MetalRender

MetalRender

MetalRender is a Minecraft mod that uses Apple’s Metal graphics API to render the game on macOS. It adds a modern rendering backend designed to help Minecraft run faster and more smoothly on Apple devices.

I would like to thank Ikea for helping with the testing of MetalRender, my mac is being kept alive using a Ikea zip lock bag with ice inside under my mac :>

MetalRender is inspired by Nvidium, an optimization mod for NVIDIA GPUs by Cortex.

Please report bugs and issues on the GitHub Issues page. Suggestions are welcome too—use the Suggestions tag.

Disclaimer

MetalRender is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or associated with Apple Inc. “Metal” refers to Apple’s Metal graphics API. The MetalRender logo is an original design inspired by the term “Metal” and is not intended to resemble or imply an association with Apple branding.

Requirements

Install these before running MetalRender:

• Fabric Loader
• Fabric API
• Java 25 or newer to build the mod

Installation

MetalRender currently supports Fabric Loader only.

1. Install Fabric Loader using the official installer.
2. Install Fabric API.
3. Put Fabric API and MetalRender in your Minecraft mods folder.
4. Start Minecraft using the Fabric profile.

Hardware compatibility

MetalRender is designed for Apple Silicon Macs. Supported Mac chips are M1 or newer, including M1, M2, M3, M4, and M5. MetalRender requires macOS 27.x; older macOS versions are not supported.

To check your Mac’s chip, click the Apple menu in the top-left corner of your screen and select About This Mac. If the window lists a Chip such as Apple M1, your Mac has Apple Silicon. If it lists a Processor, your Mac has an Intel processor and is not supported.

If your device meets these requirements but MetalRender does not work, please report the issue on GitHub. If your device is unsupported, MetalRender will display an error and disable itself.

Bugs and suggestions

If you encounter a bug or have a suggestion, please open an issue on the GitHub Issues page. Before reporting a bug, check that you have Java 21 or newer, Fabric API, and Sodium installed.

Known issues

• Slowdowns after long uptime: Minecraft may slow down after your computer has been running for two days or more. This appears to be related to macOS.
• Compatibility: MetalRender WILL crash when used with Sodium, Distant Horizons (DH), Voxy, Iris, C2ME, or other rendering mods. If you run into a specific compatibility issue (NOT those mods), please report it on GitHub.

For developers

In version v0.1, the source code is included in the JAR. This source code is outdated and will not be updated.

For v0.1.2 and later, the source code and build instructions are available on the GitHub repository.

Command line

Command-line features are available in v0.1.6 and later. Earlier versions do not include these commands. See the GitHub repository for the full guide.

Common commands

• /metalrender status — Show the current MetalRender status.
• /metalrender help — List available commands.
• /metalrender cache clear — Clear the cache and restart the renderer.
• /metalrender reload — Reload the world renderer.
• /metalrender restart — Restart MetalRender.