Troubleshooting 1.8.9

What to check first when the game crashes on start or mid-game, where the crash report is, and what to send us.

Work down this list in order. Most players find their fix in the first five steps.

Short freezes even when your FPS number is high: what causes them and how to make them go away.

Play greys out, the launch hangs, or the game window never appears.

The Microsoft window fails, says you do not own the game, or you keep getting signed out.

Why the blue Windows protected your PC box appears, how to get past it, and how to check the file yourself.

A blank window, a launcher that does nothing when you open it, or one that freezes.

What to do when the launcher cannot finish an update.

Your own mods: why one does not show up or stops the game, and how to fix it.

A widget you set up is gone, cut off at the edge, or the whole HUD moved.

Zoom, a macro or toggle sprint does not respond, or a key does two things at once.

Tab stats, /stats, LevelHead or Urchin tags are blank.

Your cloak is missing in game, or friends say they cannot see it.

Missing hit sounds in busy fights, a sound you want quieter, or the game still loud while alt-tabbed.

A block you placed or broke that is not really there (or is), and the setting that fixes it.

Alt-tab minimises the game, the mouse cannot reach your other screen, or fullscreen is the wrong size.

Sour's menus, Minecraft's GUI scale and the HUD are three separate sizes.

Installing a shader pack (OptiFine on 1.8.9, Iris on 1.21.11), and fixing low FPS, black screens and odd colours.

Your game folders, mods, worlds, screenshots, resource packs and logs, and where each one lives.

What to put in a ticket so we can find and fix the problem fast.

What a Sour Client ban covers, and how to appeal one.