How To Install Complementary Shaders in Minecraft

If you want to give your Minecraft world a more realistic and immersive appearance, Complementary Shaders is the perfect solution. Complementary Shaders is a well-known shader pack designed for Minecraft Java Edition that adds impressive visual depth and refined detail to the game.

This pack emphasizes smooth performance, customization, and high visual quality. It introduces advanced lighting, lifelike shadows, reflections, and atmospheric visuals, all while staying optimized for a seamless gameplay experience. Players can choose between two distinct visual styles and adjust various settings.

First created in 2018 as a modified version of BSL Shaders, Complementary Shaders has continued to improve through many major updates, becoming one of the most stable and user-friendly shader packs available.

In this guide, we will show you how to install and set up Complementary Shaders using various methods.

Complementary Shaders Overview

Complementary Shaders offers two main visual styles known as Unbound and Reimagined. The only distinction between these two styles lies in their default settings. The Unbound version aims to deliver a more realistic and lifelike appearance, while the Reimagined version focuses on enhancing Minecraft’s original charm and artistic feel.

After installation, every visual setting can still be customized to your liking. For instance, you can enable block-style clouds in Unbound or activate realistic water in Reimagined. All configuration options are found under Shader Options once the setup is complete, which we’ll explore in more detail later in this guide.

💡Note: Although this guide will focus on manual setup, the Complementary Shaders development team has also created an official installer to simplify the process. This tool automatically installs Complementary Shaders along with the Iris shader loader. To use it, simply run the installer, select your preferred style, and click Install. For more information about the installer, you can visit the official Complementary Shaders website.

If you prefer to set things up manually, you’ll need to install a shader loader before using any shader packs. The required mods vary depending on your chosen mod loader and Minecraft version. Below are the recommended options:

NeoForge and Fabric: Use Iris Shaders together with Sodium
Forge: Use Oculus with Embeddium or Rubidium, or use OptiFine as a standalone option

Installing Complementary Shaders

The process of installing Complementary Shaders can vary depending on how you launch Minecraft and manage your mods. For example, the steps for adding shaders through the Vanilla launcher with a mod loader differ from using the CurseForge App or Modrinth App.

Below, we’ll walk through the installation steps for each method. Find the section that matches your setup and follow the instructions carefully to complete the installation properly.

The following steps for each setup method assumes your client is setup with the correct game version, mod loader, and mod loader version needed for your shaders and shader loader mods to work. if you need help setting up your client, check out our detailed help guides below!

Using a Modded Vanilla Launcher

Once you modded Vanilla client is setup, the next step is to get Complementary Shaders installed along with any required shader loader mods so everything works smoothly.

1. Visit CurseForge or Modrinth and search for Complementary Shaders. Make sure to select the version that matches your Minecraft version and mod loader. Download the file to your computer.

2. Using the same site, find the shader loader mods required for your setup. The mods you need depend on your Minecraft version and the mod loader you are using. Recommended options include:

NeoForge or Fabric: Use Iris Shaders along with Sodium
Forge: Use Oculus with Embeddium or Rubidium, or use OptiFine alone

3. Download the shader loader mods you need for your shader pack and save them to a location you can easily access.

4. Click Installations at the top of the Minecraft Launcher. Hover over the mod loader you are using, then click the folder icon on the right. This will open the installation folder in your file explorer.

5. Open the mods folder. Place your shader loader mods into this folder.

6. Launch Minecraft using the correct installation. Once in the game, go to Options, then Video Settings, and click the Shader Packs button.

7. In the Shader Packs menu, click Open Shader Pack Folder. This will open the folder in your file explorer where shader packs are stored.

8. Copy the Complementary Shaders files you downloaded earlier into this folder. Return to the game, and you should see your shaders listed in the Shader Packs menu. Select the shader you want and click Apply to activate it.

When you enter your world, the shaders should be active. If a shader does not appear, press the O key in-game to open the shader menu and enable it from there.

Using the CurseForge App

Once you have your modpack profile created on the Curseforge app, the next step is to get Complementary Shaders installed along with any required shader loader mods so everything works smoothly.

1. From your modpack profile, click the Add Content button.

2. Use the filter on the left side of the screen to show Shaders only.

3. Type Complementary Shaders in the search bar and click the orange Install button to add it to your modpack profile.

3. Once you are finished, go back to your modpack profile by clicking the back button or selecting the Minecraft logo on the left side of the app, then open your profile to continue.

You will now see your installed shaders listed in the Shaders section of your modpack profile. You can click the Shaders tab to view which ones are available.

Once your shaders are installed, you will need shader loader or support mods to enable them in the game. These mods also let you access extra video settings and tweak visual options while playing. The specific shader loader mods you use will depend on your Minecraft version and the mod loader you have installed. Here are the recommended choices:

NeoForge or Fabric: Use Iris Shaders together with Sodium
Forge: Use Oculus with Embeddium or Rubidium, or use OptiFine by itself

4. Change the filter to Mods and either search for the mod by name or browse until you find it.

5. Click the orange Install button, and it will be added directly to your modpack profile.

6. Launch your game using your modpack profile, Once in the game, go to Options, then Video Settings, and click the Shader Packs button. Select the shader you want and click Apply to activate it.

When you enter your world, the shaders should be active. If a shader does not appear, press the O key in-game to open the shader menu and enable it from there.

Using the Modrinth App

After your Minecraft setup has the mod loader ready, the next step is to get Complementary Shaders installed along with any required shader loader mods so everything works smoothly.

1. From your modpack profile, click Install Content.

2. Go to the Shaders tab to filter and show only shader packs. Type Complementary Shaders in the search bar and click Install to add it to your modpack profile.

NeoForge or Fabric: Use Iris Shaders together with Sodium
Forge: Use Oculus with Embeddium or Rubidium, or use OptiFine by itself

3. Next, change the filter to Mods and either search for the mod by name or browse until you find it.

4. Click Install on each shader loader mod to add them to your instance.

Once everything is installed, your shaders will be ready to use the next time you launch the game. You will now see your installed shaders listed in the Shaders section of your modpack profile. You can click the Shaders tab to view which ones are available.

When you enter your world, the shaders should be active. If a shader does not appear, press the O key in-game to open the shader menu and enable it from there.

Troubleshooting Guide

Vanilla Launcher with Mod Loader

Shader not showing: Make sure the correct mod loader (Fabric, NeoForge, or Forge) is installed and the version matches your game.

Game crashes: Check that the shader pack is compatible with your Minecraft version and mod loader. Remove conflicting mods.

Shaders not applying: Press the O key in-game to open the shader menu and manually enable the shader.

CurseForge App & Modrinth App

Shaders not appearing: Verify the instance has the correct mod loader and shader loader installed.

Game errors or crashes: Double-check compatibility of the shader pack with your Minecraft version and loader. Remove any conflicting mods.

Shaders not activating: Open the Shader Packs menu in-game, select your shader, and click Apply.

Mods not recognized: Confirm that the shader loader mods are installed in the profile’s mods folder and match the Minecraft version.

FAQs about SimpleGameHosting

Q: What is SimpleGameHosting?
A: SimpleGameHosting provides easy-to-use Minecraft server hosting, helping players set up multiplayer servers quickly and without hassle.

Q: Does SimpleGameHosting offer customer support?
A: Yes! SimpleGameHosting has a dedicated support team to help with any issues or questions regarding Minecraft server hosting.

Q: Can I host a modded Minecraft server with SimpleGameHosting?
A: Absolutely! SimpleGameHosting allows users to run modded Minecraft servers, perfect for players who want to customize their gaming experience.