How to Install Citadel Mod in the Correct Instance

The most useful installation habit is to treat every launcher profile as its own environment. A correct file placed in the wrong instance will still leave the game unable to find its dependency.

Identify your running profile

Open the launcher settings for the instance you actually play. Write down its Minecraft version and mod loader. Launchers can keep multiple installations side by side, each with separate saves and a separate mods folder. Use the launcher option that opens the instance directory instead of assuming the default Minecraft directory is the right location.

Choose and place the dependency

Use the official Citadel file listing and inspect the individual file details. Match both the game version and loader, as well as any dependency range stated by your content mod. Close the running game, place the downloaded JAR in that instance mods folder, and keep a single intended Citadel version there. Leave the JAR intact rather than extracting it.

Make the first launch deliberate

Launch the same profile and read any dependency message before changing more files. Check the Mods menu for Citadel and the mod that requested it. Test with a new temporary world before opening a valued save. Keep a backup of existing worlds and note the versions that worked so the installation can be reproduced later.

Sources and further reading

For project details, release compatibility, and developer documentation, consult the official Citadel project page, official file listing, and Citadel source repository. Checked October 17, 2026.

Read next: Citadel Compatibility: Minecraft Version and Mod Loader