Minecraft Skins How To – Ultimate Guide (2022)

Minecraft is the best selling game of all time – and for good reason. Its near infinite worlds and extensive customisation options give players a sense of freedom and control that is unparalleled in gaming. Since Minecraft‘s initial release in 2009, it has sold over 238 million copies and, as of 2021, had 140 million active monthly players. That’s seriously impressive. And each one of those millions of players can make the world of Minecraft their own. One way to do that is through the customisation of skins. “Skins” are textures that are placed on player or mob models to give them different looks. This functionality is hugely popular in Minecraft – but how exactly do skins work in the game? This is our “Minecraft Skins How To” Ultimate Guide, designed to teach you everything there is to know about skins in Minecraft…

Minecraft Skins How To

There’s a lot to learn about Minecraft skins. Players have tonnes of different questions ranging from how to change them to how to download new ones – and this guide covers them all.

Check out the links below to quickly jump to the section of our Minecraft Skins How To guide that you’re interested in…

Skins for Minecraft

As mentioned, Minecraft skins are the different and unique looks that can be applied to player and mob models in the game. They are divided into surface areas such as front head area, right leg area etc. Skins come in two layers. The first is where things like eyes, clothes and hair sit. The second layer is used for character accessories like glasses and hats.

Differences between Java Edition and Bedrock Edition Skins

For those who don’t know, Java Edition is the original version of Minecraft. It is written in the Java programming language and is available for Windows, MacOS, and Linux. Bedrock Edition, on the other hand, refers to the many multi-platform versions of Minecraft that are written in the C++ programming language. It is available for Windows, Android, iOS, iPadOS, Amazon Fire, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PS4. It is also possible to play Minecraft Bedrock Edition on PS5 and Xbox Series X/S via backwards compatibility.

Due to the nature of the two different programming languages, there are a couple of key differences between skins in Java Edition and Bedrock Edition:

Java Edition Skins	Bedrock Edition Skins
64×64 resolution	128×128 resolution
Transparency only allowed on second layer	Transparency allowed on both layers

How To Change Your Minecraft Skin

How To Change Your Skin in Minecraft Java Edition

Changing your Minecraft skin on PC is simple. This is how to change your skin in Minecraft Java Edition:

1. Create or download a skin you want to use in Minecraft.
2. Open the Minecraft launcher.
3. Select the “Skins” subheading.
4. Select the “+ New Skin” button.
5. Name the skin.
6. Choose whether you want the “Classic” or “Slim” model.
7. Under “Skin File”, select “Browse” and find the desired skin file on your computer.
8. Select “Save & Use”.

How To Change Your Skin in Minecraft Bedrock Edition

This is how to change your skin in Minecraft Bedrock Edition:

1. Launch Minecraft.
2. From the main menu, select “Profile”.
3. Select “Edit Character”.
4. In the next screen, select the “Classic Skins” tab and then “Owned”.
5. Here you can choose from all of the skins you own/uploaded.
6. To import a new custom/downloaded skin, click “Import” followed by “Choose New Skin”.
7. Find your desired skin in File Explorer, select it and click “Open”.
8. Pick either the Slim or Classic model.

N.B. The option to import custom skins is only available on PC.

Create Skin Minecraft

Now you know how to import custom skins, you probably want to know how to create skins for Minecraft. Sometimes, you want something completely unique, something that nobody else has made or used before. That’s why creating your own skins is both fun and rewarding.

There are a couple of ways to create skins for Minecraft. The first way is to use an image editing tool (like Photoshop) and work around one of Mojang’s official Java or Bedrock templates. However, this is harder than using a community-made skin editor. The most popular is the one available at minecraftskins.com (The Skindex).

Minecraft Skin Maker

The Minecraft skin maker on minecraftskins.com (The Skindex) is easy to use thanks to its 3D canvas, intuitive and simple UI, and plethora of customisation tools.

This is how to use the Minecraft skin maker on The Skindex:

1. From the homepage, select “Editor” from the navigation menu.
2. In the Editor screen, select your chosen customisation tools using the options on the left side.
3. On the right side, use the colour wheel to change colour, toggle between layers, choose a Classic or Slim model, and hide body parts.
4. When finished, use the buttons at the bottom to download the skin to your computer or upload the skin to The Skindex.

When the skin has been downloaded, you can follow the steps outlined above to install the skin in your game.

Minecraft Downloadable Skins

If you don’t want to make your own Minecraft skin, you’re in luck. Minecraftskins.com (The Skindex) has a huge library of Minecraft downloadable skins for you to choose from.

How to Download a Skin for Minecraft

This is how to download a skin for Minecraft:

1. Go to minecraftskins.com.
2. Using the search bar, type in a keyword and search for a skin. Alternatively, pick from one of the Top Skins on the homepage.
3. When you have found a skin you like, select the “Download” button on the right side of the screen.
4. Save the .png file to your computer.

How to Install Minecraft Skins

Once you have downloaded your desired Minecraft skin, you need to install it to use it in your game. This is how to install Minecraft skins:

How to install skins in Minecraft Java Edition

This is how to install skins in Minecraft Java Edition:

1. Create or download a skin you want to use in Minecraft.
2. Open the Minecraft launcher.
3. Select the “Skins” subheading.
4. Select the “+ New Skin” button.
5. Name the skin.
6. Choose whether you want the “Classic” or “Slim” model.
7. Under “Skin File”, select “Browse” and find the desired skin file on your computer.
8. Select “Save & Use”.

How to install skins in Minecraft Bedrock Edition

This is how to install skins in Minecraft Bedrock Edition:

1. Launch Minecraft.
2. From the main menu, select “Profile”.
3. Select “Edit Character”.
4. In the next screen, select the “Classic Skins” tab and then “Owned”.
5. To install a new custom/downloaded skin, click “Import” followed by “Choose New Skin”.
6. Find your desired skin in File Explorer, select it and click “Open”.
7. Pick either the Slim or Classic model.

N.B. The option to import custom skins is only available on PC.

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