This article is about custom player skins. For world textures, see resource pack

Steve Alex





Skins refer to the textures that are placed onto a player or mob model.

Properties [ edit ]

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Skins are divided into areas that act as the surface area of the character (for example, the front head area, left leg area, etc.). There are a total of 3,264 pixels that can be customized, with 1,632 on each layer. The second layer can be used to give the character glasses, hats, or other accessories (even a bigger head).

In Java Edition, a skin allows only a solid color; transparency is not allowed on the skin file except on the second layer, which is transparent by default; playing offline, pixels can be left free resulting in "holes" in the skin. If a skin with transparent pixels on the first layer is uploaded, the transparent pixels render as black pixels in-game. There are about 9.571 656 652 × 1031441 possible skins in this edition, with 5.412 073 956 × 1027511 compatible online.

In Bedrock Edition, skins can have double the resolution of a normal skin. This means the skin template can be up to 128×128 instead of just 64×64. The normal templates still apply, but players get 4× the amount of pixels to work with, since both dimensions have been doubled. Transparency can be used, even on the first layer, though there needs to be at least one visible pixel on five body parts, so a fully invisible skin can't be made. The transparency must also be 0% or 100% as translucent colors are not allowed in either layer.

World textures [ edit ]

A skin can also refer to other textures in the game, such as block textures, item sprites, mob skins, etc. A list of these can be found here.

It is worth noting that a zombie and its variants can use typical player skins (and vice-versa). Skeleton mobs can use typical player skins as well, but keep in mind that they have their skinny arms and legs. If a skeleton mob skin is used as a player's skin, their legs and arms do not appear skinny.

In order to use the player skin for zombies, the user must align it to the correct place on the .png to avoid a visual break in the texture.

Changing or installing player skins [ edit ]

Java Edition [ edit ]

Only players who have purchased Minecraft can change their character's skin. This is done on the by uploading a valid .png or .jpg image file, which then replaces the default skin.

Skins also have the option of having 3 or 4 pixel wide arms, which can be changed on the profile page as well.[1]

The steve.png and alex.png files in minecraft.jar (Old launcher) or Minecraft _version.jar (New Launcher) can also be changed and replaced via a resource pack, but the effects are visible only to players using the resource pack, and affects all players with the default skin.

Legacy Console Edition [ edit ]

A variety of Alex skins available in the Legacy Console Edition. Left to right: Tennis, Tuxedo, Athlete, Default, Swedish, Cyclist, Prisoner, and Boxer.

There were 18 default skin types (with the exception of the skin packs), 9 of which were based on the Steve model and the other 9 based on the Alex model, wearing different outfits and skin colors. The skins were available to be chosen in the 'Change Skin' area of Help & Options. There were also a few other skins with the name of Alex or Steve, but they weren't default, such as Developer Alex or Party Steve. The Legacy Console Edition did not allow transparent skins, because the player could not create their own skins. This prevented issues with completely transparent skin users "haunting" other players. The player could add custom skins to the Legacy Console Edition via hacking; however, this voided the warranty of the console, and the player risked a ban from online play for an illicitly modded game or console.

Other versions of Steve and Alex in officially-released skin packs exist:

Other default skin variations Name Image Original Notes Developer Steve Steve with gray Mojang t-shirt. Developer Alex Alex with gray Mojang t-shirt. Party Steve From the MINECON 2017 skin pack. Party Alex From the MINECON 2017 skin pack.

Bedrock Edition [ edit ]

Since Pocket Edition Alpha 0.11.0, players can choose one of the two default skins either Steve or Alex, and can apply their own custom skin. (Uses the same format as the Java edition). The player must select a valid skin image from their photo library, and must choose between the two main models. Players can also spend Minecraft Coins to buy skin packs. The Legacy Skin Pack was also implemented in Bedrock Edition, but the player has to sign in to Xbox Live to access all the skins. It also includes five anonymous skins. Players can also make their own skin packs, which must include a manifest.json file, a skins.json file, and all the desired skins. An additional .lang file can be added inside a folder labeled texts to display the skin names, but the game can register the skins without it.

Character creator [ edit ]

This feature is exclusive to Bedrock Edition.

The character creator menu.

The character creator is a feature in Bedrock Edition and Minecraft Earth that lets players customize their skins with free and paid-for cosmetic items. It can be accessed by selecting the character profile button on the main menu. It can also be used to equip capes. Many clothing items cost Minecoins (Tokens on PlayStation 4), or can be earned by completing certain achievements.

Skin packs [ edit ]

This feature is exclusive to Bedrock Edition.

One example of a skin pack available in the Legacy Console Edition.

Skin Packs are available in Bedrock Edition as downloadable content. Skin Packs add additional skins that players may choose from along with the 2 default skins packaged with the game. They often feature characters from other video games, alongside original designs.

Creating a skin [ edit ]

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Many players prefer their own unique skin. While many premade skins can be found online, many players prefer to create their own.

A custom skin is a way to personalize the player model and can be done either by using a variety of community-made skin editors, or by editing the steve.png or alex.png file manually with an image editor like Photoshop, GIMP, Paint.net or similar image editors. The steve.png file can be downloaded here and the alex.png file here. When editing the steve.png or alex.png file manually, be sure to keep the original image dimensions and make the background of the skin (the unused pixels) completely transparent. Otherwise, Minecraft may fail to recognize the skin as intended.

Alternatively, some may find it easier to use a program, either downloadable or in-browser, which provides a live view of their character on a three dimensional model as they are editing the skin. For example, programs may further assist players by providing them with a wide variety of pre-made selections (such as hats, boots, sweaters, etc.), to give the skin creator exactly what they want, even if the creator has little to no artistic skill.

After making a custom skin, either by using a skin editor or by editing the steve.png file directly, one still needs to upload the .png file at the Skin section of the Profile page on Minecraft.net (found here) before the skin is applied. Other players in multiplayer can also see this skin. Note that players cannot see the custom skin if they are not logged in or when playing offline.

A color-coded skin template on transparent background with all faces labeled.

Another skin guide, but on a black background. For the arm and leg sections only, "right" indicates those facing outward, and "left" indicates inward.

The new skin template that works with Minecraft version 1.8; every body part can have a second layer with this template.

An adaptation of the previous template, color-coded to match the appropriate faces of the skin- front, back, left, right, top and bottom. The checked areas represent the secondary layer.

A template for the new model available in the 1.8 version. It features slimmer arms. To select the new model, go to the profile page in the Minecraft website to select it.

An adaptation of the slimmer arms template, color-coded to match the appropriate faces of the skin- front, back, left, right, top and bottom. The checked areas represent the secondary layer.

Deadmau5's skin guide. Notice the ears.

deadmau5's skin is located here.

The Java Edition 1.8 templates can be used for pre-1.8 skins on the skin server, but only the top half of the image is used. (i.e. not the individual arms and legs on the bottom and no overlay on any layer except the head) If the skin is for Java Edition 1.7, the old system must be used exactly.

To 6 significant figures, there are 3.06013 × 1023,581 possible unique Minecraft skins.

History [ edit ]