Minimap Mod for Minecraft

Download it from the official project pages on Modrinth or CurseForge, which are the only places the developer publishes builds. Our download page links straight to those pages. Avoid re-upload sites that wrap the file in installers or ask you to disable antivirus software, because they are the most common source of infected Minecraft mods.

Yes. Xaero's Minimap and Xaero's World Map are completely free to download and use in single-player and multiplayer. There is no premium version and no paywall on features. The developer accepts optional donations, and the license allows you to include the mod in public modpacks as long as you download it from the official pages.

Builds are available for Fabric, Forge and NeoForge. Pick the file that matches both your loader and your exact Minecraft version, for example Fabric for 1.21.11. Quilt can usually load Fabric builds. Using a file made for a different loader or version is the most common reason the game refuses to start.

Install the Fabric Loader for your Minecraft version, then place the Fabric build of the minimap jar in your .minecraft/mods folder. If the download page lists Fabric API as a dependency, add that jar too. Launch the Fabric profile and the minimap appears in the top corner of your screen as soon as you load a world.

No, the minimap works on its own. Xaero's World Map is a separate, optional mod that adds the full-screen map you open with a key. Most players install both because they share waypoints and complement each other: the minimap for moment-to-moment navigation, the world map for planning long trips.

No. Minimap Mod is a Java Edition mod, and Bedrock Edition cannot load Java mods. Bedrock players can use in-game maps, the locator bar, or map add-ons from the Marketplace instead. If you play on Android with a Java launcher, the Java builds can work there, but that setup is unofficial.

Yes. Mojang switched to year-based version numbers in 2026, and the minimap has builds for the 26.1 line. Always check the version list on Modrinth for your exact patch, such as 26.1.2, because a build compiled for one patch is not guaranteed to load on another.

Yes. Open the minimap settings and change the shape from round to square. You can also move it to any corner, change its size and scale, and choose whether coordinates, the biome name and the in-game time are shown underneath it.

Yes, it works on almost every server. Some competitive servers restrict cave mode or the entity radar. For those, use the Fair-Play edition, which removes those features. Server owners can also disable specific features remotely, and the mod respects those settings automatically.

Yes, when downloaded from Modrinth or CurseForge. It has been used by millions of players for years and does not require administrator rights or extra installers. The jar only runs inside Minecraft. As an extra check you can compare the file hash with the one published on the download page or upload the file to a scanner.

The mod works offline and stores its settings and waypoints as local files inside your Minecraft folder. It does not require an account, and it does not upload your worlds or map data. If you use a launcher or mod platform, that service has its own privacy policy, which applies separately.

Xaero's mods are free to use but the source is not open. The developer keeps the rights to the code and sets rules for redistribution. In practice you may use it in videos, on servers and in modpacks, but you should not re-upload the jar to other websites. Check the license text on the project page for details.

Download the new build for your loader and Minecraft version, delete the old jar from the mods folder and drop the new one in. Your waypoints and settings are stored outside the jar, so they are kept. Launchers like Prism or the Modrinth App can do this automatically.

Almost every crash comes from a version mismatch: the wrong loader, the wrong Minecraft version or a missing dependency such as Fabric API. Check the crash report for the mod name, then confirm the jar matches your setup exactly. Removing duplicate or outdated copies of the minimap from the mods folder also fixes many crashes.

Press the minimap settings key and make sure the minimap is enabled, then check that another mod has not hidden the HUD. The overlay is also hidden when the F1 HUD toggle is active. On servers, the owner may have disabled the minimap, in which case a message usually appears in chat.

Waypoints live in the XaeroWaypoints folder inside your Minecraft directory, sorted by world and server. Copy that folder to back them up or move them to another computer. Map data for the world map lives in a separate XaeroWorldMap folder that you can back up the same way.

The impact is small on most computers. If you notice drops, lower the minimap size, reduce the chunk update rate, and turn off the entity radar in crowded areas. Combining it with a rendering optimizer like Sodium on Fabric also helps, and the two mods are compatible.

JourneyMap is the closest alternative and adds a browser-based map. VoxelMap-Updated is a lightweight option, and FTB Chunks combines a minimap with chunk claiming for modded servers. For players who prefer vanilla-style maps, Map Atlases is worth a look. Our comparison table breaks down the differences.