diagnose
- Read the log for the exact file path it failed on.
- Run '/datapack list' to see which packs are enabled.
- Validate the JSON of the named file.
- Check the pack_format against your Minecraft version.
Recommended Fixes
- Fix the broken file
Correct the JSON in the file the log points to, then reload with '/reload' or restart. - Set the correct format
Update pack.mcmeta's pack_format to match your version. - Disable a bad pack
Use '/datapack disable' or remove it from <world>/datapacks to boot cleanly. - Re-extract the pack
If files are missing, re-download and place the pack with its structure intact.
Frequently Asked Questions
Inside the world folder under datapacks/, each as its own folder or zip.
Run '/reload' for code/data changes. Adding or removing packs needs a restart or '/datapack' commands.
Minecraft skips a failing datapack so the world can still start, check the log for the reason.