Fix Missing Shadows When JustVanilla Looks Like Plain Vanilla

Because JustVanilla deliberately keeps the vanilla look, it can be hard to tell whether it is running at all. The shadows are the giveaway. If you can't see them, work through these checks.

Confirm the shader is actually loaded

1. Make sure you launched the game with your shader loader (Iris or OptiFine). A normal vanilla profile cannot load shader packs.

2. Open Options → Video Settings → Shader Packs and confirm JustVanilla is highlighted as the selected pack, not just listed.

3. Check that the pack file is in the shaderpacks folder, not resourcepacks.

4. If the pack doesn't appear in the list, try leaving it as the original zip rather than an extracted folder, then reopen the screen.

Check the conditions in-game

1. Time of day: test in daytime with clear sun. Shadows are easiest to spot under direct sunlight.

2. Location: stand next to a tree, a wall, or one of your own builds. JustVanilla casts shadows under blocks, trees, and custom structures, so look at the ground on the side away from the sun.

3. Toggle test: switch the shader off and on in the Shader Packs screen while looking at the same spot. The shadows should appear and disappear.

If the shadows appear but your world colors also look strange, another resource pack or shader-related mod may be interfering. Disable other packs temporarily and test again.