Table of Contents
Frequently Asked Questions (from users)
General
What Minecraft versions does Fabric support?
It says that I need to install fabric but I'm already running it!
How do I see a list of mods in-game?
Where can I download published Fabric mods?
Are there any premade Fabric modpacks?
How can I install a premade Fabric modpack?
What launchers can I use to play with Fabric mods (on a custom/home-assembled modpack)?
What launchers can I use to share a Fabric modpack?
Why should I use an alternative launcher?
Interoperability
Can Fabric run together with Bukkit/Spigot/Paper?
Can Fabric run together with Forge?
Can Fabric run together with OptiFine?
I only have OptiFabric and OptiFine and Minecraft crashes on launch!
Text has been replaced by squares/tofus when I add Fabric API to my 1.20.1 instance with OptiFabric 1.13.25
OptiFabric crashes on my 1.18.2 or 1.19.2 instance when I add Fabric API to it
Oh no! I've tried enabling shaders on OptiFine and my world looks all weird!
My instance with Sodium and Continuity crashes when gravel/sand falls or when a piston extends
Text has been replaced by squares/tofus in my instance with Sodium
Can Fabric run together with Sponge?
This is the simplified version! For technical answers, see the "expert mode" supplement of the FAQ.
General
What Minecraft versions does Fabric support?
For most cases, the answer is “snapshot 18w43b and above, releases 1.14 and above”.
There exist ways to run Fabric with older versions - modded or vanilla, but they're currently non-trivial or unofficial - see the expert FAQ for more details.
It says that I need to install fabric but I'm already running it!
By 'fabric' it is referring to the Fabric API mod.
How do I see a list of mods in-game?
Fabric doesn't come with a mod menu built-in. There's a mod called Mod Menu that adds it. Some mods integrate with Mod Menu and add in-game configuration screens. Click on the “Mods” button and select the mod you want to configure; if the mod integrates with Mod Menu, you'll see a “Settings” button on the top-right.
Where can I download published Fabric mods?
They are most often on CurseForge or Modrinth. Some mod authors may upload their mods to other sites such as GitHub, GitLab or their own site. See adding mods for more information.
Are there any premade Fabric modpacks?
Yes. Published Fabric modpacks can be found on websites such as the following:
Sometimes modpacks may be distributed as exports in the CurseForge format, Modrinth format, MultiMC format, or another format.
How can I install a premade Fabric modpack?
You can use launchers to browse for or install modpacks:
Some modpacks also allow you to download a “server” pack to install it in Minecraft Launcher.
If someone has shared their modpack export, you can import it into some of these launchers.
What launchers can I use to play with Fabric mods (on a custom/home-assembled modpack)?
As of August 2023, the following launchers are available to export instances as a modpack:
Official Launcher - an installer is available on Fabric's download page. A guide is available
MultiMC - a guide is available for Windows, and for macOS; there is an “Install Fabric” button to easily install Fabric loader.
Prism Launcher
CurseForge App - supports Fabric, just choose “Fabric” then select a version when creating a modpack.
GDLauncher - supports Fabric, just choose “Fabric” then select a version when creating an instance. A guide is available for Windows and Linux
ATLauncher - supports Fabric download and installation.
Modrinth App
HMCL - supports Fabric download and installation, including sources from mirror websites.
As of August 2023, the following launchers are available for this:
MCUpdater - guide
Technic (Solder) - guide
ATLauncher - guide
MultiMC
Prism Launcher
CurseForge App
GDLauncher
Modrinth App
Packwiz (CLI)
Moddermore (website)
Why should I use an alternative launcher?
The default, vanilla Minecraft Launcher is oftentimes not enough to manage a lot of modded instances.For that reason, alternative Minecraft launchers were created.
Advantages of using an alternative launcher:
Easily install Fabric
Built-in mod downloading and updating
Automatically download mod dependencies
Built-in modpack downloading and updating
Allow you to export and import modpacks
Designed specifically for modded Minecraft
Automatically create separate folders for instances which helps you separate your saves
May launch faster
Interoperability
Can Fabric run together with Bukkit/Spigot/Paper?
No, and it is unlikely to be officially supported. This is due to many core differences between Fabric and Bukkit/Spigot/Paper.
If you really want to run plugins on Fabric, you can try the unofficial Cardboard mod, but beware that it is incompatible with many mods and doesn't support the complete Bukkit/Spigot/Paper API.
Can Fabric run together with Forge?
No. Forge mods must run on Forge, and Fabric mods must run on Fabric. You cannot mix mods.
Fabric does not work on top of Forge.
It is theoretically possible to create a way to do so - that is to say, there are no known major technical obstacles in accomplishing such.
The Fabric development team does not consider Forge interoperability a high-priority goal, as our focus in our limited time dedicated to the project is on supporting the Fabric community and its developers and users.
There is, however, Sinytra Connector (GitHub, CuseForge, Modrinth), a project which aims to allow running Fabric mods on the Forge mod loader. It is not officially supported or recommended.
Can Fabric run together with OptiFine?
Consider using alternatives to OptiFine, as unofficial mods such as OptiFabric may not be compatible with your mods.
In particular, OptiFabric 1.14.25 is currently incompatible with Architectury API and Replay Mod.
I only have OptiFabric and OptiFine and Minecraft crashes on launch!
This is because OptiFabric 1.13.25 and below are incompatible with Fabric Loader 0.15.0 and above. This is why you'll see java.lang.NoClassDefFoundError: net/fabricmc/tinyremapper/IMappingProvider in your log. You'll need to use Fabric Loader 0.14.25.
Text has been replaced by squares/tofus when I add Fabric API to my 1.20.1 instance with OptiFabric 1.13.25
If you're using OptiFabric 1.13.25 for compatibility with Architectury, you'll need to use Fabric API 0.85.0 as it was incompatible with Fabric API 0.86.0 and above.
OptiFabric crashes on my 1.18.2 or 1.19.2 instance when I add Fabric API to it
OptiFabric is currently incompatible with Fabric API 0.77.0. You'll need to use Fabric API 0.76.1.
Oh no! I've tried enabling shaders on OptiFine and my world looks all weird!
Fabric's rendering patches, while as minimally invasive as possible, make some assumptions about the data format used internally by the vanilla rendering system. Shaders break this assumption, so things go awry. Workarounds do exist and are implemented by the most recent versions of said unofficial mods.
DO NOT downgrade Fabric API as a workaround for this. It's a bad idea.
My instance with Sodium and Continuity crashes when gravel/sand falls or when a piston extends
This is because Sodium does not yet support the Fabric Rendering API which some mods such as Continuity use. This is why you'll see java.lang.NullPointerException: Cannot invoke “net.fabricmc.fabric.api.renderer.v1.Renderer.meshBuilder()” because the return value of “net.fabricmc.fabric.api.renderer.v1.RendererAccess.getRenderer()” is null in your log. Add the Indium mod to resolve this.
Text has been replaced by squares/tofus in my instance with Sodium
This is most likely because a mod requires Indium.
Can Fabric run together with Sponge?
Not at the moment. Sponge does not yet have a ready API or a working implementation for 1.14, the Minecraft version that Fabric runs on.
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