Steps

  1. Open the Skin Downloader and look up the player by username or UUID.
  2. Check the model shown next to the skin: classic (4-pixel arms) or slim (3-pixel arms). The model isn’t saved inside the PNG, so note it now.
  3. Download the skin. The file is named after the player.

What you get

DetailWhat to expect
FormatPNG, exactly as stored on the profile
Size64 × 64 pixels, or 64 × 32 for skins made in the pre-1.8 format
LayersBase layer plus outer layer (hat, jacket, sleeves, trouser legs) in the 64 × 64 format
Arm modelNot in the file. It’s a separate profile setting.
CapeNot included. Mojang capes are a separate texture, shown in the Player Lookup.

Using the skin on your own account

  1. Go to your profile at minecraft.net, or open the skins section of the Minecraft Launcher.
  2. Upload the PNG.
  3. Choose the same arm model the original uses. With the wrong model, the arms show a stripe of unused pixels or lose a column of detail.

Skins are someone’s work. If you plan to share or edit a skin publicly, ask its creator first.

Want to look at it before uploading? Open the file in the Skin Viewer, or read how to check a skin before you upload it.

When there is nothing to download

  • Default skins: players who never chose a custom skin use one of the nine default skins built into the game. Those aren’t stored on the profile.
  • Bedrock Edition: character creator items, Marketplace skins and imported Bedrock skins aren’t on a Java profile.
  • Mod capes and cosmetics: capes from mods such as OptiFine are hosted by those mods, not by Mojang.