How to Install Skin Packs on Windows (PC) (Minecraft Bedrock)

Quick answer

• Download the .mcpack file (or buy a pack from the in-game Marketplace).
• Double-click the .mcpack: Minecraft launches and imports the pack.
• Open the Dressing Room from the main menu.
• Go to Classic Skins, find your new skin and click Equip.
• If the pack does not appear, turn off Only Allow Trusted Skins in Settings → General.

Get skin packs from the Marketplace on Windows (PC)

The in-game Marketplace is the easiest way to get skin packs. You buy them with Minecoins, and the purchase follows your Microsoft account across devices.

1. Launch Minecraft Bedrock and sign in with your Microsoft account.
2. From the main menu, click the Marketplace button.
3. Browse the Skins section (or search for a creator you like).
4. Select a skin pack and click Buy (or Unlock if it is free).
5. Once purchased, open the Dressing Room.
6. Go to Classic Skins (or Owned Skins), find the new skin and click Equip.

Looking for a free pack? Get the free FoxyNoTail skin pack, or browse my skin packs on the Marketplace.

Install a custom skin pack (.mcpack)

Custom skin packs come as a single .mcpack file. On Windows the install is as simple as double-clicking it.

1. Download the .mcpack file to your PC (it will usually land in your Downloads folder).
2. Double-click the .mcpack file. Minecraft launches and begins the import. You should see a message saying the import has started.
3. Wait for the "imported successfully" message.
4. Open the Dressing Room from the main menu.
5. Go to Classic Skins. On some versions you may need to click the green clothes-hanger Featured Skins button first.
6. Select the skin you want and click Equip.

Use a single custom skin (no pack needed)

If you just have one PNG skin file and do not want to build a whole pack, Windows supports importing it directly:

1. Open the Dressing Room.
2. Go to Classic Skins.
3. Click Choose New Skin.
4. Browse to your PNG file and select it.
5. Choose the correct model type: Classic (4-pixel arms, Steve-style) or Slim (3-pixel arms, Alex-style).
6. The skin appears under Owned Skins. Click Equip to use it.

Turn off Only Allow Trusted Skins

If your custom pack imported but the skin does not show up, the most common cause is the Only Allow Trusted Skins setting being switched on.

1. From the main menu, click Settings.
2. Go to the General tab.
3. Find Only Allow Trusted Skins and toggle it off.

After turning it off, go back to the Dressing Room and your custom skin should now be visible.

Skin pack not showing? Fixes

If your skin pack is missing or the skin looks wrong, work through this list:

1. Turn off "Only Allow Trusted Skins": Settings → General. This is the number-one cause on Windows.
2. Check the zip structure. Open the .mcpack (rename to .zip) and make sure manifest.json is at the very top level, not inside a wrapper folder.
3. Validate your JSON. A missing comma or wrong quote in manifest.json or skins.json will silently break the pack. Paste the contents into any free JSON validator.
4. Check the geometry value. It must be exactly geometry.humanoid.custom (Classic) or geometry.humanoid.customSlim (Slim). It is case-sensitive.
5. Match the texture file name. The texture field in skins.json must match the PNG file name exactly, including capitalisation and extension. The PNG must sit in the pack root, not a subfolder.
6. Fix the lang keys. If skin names show as skin.xxx.yyy or are blank, your en_US.lang keys do not match the localization_name values in skins.json.
7. Update Minecraft. Versions below 1.18.30 had a bug where the Equip button was missing. Updating fixes it.

FAQ

Do skin packs carry over to other devices?

Marketplace purchases follow your Microsoft account, so they appear on any device you sign in to. Custom .mcpack files, however, are stored on the device you import them to. You will need to import them again on each PC or phone.

Are skin packs free?

Some Marketplace skin packs are free, but most cost Minecoins. Custom packs downloaded from the internet (like the ones on this site) are free.

Can I make my own skin pack?

Yes. You can use my free Skin Pack Creator tool right in your browser, or follow the step-by-step guide at How to make a skin pack. All you need is a PNG image and a text editor.

What file sizes are supported for skin PNGs?

On Windows, imported custom skins accept PNG files at 64×32, 64×64 or 128×128 pixels. 64×64 is the standard size used by the official Microsoft sample pack.

Can I use custom skins on Xbox or PlayStation?

No. Custom skin import (both .mcpack files and single PNGs) is not available on consoles. On Xbox, PlayStation and Nintendo Switch you can use Marketplace skin packs and the Character Creator instead.

Where do imported packs get stored?

They go into the skin_packs folder inside com.mojang. For the Microsoft Store (UWP) build the full path is %localappdata%\Packages\Microsoft.MinecraftUWP_8wekyb3d8bbwe\LocalState\games\com.mojang\skin_packs. Newer GDK-based installs may use a different location.