How to Fix “OpenGL Error: 1282” (Invalid Operation) in Minecraft?

If you’re playing Minecraft with mods installed, you may encounter the infamous “OpenGL Error 1282” bug, which spams itself in your chat and even turns your entire screen black in some cases.

This may seem like a very serious bug, but don’t be alarmed, as it can be quite easy to fix once you figure out what you’re dealing with. There can be several reasons why you’re experiencing this error in Minecraft. You have to figure out the exact root cause of this problem and what you can do to solve it. 

So below, we’ve compiled a list of all the possible causes of the OpenGL 1282 Error in Minecraft.

• Missing .dll File: DLL files are special files used by programs to execute their required operations. If you’re missing a DLL file, it can cause programs to malfunction. One of the possible causes of OpenGL Error 1282 is a missing DLL file named opengl32.dll. 
• Shaders: Shaders are known to be troublemakers in Minecraft, especially if you have mods installed. They use a great number of your system’s resources and tend to conflict with the mods you’ve installed, causing errors.
• Incompatible Mods: Each Minecraft mod is designed to work with a specific game version. Trying to run the mod on a different version will cause many issues.
• Outdated Java: Java is required by Minecraft and its third-party mod installers to be able to run. Outdated versions of Java can hinder the game’s performance and cause bugs.
• Outdated Optifine: Outdated versions of Optifine are a major cause of OpenGL Errors in Minecraft. 
• Outdated Graphics Drivers: If you haven’t updated your GPU drivers in a while, they can cause issues, especially if you’re trying to play with newer mods.

1. Disable the Show GL Errors Option

There are two types of OpenGL Error 1282 bug in Minecraft. In the first type, the bug just spams a message in your game chat that says “OpenGL Error: 1282 (Invalid operation)“.

In the second type, not only does the bug spam this message in your chat, but it also makes your screen completely black. 

If you’re experiencing the first type of this bug, where it only shows up in your chat, and the rest of your game works fine, there’s a very simple solution to your problem.

All you need to do to fix this type of OpenGL error is to disable the “Show GL Errors” options from the in-game menu of Minecraft. To disable this option, follow the steps we’ve listed below:

1. Open Minecraft and head into your world. 
2. Once you’ve loaded in, press Escape on your keyboard.
3. Click on “Options…” in the menu.

   

4. Click on “Video Settings…”
   

   

5. Click on “Other…”
   

   

6. Click on the “Show GL Errors” option to disable it. 

   

7. Click on Done. 

This method will turn off the chat notifications for the OpenGL Errors, instantly fixing your problem!

Now, if you’re experiencing the second type of the OpenGL Error 1282 bug, which turns your screen black, try the solutions we’ve listed below.

2. Download the Missing DLL File

Each program you download to your PC needs a set of DLL (Dynamic Library Link) files to function properly. These DLL files contain instructions, and programs like Minecraft use them to perform their required operations. 

For a program to be able to work as intended, it needs all of its required DLL files. 

So the first fix to the OpenGL Error 1282 bug will be to download a specific DLL file named opengl32.dll. You have to download this file and paste it into your Minecraft folder. This will likely fix your issue.

To download this missing DLL file, follow the steps listed below:

1. Head to this website and download the opengl32.dll file by clicking on the orange download button. 
2. If you have a 32-bit processor, download the 32-bit file; if you have a 64-bit processor, download the 64-bit file.

   

3. Extract the ZIP file into an empty folder.
4. Copy the opengl32.dll file.

   

5. Open File Explorer and paste the following address in the address bar:

   C:\Program Files\Java

6. Press enter and then open the JRE folder.

   

7. Open the bin folder and paste the opengl32.dll file in there.

   

8. Launch Minecraft and see if the error is fixed.

If you don’t know what type of processor you have, there’s no need to worry. You can easily determine whether you have a 32 or 64-bit processor within a few clicks of your mouse.

Go to your desktop and right-click on the “This PC” icon. Select Properties and then look at the System Type to determine your processor’s architecture (type).

If it says 32-bit processor, return to the website linked above and download the “Architecture: 32” file. And if it’s a 64-bit processor, download the “Architecture: 64” file.

3. Disable Your Shaders

Shaders are used to change Minecraft’s entire look completely, but this comes at a cost. Shaders are known to cause all types of problems in Minecraft.

They consume a hefty amount of your system’s resources, causing game performance issues. But if Optifine and/or mods are installed, Shaders can conflict with them and create problems, such as OpenGL errors.

So if you have Shaders installed and are experiencing the OpenGL Error 1282 bug, make sure to disable the Shaders before you try other troubleshooting methods. These Shaders may just be the root cause of this error.

4. Check the Compatability of Your Mods

Whenever a developer makes a mod for Minecraft, they design it to run on a specific game version and the mod launcher (Forge). So if you try to run a mod on a game version and/or mod launcher it’s not designed for, it will cause many issues.

Therefore, whenever you download a mod, remember to check what game and mod launcher version it is compatible with. On the download page for the mod, there will be information regarding its compatibility.

And on top of that, not all mods work together flawlessly. If you download a bunch of mods made by different developers, there’s a chance that they will conflict with each other and create errors.

If this happens, you can solve the issue by uninstalling all your mods and then reinstalling them. Each time you install a new mod, run the game and see if there are any errors.

As soon as you encounter an error, it’ll mean that the last mod you installed conflicts with the rest. You can either uninstall that mod or find a different version of it. If it continues to cause problems, keep it uninstalled. 

To avoid this hassle altogether, you should try using modpacks instead. Modpacks are filled with dozens of mods that have been carefully picked out by their creators. These modpacks are designed to work flawlessly. 

5. Update Java

You must keep Java updated if you’re playing the Java Edition of Minecraft. We know how annoying the constant Java update reminders can get, but it’ll only take a few minutes of your time to update it.

To update Java, follow the steps we’ve listed below:

1. Press Windows Key and type Java in the search bar.
2. Click on “Check for Updates”
   

   

3. In the Java Window that opens up, click on Update Now.
   

   

4. Click on Update.
   

   

5. Allow Java SE Runtime Environment to make changes to your PC.
6. Click on Install.
   

   

After Java is done installing, relaunch Minecraft and see if your problem is resolved. If it isn’t, continue with the solutions listed below.

6. Update Optifine (If Applicable)

Updates for Optifine are released quite often, so many players forget to keep downloading all of its updates. 

If you don’t keep your Optifine up to date, it’s a big mistake. An outdated version of Optifine can cause errors, especially if you’re using other mods. 

So make sure to update your Optifine from time to time. If you don’t remember how to, first close Minecraft and then follow the steps listed below:

1. Head to the official Optifine website and download the latest version of Optifine.

   

2. After it finishes downloading, open up the file.
3. Click on Install.
   

   

4. After it’s done installing, open up your Minecraft launcher and select the latest Optifine profile before pressing play.

   

7. Update Your Graphics Card Drivers

If none of the above solutions have worked for you, then the next step to fixing is to update your Graphics Card (GPU) drivers.

Unless you have a super old GPU, your GPU’s manufacturer is likely still releasing driver updates for it. You must regularly install these driver updates to ensure your GPU performs at its highest potential.

Now, to update your GPU drivers, you must first determine your GPU’s exact brand and model. To figure this out, follow the steps we’ve listed down below:

1. Right-click on the Windows icon at the bottom-left corner of your screen.
2. Select Device Manager.
   

   

3. Click on the arrow next to Display Adapters to expand it.
4. Note down the name of the GPU that appears.

   

Unless your GPU drivers are corrupted or completely missing, this method should allow you to determine your GPU’s exact model.

But if it simply says, “Microsoft Basic Display Adapter,” instead of showing any unique model/brand name, then it means that GPU drivers are, in fact, corrupt/missing.

In this case, you’ll need to find your GPU’s model through another method. Follow the steps listed below:

1. Right-click on the Windows icon at the bottom-left corner of your screen.
2. Select Device Manager.
   

   

3. Click on the arrow next to Display Adapters to expand it.
4. Right-click on the Microsoft Basic Display Adapter.
5. Click on Properties.
   

   

6. In the Properties Window, navigate to the Details tab.
7. Open up the drop-down list under Property.
8. Select Hardware Ids.
   

   

9. Right-click on the first line of text written under Value.
10. Click on Copy.
    

    

11. Open your browser, paste this text line into the search bar, and press enter.

When you press enter, the top results on Google will have your GPU’s exact brand and model written in their title, allowing you to easily figure out what GPU you’re working with.

Since we now know the name of your Graphics Card, we can start searching for its drivers online. But before we do that, we have to uninstall the GPU drivers that are currently installed in your system.

To do this, we’ll use a program called “Display Driver Uninstaller.” This program is far superior to the native Windows driver uninstaller.

This is because the Windows driver uninstaller does not delete the drivers well. It tends to miss out on some files, leaving residue behind. These residue files can cause problems when you update the drivers. 

So to ensure that the current drivers are completely wiped from your system, we’ll be using DDU. 

After you’ve downloaded and installed DDU, we have to ensure the safest driver removal process by booting the PC in Safe Mode. 

1. Press Windows Key and click on the Power button.
2. Hold the shift key on your keyboard and click on the Restart option.
3. Select Troubleshoot.
4. Head to Advanced Options and then select Startup Settings. 
5. Enter Safe Mode by pressing the F5 key on your keyboard.

   

   

   

Now that your PC is in Safe Mode, we can begin the driver removal process. Launch the Display Driver Uninstaller app, select “GPU” as your device type, and then select the brand of your GPU.

Click on the “Clean and restart” option to start wiping your GPU’s drivers.

After the drivers are completely wiped, the next step is to download the latest drivers of your GPU. 

But before we do that, keep in mind that installing the latest version of GPU drivers can sometimes cause problems if your system is a laptop.

The drivers provided by your laptop’s Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) perform the best with your system. So it’s better to use the drivers provided by the OEM instead of just installing the latest drivers. 

But if your system is a desktop, you don’t need to worry about this. Feel free to download the latest drivers for your GPU. 

To do so, you’ll need to head to the official website of your GPU’s manufacturer. 

For NVIDIA drivers, head to this website and then use the drop-down lists to find your GPU’s exact model.

For AMD drivers, head to this website and then use the drop-down lists to find your GPU’s exact model.

Once the driver file is downloaded, simply double-click on it to start installing the drivers. When asked for the installation type, select “Express” instead of “Custom”.

After the driver installation process finishes, restart your PC and launch Minecraft. The OpenGL 1282 Error should now be fixed.

Reinstall Minecraft

If all else fails, the final step is to reinstall Minecraft. This can fix your problem, as the root cause of the error might just be some corrupted game files. So when you reinstall Minecraft, there won’t be an issue of corrupted files. 

So to reinstall Minecraft, first uninstall it from your system. But before we do that, note that when you uninstall Minecraft, your saved worlds, inventories, mods, and screenshots will be gone forever unless you create a backup for them.

To create a backup, follow the steps listed below:

1. Open your documents folder and create a new folder within it titled “Minecraft Backup.”
2. Press Windows Key + R to open the Run dialogue box. 
3. Type %appdata% and press enter.

   

4. Open the .minecraft folder.

   

5. Create a copy of the saves, screenshots, resource packs, and mods folder.

   

6. Paste them into the Minecraft Backup folder that you created earlier.

   

When you reinstall Minecraft, you’ll be able to restore your progress by simply pasting these folders into the new .minecraft folder.

Once you’re ready, you can uninstall Minecraft from your PC by following these steps:

1. Press the Windows Key, type Settings in the search bar, and enter.

   

2. In the Settings menu, click on Apps.
   

   

3. In the search bar above the list of apps, type Minecraft. 
4. Click on Minecraft and press Uninstall.
   

   

5. Press Windows Key + R to open the Run Dialogue Box.
6. Type %appdata% and press enter. 

   

7. Right-click on the .minecraft folder.
8. Press delete.
   

   

9. Open up Recycle Bin and permanently delete the .minecraft folder from there.

Minecraft is now fully wiped from your system. So the next step is to install it again by going to Minecraft’s official website. After installing Minecraft, launch the game and see if the OpenGL error went away.