How to Force Continents Generation on an Existing World

Continents is a data pack, so it only affects terrain that has not been generated yet. You cannot retroactively turn an already-explored overworld into an ocean world, but you can apply it to a fresh world or to unexplored regions.

Applying it to a new world

1. Place the data pack in the correct datapacks folder for your world or your global data pack directory, depending on how you installed it.

2. Create a new world and confirm the data pack is listed as active in the world's data pack screen.

3. Generate the world. You should see large oceans separating continents, archipelagos, and islands.

4. If you want the same landmass layout as another WorldGen setup, reuse the same seed — Continents only shifts how much ocean exists, not where biomes sit.

Applying it to an existing world

1. Add the data pack to the existing world's datapacks folder.

2. Run /reload or restart the world so the pack is recognized.

3. Travel to chunks that have never been loaded. Those new chunks will generate with the Continents ocean distribution, while old chunks keep their original terrain.

4. Expect a visible seam between old and new terrain — this is normal and unavoidable.

If you want a fully consistent ocean world, start a new world instead of patching an old one.