How to Create an Instant-Launch Shortcut for Minecraft

Written: 2020-07-27 · Last Updated: 2021-10-09

* Internet connection required
* Tutorial made for Windows XP and higher

Step 1: Preperation

1A: Download ProcessExplorer

Download Process Explorer from SysInternals, it's a Microsoft-approved application which has a feature that shows the command-line command used to launch any running application on your PC.

1B: Open your Minecraft Launcher

Open Minecraft's Launcher on your desktop, make sure you have selected the profile for your client.

1C: Open ProcessExplorer

Make sure that you have Process Explorer open, and that you are on a screen that looks a bit like this:

Step 2: Finding the Command-Line Arguments

2A: Launch Minecraft

Launch your selected Minecraft client from the launcher. Do not close it until you reach the step telling you to do so.

2B: Get the Arguments

• Switch back to Process Explorer (Do not close your Minecraft client)
• Look [and scroll if necessary] for the process javaw.exe in the task list.
  • Right click on it
  • Select Properties.
• Highlight the contents of the Command line box in the newly opened window: (In your case there will be text there, this example image does not have it)
  
• Copy the contents of the Command line box. (Ctrl+C)

If ProcessExplorer Doesn't Run:

• Open either Command Prompt or PowerShell. (Win+R; then type either cmd or powershell, press OK)
• Type tasklist.
  • Find javaw.exe on the left of the list.
  • Look at the number to the immediate right of javaw.exe (This is the PID)
• Type the following command: wmic.exe path Win32_Process where handle='x' get Commandline /format:list. Replace x with the PID you just got.
• Copy the output of that command.

2C: Creating the Batch File

• Open Notepad. (Win+R, type in notepad, press OK; or search for "Notepad" in the Start menu)
• Paste the text. (Ctrl+V)
• Save the file as. (Ctrl+S)
  • Click the address bar at the top of the window.
  • Type in the following: %AppData%\.minecraft\
  • Go to the Name: box. Type in runmc.bat.
    • Make sure that is all that is in the box, .txt might be there - make sure it is not.
  • Click the dropdown next to Save as type:.
  • Select All files (*.*).
  • Press Save.

Step 3: File Management

3A: The natives files.

For older launchers:

Whilst your Minecraft client is open, open File Explorer, go to the address bar, and type %AppData%\.minecraft\.

• Double-click the versions folder.
• Double-click the folder in versions which your client is using; it's usually 1.x.x (OptiFine installations are usually 1.x.x_OptiFine_HD_xx)
• There will be a folder in it which ends with -natives. If not, move to the "For newer versions" section below.

• Copy that folder. (Click on it and press Ctrl+C)

• Go back to %AppData%\.minecraft\

• Create a new folder and call it something like quickLaunch

• Go into that folder and paste. (Ctrl+V)

• Go back to %AppData%\.minecraft\

• Find runmc.bat.
• Right click it.
  • Select Edit.

• Once Notepad opens, press Ctrl+F; then type in -Djava.library.path=. Press Find.

• Go back to File Explorer. (You should be in %AppData%\.minecraft\ still)

• Open the new quickLaunch folder.
• Open the folder inside. (The one ending in -natives)

• Click the address bar, copy the text inside it. (Ctrl+C)

• Go back to Notepad.

• After -Djava.library.path=, delete the text. Stop deleting once you reach a space (`) \[or a quotation mark (") (Only if right after-Djava.library.path=, there was a")\] (Basically once you reach the start of the next argument. I believe it starts with-Dminecraft.~.*` or something. (Not 100% sure though, so be careful!))
• Paste in the new folder location. (Ctrl+V)
• Press Ctrl+S to save.

  For newer launchers:

  Whilst your Minecraft client is open, open File Explorer, go to the address bar, and type %AppData%\.minecraft\.
• Double-click the bin folder.
• Open a new File Explorer window and go to %AppData%\.minecraft\.
• Right-click runmc.bat.
• When Notepad opens, press Ctrl+F.
  • Type -Djava.library.path=.
  • Press Find.
• Look to the end of the file path, before the next argument. (The next argument starts with a -)

• Take note of the folder. It will look something like C:\Users\User\AppData\Roaming\.minecraft\bin\xxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxx.

  • Note the xxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxx at the end.

• Go back to the File Explorer window which is in %AppData%\.minecraft\bin\.

• Copy the folder which has the same name as the one from Notepad (After -Djava.library.path=). (Ctrl+C)

• Go back to %AppData%\.minecraft\

• Create a new folder and call it something like quickLaunch

• Go into that folder and paste. (Ctrl+V)

• Go back to %AppData%\.minecraft\

• Find runmc.bat.
• Right click it.
  • Select Edit.

• Once Notepad opens, press Ctrl+F; then type in -Djava.library.path=. Press Find.

• Go back to File Explorer. (You should be in %AppData%\.minecraft\ still)

• Open the new quickLaunch folder.
• Open the folder inside. (The one formatted like xxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxx)

• Click the address bar, copy the text inside it. (Ctrl+C)

• Go back to Notepad.

• After -Djava.library.path=, delete the text. Stop deleting once you reach a space (`) \[or a quotation mark (") (Only if right after-Djava.library.path=, there was a")\] (Basically once you reach the start of the next argument. I believe it starts with-Dminecraft.~.*` or something. (Not 100% sure though, so be careful!))
• Paste in the new folder location. (Ctrl+V)
• Press Ctrl+S to save.

  3B: Desktop Shortcut

• Go to your desktop. (Win+D)
• Right-click.
  • Click New.
  • Click Shortcut.
    • It will ask for the location of the file.
    • Type %AppData%\.minecraft\runmc.bat.
    • Press Next.
    • Fill the box with a name for you shortcut, something like Minecraft.

Congratulations! You've just made a shortcut direct to Minecraft, no launcher needed.

You are able to close the Notepad, Minecraft and File Explorer windows now.

ProcessExplorer.exe can safely be deleted from your Downloads folder, nothing else though!