How to Install an X-Ray Texture Pack in Minecraft (Works on 1.21)

Want to easily find diamonds and other valuable resources in Minecraft without the hassle of installing mods or loaders like Fabric or Forge? The perfect solution is an X-Ray resource pack, which works on any game version, including the latest 1.21. This guide will show you how to set it up in less than a minute.

TL;DR: Download the X-Ray Ultimate .zip file, go to Options -> Resource Packs -> Open Pack Folder in-game, drop the file in, and activate the pack in the menu.

Compatibility: 1.8.9+ - 1.21+ • Type: Resource Pack • Platforms: Win/Linux/macOS

What is an X-Ray Resource Pack?

Unlike a mod, an X-Ray resource pack doesn’t add new game mechanics. Instead, it simply changes the textures of most common blocks to be transparent. This makes blocks like stone, dirt, and gravel invisible, allowing you to easily spot caves, mob spawners, and all valuable ores like diamonds, netherite, iron, and gold. It’s the simplest and safest way to “see through” the world.

Why Use a Texture Pack Instead of a Mod?

• No Mod Installation Needed: You don’t have to install Fabric, Forge, or any extra API libraries. It works on “vanilla” Minecraft.
• Easy to Toggle: You can enable and disable the X-Ray pack directly from the in-game menu at any time.
• Full Compatibility: Resource packs are often forward-compatible with newer game versions, even if they haven’t been officially updated.

Requirements

• Minecraft Java Edition
• That’s it, no mods required!

Quick Start (3 steps)

1. Download: The X-Ray Ultimate texture pack .zip file (link at the bottom).
2. Move: Drop the downloaded .zip file into the resourcepacks folder.
3. Activate: Enable the pack in the in-game menu by moving it to the right-hand column.

Step-by-Step Installation

Step 1 — Download the Resource Pack

Go to the CurseForge page (link provided at the bottom of this guide) and download the X-Ray Ultimate pack.

Make sure to get the version that matches your Minecraft version, although older packs often work on newer releases.

Do not unzip the file!

Step 2 — Open the Resource Pack Folder

1. Launch Minecraft.
2. From the main menu, click Options....
3. Next, go to Resource Packs....
4. Click the Open Pack Folder button. A new window will open, showing the resourcepacks folder.

Step 3 — Install and Activate the X-Ray Pack

1. Drag or copy the .zip file you downloaded earlier into the resourcepacks folder that just opened.
2. Return to the game. The X-Ray pack should now appear in the left “Available” column.
3. Hover over the pack’s icon and click the arrow to move it to the right “Selected” column.
4. Click the Done button. The game will freeze for a moment to reload the textures.

That’s it! Enter your world, and the X-Ray effect will be active.

Common Issues & Fixes

• The pack doesn’t appear in the game: Make sure you moved the .zip file into the resourcepacks folder, not its unzipped contents.
• The game says the pack is incompatible: You can usually ignore this warning and enable the pack anyway. Minor features might not work, but the core function (transparent blocks) should be active.
• I want to see normally again: To disable X-Ray, just go back to the resource packs menu and move the pack from the right column back to the left.

Uninstallation

To completely remove the pack, simply delete its .zip file from the resourcepacks folder.