WIND docs
Overview
WIND (also called WIND Launcher, formerly CloudClient) is a free, all-in-one launcher for Minecraft: Java Edition on Windows. The goal is simple: one app that covers everything around Minecraft, from mods to multiplayer to your own server, with a design that's a pleasure to open.
| What it is | A Minecraft launcher, not a client. It starts regular Minecraft: Java Edition. |
|---|---|
| Platform | Windows |
| Price | Free. No ads, no locked features. Optional subscriptions for cosmetics and cloud hosting are planned (details). |
| Mod loaders | Fabric, Forge, NeoForge, plus vanilla |
| Content sources | Modrinth and CurseForge |
| Account | A Microsoft account that owns Minecraft: Java Edition |
| In-game mod | WindUI, a lightweight frosted-glass UI and HUD mod (details) |
Getting started
- Download the installer from the download page and run it.
- If Windows SmartScreen shows "Windows protected your PC", click More info, then Run anyway. WIND is new and still building reputation with Microsoft, the warning doesn't mean it's been flagged as malware.
- Sign in with your Microsoft account. Sign-in happens through Microsoft, WIND never sees your password.
- Pick a Minecraft version and press play, or head to Mods first.
WIND updates itself, so you'll always be on the latest version.
Mods & modpacks
The Mods tab searches Modrinth and CurseForge from one place. You can install single mods or whole modpacks, and WIND picks the files that match your Minecraft version and loader.
- Loaders: Fabric, Forge and NeoForge.
- Modpacks: build your own from the mods you install, keep several side by side and switch between them. Changing the Minecraft version doesn't mean starting over.
- Sharing: send a modpack to a friend as a link, and they can import it into WIND with one click.
- Performance: one toggle adds a set of well-known optimization mods to your pack.
- Snapshots: new snapshots can be played as soon as they're out. Mods usually follow once a version settles.
Resource packs & shaders
Resource packs and shader packs are managed inside the launcher, so you don't have to open the Minecraft folder. Turn them on and off, and search Modrinth to download new ones directly.
Friends & playing together
The friends menu is built into both the launcher and WindUI, so it's there before and during the game.
- See who's online and what they're playing.
- Chat with friends one-on-one or create group chats.
- Send invites and share modpacks.
- Get friend requests, invites and messages as notifications, in the launcher and in game.
Sharing a world without a server
You can open your singleplayer world to friends and they join through WIND. The connection is peer-to-peer: it goes directly between your PCs, and the world is never uploaded anywhere. It works like a LAN game, just across the internet, and nobody needs to set up a server or touch their router.
Hosting a server
For a world that's online whenever you want, WIND can set up and run a real Minecraft server on your PC. Open Servers in the launcher to get started.
- Server software: Vanilla, Paper, Spigot, Fabric, Forge or NeoForge.
- Content: search Modrinth for plugins (Paper, Spigot), mods (Fabric, Forge, NeoForge) or datapacks (Vanilla). Dependencies and file checksums are checked before anything is installed.
- Worlds: create new worlds with your own seed, import an existing save or ZIP, export backups, and switch Minecraft versions on a copy so your original world stays untouched.
- Management: a live console with command suggestions, a game rules editor, player and whitelist management (including whitelisting your WIND friends), backups, and scheduled restarts with in-game warnings.
Making your server public
- WIND Tunnel: pick your own address like
yourname.play.windlauncher.comand share it. No router settings needed. - Port forwarding: automatic through UPnP or NAT-PMP if your router supports it, or use a rule you already set up yourself.
A local server is online while your PC and WIND are running. Keeping a server online 24/7 on our cloud will be part of the planned WIND+ subscriptions.
Server hosting is new and currently in beta.
Skins & capes
- Upload a skin and see it on a live 3D preview before applying it.
- Search any player by name, try on their skin, and download it or save it for later.
- Switch between the capes on your account.
- Skin creator: paint your own skin from scratch, right in the app.
Personalization
The launcher's background changes on its own between animated scenes like winter forests and galaxies. You can also lock in a favorite or use your own image. WindUI can use the same backgrounds in game.
Crash assistant
When Minecraft crashes, the crash assistant reads the log, explains what actually went wrong and suggests a fix, which you can usually apply with one click. To do this, the relevant part of the crash log is sent to Google Gemini for analysis. See the privacy policy for details.
WindUI
WindUI is WIND's in-game UI and HUD mod, available on Modrinth. It gives Minecraft a frosted-glass look with real blur, smooth animations and the same backgrounds as the launcher. It's built to be lightweight and easy on your hardware. It isn't a performance mod and doesn't promise more FPS, it just stays out of the way of your frame rate.
WindUI works on its own, but with the WIND launcher it also brings your friends menu, chat, invites and world sharing into the game.
Versions
- Fabric: Minecraft 1.21 and newer, including the latest snapshots.
- Coming soon: NeoForge, and a version for 1.20.1 on Forge and NeoForge.
- Compatible with Sodium, Iris (including shader packs) and VulkanMod. If another mod conflicts with one feature, WindUI turns off just that feature instead of failing.
Features
- Design
- Frosted glass with real blur on menus, HUD panels and inventories. Redesigned title screen, settings, pause menu, mod list and world/server lists. Dark and light themes, plus Rounded and Classic styles. A drag-and-drop overlay editor with snapping, docking, outlines and per-module colors.
- HUD modules
- FPS, ping, coordinates, CPS, keystrokes, armor, potion effects, saturation, compass, direction, block and mob info with mining progress, system usage (memory, CPU, GPU), custom scoreboard, custom chat, an animated F3 screen and a crosshair editor.
- Navigation
- Waypoints with beams and a waypoint manager, route planning to any waypoint, Auto Walk that follows the route (including jumps, swimming and boats), and a minimap with cave mode.
- PvP
- Hit and damage indicators, custom hit color and particles, and a mob overlay for the target you're aiming at.
- World & visuals
- Dynamic held light, light level overlay, fullbright, day/night control, snowy leaves, motion blur, color grading, zoom and a simpler F5.
- Inventory
- Frosted or custom-colored inventories, creative menu and recipe book, a matching hotbar, smooth item movement and custom heart colors.
- Window & comfort
- Adaptive chunks that adjust render distance to keep frame times steady, automatic borderless fullscreen and shortcuts for quick actions.
Pricing & WIND+
WIND and WindUI are free, with no ads and no features behind a paywall. That won't change.
Two optional subscriptions are planned. They are not available yet, and the details below may still change:
| WIND+ | WIND++ | |
|---|---|---|
| Planned price | €4.99 / month | €14.99 / month |
| Cloud server (online 24/7) | 2 GB RAM, entry-level CPU | Up to 6 GB RAM, faster CPU |
| Cosmetics | Custom cape (your own image or GIF) | Custom cape and a pair of wings you design yourself |
| Badge | New in-game badge color | Exclusive badge next to your name |
Cosmetics will also be available to buy on their own.
Feature status
| Feature | Status |
|---|---|
| Launcher, mods & modpacks (Modrinth, CurseForge) | Available |
| Resource packs & shaders | Available |
| Friends, chat, groups & peer-to-peer world sharing | Available |
| Skin editor & skin creator | Available |
| Crash assistant | Available |
| Local server hosting & WIND Tunnel | Beta |
| WindUI for Fabric (1.21+ and snapshots) | Available |
| WindUI for NeoForge, and for 1.20.1 Forge/NeoForge | Coming soon |
| Cosmetics store | Coming soon |
| WIND+ and WIND++ with cloud hosting | Planned |
Getting help
- Quick answers: the FAQ.
- Bugs and ideas: the feedback page, where you can also vote and read our replies.
- Anything else: support@windlauncher.com.
WIND is not affiliated with Mojang or Microsoft.