feat: shared instances blog

apps/frontend/src/public/news/feed/articles.json

@@ -1,5 +1,12 @@
 {
 	"articles": [
+		{
+			"title": "Share instances with friends",
+			"summary": "Play more easily with friends without having to share .mrpack files.",
+			"thumbnail": "https://modrinth.com/news/article/shared-instances/thumbnail.webp",
+			"date": "2026-07-24T11:00:00.000Z",
+			"link": "https://modrinth.com/news/article/shared-instances"
+		},
 		{
 			"title": "Proud of you all",
 			"summary": "Over 2,400 of you came together to raise more than $40,000 for charity this Pride month!",

apps/frontend/src/public/news/feed/rss.xml

@@ -4,9 +4,17 @@
         <description><![CDATA[Keep up-to-date on the latest news from Modrinth.]]></description>
         <link>https://modrinth.com/news/</link>
         <generator>@modrinth/blog</generator>
-        <lastBuildDate>Thu, 02 Jul 2026 00:26:20 GMT</lastBuildDate>
+        <lastBuildDate>Fri, 24 Jul 2026 14:07:14 GMT</lastBuildDate>
         <atom:link href="https://modrinth.com/news/feed/rss.xml" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"/>
         <language><![CDATA[en]]></language>
+        <item>
+            <title><![CDATA[Share instances with friends]]></title>
+            <description><![CDATA[Send and update content without sharing modpack files.]]></description>
+            <link>https://modrinth.com/news/article/shared-instances/</link>
+            <guid isPermaLink="false">https://modrinth.com/news/article/shared-instances/</guid>
+            <pubDate>Fri, 24 Jul 2026 11:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
+            <content:encoded>&lt;![CDATA[&lt;p&gt;Hey everyone!&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Sharing content has been one of the most requested features for the Modrinth App. People have worked around this by creating unlisted projects or sending a new &lt;code&gt;.mrpack&lt;/code&gt; after every update.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;You can finally share an instance directly with friends and push updates as it changes!&lt;/p&gt;&lt;h3&gt;TL;DR&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;Invite friends by username or share link&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Share instance content and config files&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Push updates when something changes&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Review everything before accepting&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;&lt;h2&gt;Sharing an instance&lt;/h2&gt;&lt;p&gt;Instances have a new share tab, which requires you to be signed into a Modrinth account.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;You can invite someone by username or create a share link. Username invites send a notification in the app, while share links can be sent directly to anyone you want to invite.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;video-wrapper mb-8&quot;&gt;&lt;video autoplay loop muted playsinline&gt;&lt;source src=&quot;./share-invite.webm&quot; type=&quot;video/webm&quot;&gt;&lt;/video&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;What gets shared&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;p&gt;A shared instance distributes the following:&lt;/p&gt;&lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;The instance name and icon&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Instance content&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Any additional config files you choose&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;&lt;p&gt;We detect when your instance has changed and let you know when it is ahead of the people you invited. From there, you can push all changes or only updated config files.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;video-wrapper mb-8&quot;&gt;&lt;video autoplay loop muted playsinline&gt;&lt;source src=&quot;./push-update.webm&quot; type=&quot;video/webm&quot;&gt;&lt;/video&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;h2&gt;Receiving an instance&lt;/h2&gt;&lt;p&gt;When you receive an invite, you’ll see actions to accept or deny in the app - or if you use an invite link, you will see a page to accept the invite. This will open a preview modal, which shows what content is included, and whether anything is not published on Modrinth. Once accepted, it installs like a normal instance.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;video-wrapper mb-8&quot;&gt;&lt;video autoplay loop muted playsinline&gt;&lt;source src=&quot;./install-flow.webm&quot; type=&quot;video/webm&quot;&gt;&lt;/video&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;p&gt;Shared instances work a bit differently from normal ones. You cannot edit content added by the instance owner, but you can still add your own content on top. Just be aware that changes from the owner, such as a new game version or loader, could break anything you add.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Receiving updates&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;p&gt;Updates sync when you go to play the instance. You can review any changes before accepting, and files not published on Modrinth are surfaced to help you spot anything potentially malicious.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;img src=&quot;/news/article/shared-instances/receiving-update.webp&quot; alt=&quot;The review screen for an update to a shared instance.&quot;&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;h2&gt;Only accept invites from people you trust&lt;/h2&gt;&lt;p&gt;Shared instances are not reviewed like published Modrinth projects, so only accept invites from people you trust.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;You can report a shared instance if anything looks suspicious.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;—&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Thank you! We hope you guys enjoy this one.&lt;/p&gt;]]&gt;</content:encoded>
+        </item>
         <item>
             <title><![CDATA[Proud of you all]]></title>
             <description><![CDATA[Over 2,400 of you came together to raise more than $40,000 for charity this Pride month!]]></description>

packages/blog/articles/shared-instances.md

@@ -0,0 +1,75 @@
+---
+title: Share instances with friends
+summary: Play more easily with friends without having to share .mrpack files.
+date: 2026-07-24T12:00:00+01:00
+authors: [bOHH0P9Z, o2Dd4mrX, AJfd8YH6]
+---
+
+Hey everyone!
+
+Sharing content has been one of the most requested features for the Modrinth App. People have worked around this by creating unlisted projects or sending a new `.mrpack` after every update.
+
+You can finally share an instance directly with friends and push updates as it changes!
+
+### TL;DR
+
+- Invite friends by username or share link
+- Share instance content and config files
+- Push updates when something changes
+- Review everything before accepting
+
+## Sharing an instance
+
+Instances have a new share tab, which requires you to be signed into a Modrinth account.
+
+You can invite someone by username or create a share link. Username invites send a notification in the app, while share links can be sent directly to anyone you want to invite.
+
+<div class="video-wrapper mb-8">
+	<video autoplay loop muted playsinline>
+		<source src="./share-invite.webm" type="video/webm" />
+	</video>
+</div>
+
+### What gets shared
+
+A shared instance distributes the following:
+
+- The instance name and icon
+- Instance content
+- Any additional config files you choose
+
+We detect when your instance has changed and let you know when it is ahead of the people you invited. From there, you can push all changes or only updated config files.
+
+<div class="video-wrapper mb-8">
+	<video autoplay loop muted playsinline>
+		<source src="./push-update.webm" type="video/webm" />
+	</video>
+</div>
+
+## Receiving an instance
+
+When you receive an invite, you’ll see actions to accept or deny in the app - or if you use an invite link, you will see a page to accept the invite. This will open a preview modal, which shows what content is included, and whether anything is not published on Modrinth. Once accepted, it installs like a normal instance.
+
+<div class="video-wrapper mb-8">
+	<video autoplay loop muted playsinline>
+		<source src="./install-flow.webm" type="video/webm" />
+	</video>
+</div>
+
+Shared instances work a bit differently from normal ones. You cannot edit content added by the instance owner, but you can still add your own content on top. Just be aware that changes from the owner, such as a new game version or loader, could break anything you add.
+
+### Receiving updates
+
+Updates sync when you go to play the instance. You can review any changes before accepting, and files not published on Modrinth are surfaced to help you spot anything potentially malicious.
+
+![The review screen for an update to a shared instance.](./receiving-update.webp)
+
+## Only accept invites from people you trust
+
+Shared instances are not reviewed like published Modrinth projects, so only accept invites from people you trust.
+
+You can report a shared instance if anything looks suspicious.
+
+—
+
+Thank you! We hope you guys enjoy this one.

packages/blog/compiled/index.ts

@@ -34,6 +34,7 @@ import { article as proud_of_you_2026 } from "./proud_of_you_2026";
 import { article as redesign } from "./redesign";
 import { article as russian_censorship } from "./russian_censorship";
 import { article as server_access } from "./server_access";
+import { article as shared_instances } from "./shared_instances";
 import { article as skins_now_in_modrinth_app } from "./skins_now_in_modrinth_app";
 import { article as standing_by_our_values } from "./standing_by_our_values";
 import { article as standing_by_our_values_russian } from "./standing_by_our_values_russian";
@@ -79,6 +80,7 @@ export const articles = [
   redesign,
   russian_censorship,
   server_access,
+  shared_instances,
   skins_now_in_modrinth_app,
   standing_by_our_values,
   standing_by_our_values_russian,

packages/blog/compiled/shared_instances.content.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+// AUTO-GENERATED FILE - DO NOT EDIT
+export const html = `<p>Hey everyone!</p><p>Sharing content has been one of the most requested features for the Modrinth App. People have worked around this by creating unlisted projects or sending a new <code>.mrpack</code> after every update.</p><p>You can finally share an instance directly with friends and push updates as it changes!</p><h3>TL;DR</h3><ul><li>Invite friends by username or share link</li><li>Share instance content and config files</li><li>Push updates when something changes</li><li>Review everything before accepting</li></ul><h2>Sharing an instance</h2><p>Instances have a new share tab, which requires you to be signed into a Modrinth account.</p><p>You can invite someone by username or create a share link. Username invites send a notification in the app, while share links can be sent directly to anyone you want to invite.</p><div class="video-wrapper mb-8"><video autoplay loop muted playsinline><source src="./share-invite.webm" type="video/webm"></video></div><h3>What gets shared</h3><p>A shared instance distributes the following:</p><ul><li>The instance name and icon</li><li>Instance content</li><li>Any additional config files you choose</li></ul><p>We detect when your instance has changed and let you know when it is ahead of the people you invited. From there, you can push all changes or only updated config files.</p><div class="video-wrapper mb-8"><video autoplay loop muted playsinline><source src="./push-update.webm" type="video/webm"></video></div><h2>Receiving an instance</h2><p>When you receive an invite, you’ll see actions to accept or deny in the app - or if you use an invite link, you will see a page to accept the invite. This will open a preview modal, which shows what content is included, and whether anything is not published on Modrinth. Once accepted, it installs like a normal instance.</p><div class="video-wrapper mb-8"><video autoplay loop muted playsinline><source src="./install-flow.webm" type="video/webm"></video></div><p>Shared instances work a bit differently from normal ones. You cannot edit content added by the instance owner, but you can still add your own content on top. Just be aware that changes from the owner, such as a new game version or loader, could break anything you add.</p><h3>Receiving updates</h3><p>Updates sync when you go to play the instance. You can review any changes before accepting, and files not published on Modrinth are surfaced to help you spot anything potentially malicious.</p><p><img src="/news/article/shared-instances/receiving-update.webp" alt="The review screen for an update to a shared instance."></p><h2>Only accept invites from people you trust</h2><p>Shared instances are not reviewed like published Modrinth projects, so only accept invites from people you trust.</p><p>You can report a shared instance if anything looks suspicious.</p><p>—</p><p>Thank you! We hope you guys enjoy this one.</p>`;

packages/blog/compiled/shared_instances.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+// AUTO-GENERATED FILE - DO NOT EDIT
+export const article = {
+  html: () => import(`./shared_instances.content`).then(m => m.html),
+  title: "Share instances with friends",
+  summary: "Play more easily with friends without having to share .mrpack files.",
+  date: "2026-07-24T11:00:00.000Z",
+  slug: "shared-instances",
+  authors: ["bOHH0P9Z","o2Dd4mrX","AJfd8YH6"],
+  unlisted: false,
+  thumbnail: true,
+
+};