Auto-update modpack on launch

[amnesiaof]

Please confirm the following.

• I checked the existing issues for duplicate feature requests

What parts of Modrinth is your feature request related too?

Modrinth App

Is your suggested feature related to a problem? Please describe.

I play several modpacks (like Fabulously Optimized) that update frequently. Every time I want to play, I have to manually check for updates, click "Update", wait, and then launch. If I forget to check, I might be playing an outdated version. It's a repetitive step that's easy to forget.

Describe the solution you'd like

An option to automatically update a modpack instance before launching the game. When I click "Play" on a modpack instance with this setting enabled:

1. The app checks if a modpack update is available
2. If there's an update, it's downloaded and applied
3. Then the game launches normally

This should be:

• Disabled by default — opt-in only
• Per-instance setting — each modpack can be configured individually, with a global default in App Settings
• Optional confirmation — show what's being updated before applying (on by default, can be toggled off for a fully seamless experience)
• Modpack-only — only affects instances that are Modrinth modpacks, not custom instances with individual mods

Describe alternatives you've considered

• Doing nothing (current state) — easy to forget, requires manual effort every session
• A global toggle without per-instance control — less flexible
• Auto-updating individual mods in any instance — too risky, mod updates can break compatibility

[Prospector]

The owner of the server can create a server project that is linked to a version of a modpack they are using, and then when users play with the server project their instances will be kept up-to-date with it.

We're also working on a feature for sharing instances that will work similarly, but without having to have a server project and can be shared directly from user to user.

[amnesiaof]

The owner of the server can create a server project that is linked to a version of a modpack they are using, and then when users play with the server project their instances will be kept up-to-date with it.

We're also working on a feature for sharing instances that will work similarly, but without having to have a server project and can be shared directly from user to user.

Just to clarify — I'm not talking about server projects. My request is much simpler: when I click "Play" on a regular Modrinth modpack (like Fabulously Optimized), I want it to check for updates and apply them before launching. Just a per-instance setting, no servers involved. The "I play on a server" wording in the issue was misleading, I've updated it.