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Minecraft crashes with Exit code 1

“Exit code: 1” only means the game closed with an error. It doesn’t explain anything by itself — the cause is in the log. Most often it’s mods, the wrong Java version or the graphics driver.

Quick fixCauses and fixesIf something goes wrong
Fix 1

Quick fix — Why Launcher

  1. Start the game through Why Launcher: it downloads the Java each version needs and checks the game files before launch, so the two most common causes are gone right away.
  2. If the game still closes, open Консоль (Console) — the full launch log is there. Look for lines with ERROR, Exception or Caused by near the end.
  3. Crashing with mods? In Моды, паки и скины (Mods, packs and skins) → Установлено (Installed) switch off recently added mods until the game starts.

The Why Launcher interface is in Russian, so button names are given in Russian with a translation.

The Console section in Why Launcher: the game’s launch log
The Console section in Why Launcher: the game’s launch log
Download for Windows

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Fix 2

Causes and fixes

  1. An incompatible mod. A mod for another game version or loader, a missing dependency, or two conflicting mods. Remove the latest mods and check versions. More in “Minecraft crashes with mods”.
  2. The wrong Java. New Minecraft versions need new Java, old ones need old Java. The version table is in “Java not found”.
  3. The graphics driver. Especially on laptops with integrated graphics. Get a fresh driver from NVIDIA, AMD or Intel.
  4. Extra JVM arguments. If you typed something into “JVM arguments”, restore the defaults — a typo there also gives Exit code 1.
  5. Corrupted files. Delete the version folder in .minecraft\versions and start it again — the game downloads anew.

If something goes wrong

  • Where the log is in the official launcher — %APPDATA%\.minecraft\logs\latest.log, and crash reports are in the crash-reports folder.
  • Code 1 right after pressing Play almost always means Java or JVM arguments, not mods.
  • A long negative code like -1073740791 is often the graphics driver — update it first.

FAQ

What do other codes mean — 0, -1, 255?

Code 0 means the game closed normally. Any other code means an error, and you look for the cause in the log just like for code 1.

Does reinstalling Minecraft help?

Rarely: worlds and mods live separately, and the problem is usually in them or in Java. Check mods and Java first — it’s faster.

More guides

Minecraft crashes with modsHow to find the culprit mod and read a crash report.Java not found: which Java Minecraft needsJava version table and what to do about UnsupportedClassVersionError.OutOfMemoryError: Minecraft runs out of memoryJava heap space: how to give the game more memory.