There are many things I wanted out of Minecraft. One of which is a server list… but I don’t think I’ll be able to get to that. Another is the ability to take a protocol such as mcraft: to get to a server in a single click. Luckily, thanks to another application I won’t mention to save myself from the wrath of Toast, I figured I could figure it out.
And I have… in around 2 minutes.
There are three small problems that come with the development of this protocol. One, it requires that newer, possibly buggier launcher. Two, there’s no way to do it automatically as of right now, since Notch didn’t put in a way to simply place the IP in the arguments for the application. Three, I figured this out for Windows computers only – Mac and Linux are out of luck here.
Those who speak English, not Techie: 1) Requires new launcher. 2) Requires that you do this manually. 3) Windows only.
Now, if you ever wanted a Minecraft protocol yourself, it’s very simple. All it takes is just a few minutes.
Step 1: Open regedit.
Wait, wha…? What’s regedit?

...and why does it look like a bunch of ice cubes???
Regedit, also known as the Windows Registry Editor, is the tool that you have to use in order to create this protocol. Don’t know how to open it? Don’t worry.
Step 1.XP
Open the Start Menu, and click “Run…”. Type in “regedit” and press Enter.
Step 1.Vista
Click the Vista Orb, and search for “regedit” – use the full name, not a part of it – and click the regedit application when it comes up.
Step 1.Win7
Click the Win7 Orb, and search for “regedit” – use the full name, not a part of it – and click the regedit application when it comes up. The User Account Control will ask for administrator privileges to modify the registry – if you’re not the administrator of the computer, you will need one to get into regedit.
(The UAC is only a preventative measure to prevent any old idiot with lesser privileges from accessing key, possibly computer-crippling applications and functions.)
Step 2: Create keys.

No, not those keys.
Keys are what the Windows Registry uses in order to hold values, like how those keys above have those ridges that can unlock something.
Ok, now they keys we’re going to have to create belong in “HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT” – the first item on the list. Right click it, point to “New”, and click “Key”.

Name the new key – which will come up as a folder – “mcraft”.

If it looks like this, you did it right.
If you click on the folder, the list on the right will display the contents of your new key – just an item named “(Default)” of type “REG_SZ” whose data says “(value not set)”. Well, we need it’s data to be “URL:MCRAFT protocol” – follow my lead.
Right click “(Default)” and Modify it.
Now there you can type in ”URL:MCRAFT protocol” – don’t worry, it can take it.
Next, make a new String Value by right-clicking empty area and choosing “New” “String Value.”

Do this.
By default, it should allow you to rename it right off the bat – change “New Key #1″ to “URL Protocol”. If you missed the chance, right-click “New Key #1″ and choose to “Rename” it.
The value should be, and needs to be, blank.
Next, create a new key under mcraft called “DefaultIcon”. The value for “(Default)” under DefaultIcon should be wherever you dropped your launcher. For instance, I dropped my launcher on the Desktop.

There is no way you're getting my name out of this. I'm staying "The Stick", thankyoumuch.
There aren’t any other values you’ll need to make in DefaultIcon.
Next, you need to make a “shell” key under mcraft, an “open” key under shell, and a “command” key under open.

In other words, make it look like this.
Of the new keys you created, you only modify the “(Default)” value of command.
Thanks to the fact that Notch made it so you can drop in arguments to allow for more automatic logins, we can use that to create this protocol. Modify the value of “(Default)” to follow this format:
[Location of new launcher] [Your username] [Your password] %1
Yes, there are spaces between each of the four items. Yes, that last item is %1. No, I’m not going to post an image.
Step 3: Quit regedit.
…please tell me you can do this one without help…
Step 4: Test.
Try going to mcraft:1.1.1.1 – yes, that is a dummy location. However, if it opens the launcher, and logs you in, and causes Minecraft to automatically try to connect to 1.1.1.1, then hey! You’re in business!
And with that, congratulations! You just performed something that the average novice cannot do, creating your own protocol! Sure, you had help along the way, but who cares about that, eh?
Now, a small word of caution: if, for whatever reason, you either move the location of your launcher or change your password, you WILL need to go back into regedit and tell Windows the new info. For the below paths, navigate through it just like you would in your Documents. You may need to do a good amount of searching – there’s a key under HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT for every single extension and protocol ever registered on your computer, which can amount to a very large number.
I moved the Launcher…
- You will need to modify HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT/mcraft/DefaultIcon/(Default) to point back to your launcher.
- You will need to modify HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT/mcraft/shell/open/command/(Default) to point to your launcher.
I changed my password…
- You will need to modify HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT/mcraft/shell/open/command/(Default) to contain your new password.