Shard Launcher

Open source

What the maker publishes

Accounts

Shard uses Microsoft OAuth and supports adding and switching between multiple Microsoft accounts. source

Account support

Shard uses Microsoft OAuth for Minecraft authentication and supports adding and switching between multiple Microsoft accounts. source

CLI

Shard includes a command-line tool for scripting and automation, and it shares its data directory with the desktop app. source

CLI

Shard provides a command-line tool designed for scripting and automation, sharing its data directory with the desktop app. source

Deduplicated storage

Mods, resource packs, and shader packs are stored by SHA-256 hash so shared content is stored only once on disk. source

Deduplicated storage

Mods, resource packs, and shader packs are stored by SHA-256 hash and shared across profiles. source

Downloads

The download guide lists desktop app installers for macOS, Windows, and Linux, plus CLI downloads for macOS, Windows, and Linux. source

Download verification

Each release includes SHA-256 checksums in SHA256SUMS.txt for verifying downloads. source

Download verification

Each release includes a SHA-256 checksums file for verifying downloads. source

Game requirements

Playing requires Java 17 or later and a Microsoft account for Minecraft authentication. source

Java requirement

Minecraft requires Java 17 or later, and Shard can help install it. source

Loaders

Shard supports Fabric, Forge, Quilt, and NeoForge loaders. source

Local data

Shard stores profiles, Minecraft data, the content store, and account tokens locally in ~/.shard/. source

Local data

Profiles, game data, content, and account tokens are stored locally in ~/.shard/. source

Maker

The homepage credits Thomas Marchand. source

Mod integrations

Users can browse and install mods from Modrinth and CurseForge, with version compatibility and dependencies handled automatically. source

Mod integrations

Shard lets users browse and install mods from Modrinth and CurseForge and handles compatibility and dependencies. source

Mod loader support

multiple source

Modpack import

file source

Open source and telemetry

The maker’s homepage describes Shard as open source, says it has no telemetry, and says no launcher account is required. source

Privacy

The maker says Shard has no telemetry and does not require a launcher account. source

Profiles

Profiles are JSON manifests that can be versioned, shared, and used to manage different Minecraft versions, loaders, and content. source

Profiles

Users can create multiple Minecraft profiles as JSON manifests that can be versioned and shared. source

Purpose

Shard is a Minecraft launcher focused on stability, reproducibility, and reducing duplicate files. source

Checked against the maker's pages on 12 Oct 2026.