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[NotTarts]

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What is it?

Minecraft Portable is a wrapper application for the Minecraft Launcher that causes it to store all of Minecraft's data in the same directory as the application, rather than AppData. Not only is this incredibly useful for portability (it allows you to keep Minecraft on a USB!) but it also makes managing save files, texture packs, and other data a breeze - you can have Minecraft's data files at hand in a single, accessible folder instead of having to dig through countless directories to locate them.  A few other useful features are included too, such as automatic integration with Java Portable, easy addition of Java configurations, auto-login support, and drag-and-drop compatibility with certain mapping and editing tools.


Compatibility

Currently compatible with: All versions!
(Minecraft Portable automatically downloads the latest version of the launcher from Mojang's server.)


Features

• Keeps all of the Minecraft data in one, easy to manage folder.
  
• Makes it super easy to run multiple copies of Minecraft at the same time. All you need to do is create a separate folder for each Minecraft Portable installation and you're good to go!
  
• Automatically downloads the launcher, so there's no need to download/update them manually yourself from the site.
  
• Easy to use - no complicated DLLs or multiple files. Just download the zip, extract the executable, and run it.
  
• Auto-login support. Add your username, password, and server URL (optional) to the configuration file, and Minecraft Portable will automatically pass it to the Minecraft Launcher. For safeguarding, it erases the username and password from the configuration and instead stores it in an encrypted data file for future access.
  
• Drag-and-drop feature so you can use mapping tools - drop the .exe onto 'minecraftp.exe' and it will direct the tool to the correct save location.
  
• Support for Java Portable. Install Java Portable (provided below) to the 'mcp_data' folder (can be found in the same directory as Minecraft Portable after first launch).
  
• Ability to run a portable Minecraft server using Java Portable
  
• Extremely easy to add custom Java arguments (to increase memory, for example) - all you need to do is edit the configuration file in 'mcp_data'.

Downloads

Download Minecraft Portable 2.7.1 (ZIP archive, 2.76MB) [mirror]
Download Java Portable (see feature list above) (EXE file, 36.4MB)

Download Minecraft Portable for Mac (created and maintained by mbilker) [source files]

Download source files (Python, requires ConfigObj and pyDes)

You can browse all versions of Minecraft Portable, including legacy versions, here.

NOTE: These downloads will always be completely free and with a direct-link (no adf.ly links, ever). I code programs that I personally need, and am willing to share with others, not to earn money. If someone gives you a link to this download using adf.ly or a similar service, please report them, because that's not acceptable.


Installation

Regular installation:
1. Download the appropriate version of Minecraft Portable above.
2. Once downloaded, open the .zip file and extract the executable to any folder you want (you can use WinRAR, WinZIP, etc, but I recommend 7-zip).
3. Run the program!

Regular installation + Java Portable:
1. Download the appropriate version of Minecraft Portable above.
2. Once downloaded, open the .zip file and extract the executable to any folder you want (you can use WinRAR, WinZIP, etc, but I recommend 7-zip).
3. Run Minecraft Portable ('minecraftp.exe') once. It doesn't matter if Java isn't installed, this is only to create the correct folders.
4. A folder called 'mcp_data' should have been created in the same directory as Minecraft Portable.
5. Now, download the Java Portable binaries (download above).
6. Install to the 'mcp_data' folder. There should now be a 'Java' folder in the 'mcp_data' folder.
7. Run the program! Minecraft Portable will automatically detect Java Portable and run accordingly.


Support/FAQ

Error: 'Bad video card drivers!'/OpenGL error
This isn't actually a Minecraft Portable issue, but a Minecraft issue. Minecraft doesn't support integrated video cards (usually Intel, and often found in school computers). It will have to be fixed by Notch himself.

Error: Can't download data files after logging in/launcher not downloaded
Most schools use a proxy server to filter all of the internet traffic. Minecraft doesn't support proxy servers, hence why the files cannot be downloaded by the Minecraft Launcher. In order to play, you'll first need to run Minecraft from home or another computer beforehand.

Error: Screen is blank after logging in/launching Minecraft
It's most likely that you're using an older version of Minecraft Portable, which may or may not be compatible with newer versions of Minecraft (MCFS versions and versions using USB compatibility mode will not be compatible). See the downloads section above to upgrade, and if needed, the upgrade notice at the top of the page.

Help! Minecraft doesn't start/I get an invalid Win32 error!
This is an issue that can occur in all versions up to 2.6. It's an issue in batch file scripting that can cause commands to fail if there are spaces in the file name. Make sure the file path of your folder doesn't contain any spaces.

My school blocks Minecraft. What can I do?
There's nothing I can do about this, sorry. Proxy/internet filters aren't an issue (see above), but if your school blocks Minecraft and/or .exe files Minecraft Portable isn't likely to help.


Also, I'd like to thank Ago for his original batch file and craznn for his enormous help with USB devices and MCFS in previous versions. Huge credit also goes to mbilker for modifying the script to work on Macs.

[Whiskerz]

Ooh, thanks. This will make school time more fun.

[DiabloKing]

Sweet gonna try this out in my Physic's class tomorrow. >

[Tlidnr]

Can someone confirm that this is clean and legit?  

[Aarondiablo]

so what you're saying is people who didnt buy the game can play it... /facepalm

[dorino1]

Aarondiablo said:

so what you're saying is people who didnt buy the game can play it... /facepalm

No, that's not the use of this nor does it allow it. You still need to log in atleast once to enable offline play. All this does is allow you to run it without it accessing any of the files on a computer. Essentially, this allows you to play at work or school or other places where a proper install might not be possible or where access to the application data is restricted.

[FromTheSky]

I FREAKING LOVE YOU SO MUCH!!!! OH MY WORD!!!

[chickenboy8]

I needed this soooo bad!

[Tlidnr]

This program needs me to play online at least once... but I can't do that since the servers are down and it can't connect to minecraft.net /facepalm

[dorino1]

Yes. You can't play on the /normal/ client unless you've logged in at least once right now.

[NotTarts]

Tlidnr said:

This program needs me to play online at least once... but I can't do that since the servers are down and it can't connect to minecraft.net /facepalm

If you've already used the normal EXE you can just copy your '.minecraft folder'  from %APPDATA% (and put it in the same directory as Minecraft Portable). This also copies the saves.

Alternatively, though, you can just copy the 'lastlogin' file, which should let you play offline.

[Evis]

You are a hero.

[the1freerider]

There is a easier solution than a specific jar-file if you only want to start the game from a specific folder that has the saves. (this works on windows)

1. copy the saves to a folder (c:\minecraft\.mincraft)
2. copy the minecraft.exe to same folder (c:\minecraft\minecraft.exe
3. create a .bat file named startMinecraft.bat containing this

set APPDATA=%cd%
Minecraft.exe

5. run the bat file
6. ...
7. profit

[Tlidnr]

It works! Great innovation NotTarts! Many thanks.

[NotTarts]

Updated the program to a new version  

Changes include:
- Application is now 'invisible', ie, no console window appears when you start it
- Reduced size from 500kb > 120kb
- VirusTotal report down from 20% to 10%.
- You can decompile the program (down to the original .bat) by running it with a '-decompile' switch.
- Changed file host to Google Docs, alternative MultiUpload hosting (Rapidshare, MegaUpload, etc)
- Program and java runtime are now in separate packages for ease of use and easier updates.

[tendigitarmy]

I tried as your instructions specified and the exe program simply stalls and doesnt do anything.

any solutions or updates?

[NotTarts]

tendigitarmy said:

I tried as your instructions specified and the exe program simply stalls and doesnt do anything.

any solutions or updates?

You're using Windows XP, right?

It looks like a variable I set in the program (to stop the installed Java interfering with Java Portable) stopped some of the copy commands in XP from working correctly. I've reordered the code so they don't interfere with each other.

You can redownload the updated version in the first post

[amirite]

This is great, thanks! I might even install this on my home PC for the sake of convenience.

[NotTarts]

amirite said:

This is great, thanks! I might even install this on my home PC for the sake of convenience.

Yeah, that's what I do ATM  

The only problem right now is that some tools which use the AppData folder (like AlphaVescuppi) can't access the save files. I'm working on a solution for it, maybe a drag-and-drop method.

[FromTheSky]

So..... would it also be possible to have minecraft look for its opengl files in the same folder that minecraft.bat is in?