# Turn on and identity

The launcher is the app your players install to join the server, with your store's name and
brand. It downloads the mods, sets up Java and opens the game on the right server. The store's plan
defines whether it is included, how many builds per month, how many modpacks and how much space for
mods.

![Launcher: the published version, the limits and the settings screens](shots/launcher-overview.webp)

## The path

| Step | Screen | Needs a new installer? |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **Identity**: name, icon and executable | Yes |
| 2 | **Appearance**: colors, logo, background and music | No |
| 3 | **Modpacks**: server, version and files. See [Accounts and modpacks](/en/launcher/accounts/) | No |
| 4 | **Accounts & login**: if the server uses its own login | No |
| 5 | **Builds**: build the installer. See [Build the installer](/en/launcher/builds/) | |

> [!TIP]
> Only Identity asks for a new installer. The rest reaches players on the next launcher start, with no
> reinstall and no build spent.

## App identity

In **Launcher > Identity**:

![The App identity screen](shots/launcher-identity.webp)

| Field | What it is | Example |
| --- | --- | --- |
| **App name** | What shows on the window and the Start menu. 3 to 40 characters | `Rede Pixel Launcher` |
| **Bundle identifier** | How the system tells your launcher from others | `com.redepixel.launcher` |
| **Executable name** | Lowercase, numbers and hyphens. It becomes the file name | `redepixel-launcher` |
| **Channel** | **Stable** or **Beta**. Whoever installed from one does not get updates from the other | `Stable` |
| **Installer icon** | Square PNG, at least 256x256 | |

The icon can only be uploaded after saving the identity for the first time.

Players who already have the launcher get the change through auto-update, after you build a new
installer.

> [!NOTE]
> With **Launcher active** off, players see the unavailable screen. It is useful for maintenance, and you
> do not need to build to turn it on or off.

## Appearance

In **Launcher > Appearance**, the preview on the side shows how it looks. Nothing on this screen needs a
build.

![The Appearance screen, with the launcher preview](shots/launcher-branding.webp)

- **Texts**: **Display name** and **Tagline**. An empty tagline hides the line.
- **Colors**: **Primary**, **Accent**, **Background** and **Text**, in the `#RRGGBB` format.
- **Images**: **Logo** (PNG with a transparent background, up to 1024x512) and **Background** (JPG or PNG,
  up to 2560x1440). Up to 8 MB each.
- **Background music**: MP3 or OGG, up to 8 MB. The **Initial volume** is just the start: the player
  adjusts or turns it off in their settings.

| Extra | What it does |
| --- | --- |
| **Show news** | Shows the [news posts](/en/community/) marked for the launcher |
| **Show server status** | Players online and availability |
| **Show server address** | The IP shows on the home screen and the player copies it with one click |
| **Show Minecraft version** | The version shows in the accent color |

Click **Save appearance**. It applies on the next launcher start.