ModMenu: How to Use the ModMenu Minecraft Project in 2026

What ModMenu Does (in user terms)

ModMenu adds a clean, searchable screen to your Minecraft pause menu where every installed mod appears.

From there you can read descriptions, check authors, and open a mod’s configuration screen without leaving the game.

If a mod supplies its own settings, ModMenu shows a button that launches that screen directly.

It also hides library mods by default, so you only see the ones you actually interact with.

Why You'd Use It (concrete Minecraft use cases)

Imagine you run a modpack with dozens of tweaks; remembering which mod adds which feature becomes a hassle.

With ModMenu you open the pause menu, type a keyword in the search bar, and instantly see the relevant mod.

Need to adjust the view distance of a performance mod? One click opens its config.

Want to check if a mod is outdated? Honestly, modMenu can query Modrinth or a custom update source and flag newer versions.

On our server list, many players use ModMenu to keep their client tidy before joining the server status checker to see if friends are online.

How to Install (include real commands in fenced code blocks)

ModMenu is a Fabric or Quilt mod, so you need the appropriate loader installed first.

Once you've Fabric (or Quilt) set up for Minecraft Java Edition 26.2 (released 2026-06-16) or newer, download the latest ModMenu jar from the releases page.

Place the file into the mods folder of your instance.

# Example for a Fabric install using the official installer
java -jar fabric-installer.jar -mcversion 26.2 -loader 0.15.0 -downloadMinecraft
cp modmenu-20.0.1.jar ~/path/to/instance/mods/

If you prefer Quilt, the process is similar; just point the installer to the Quilt loader.

Launch the game, and the ModMenu button will appear in the pause menu.

Key Features and How They Work (3 - 5 standout features)

Search and filters

The top bar lets you type part of a mod name or author; as you type, the list narrows.

Click the filter button to hide library mods, show only client-side mods, or display those with available updates.

Translation API

Mod authors can add language files that change the displayed name, summary, and description without touching Java code.

For example, adding a pt_br.json with "modmenu.nameTranslation.examplemod": "Menu de mods" will show the name in Brazilian Portuguese.

Update checker

When a mod hosts its metadata on Modrinth or provides a custom JSON URL, ModMenu polls it and shows an upgrade icon.

This works automatically for mods published on Modrinth; you just need to set "update_checker": true in the mod’s fabric.mod.json custom block.

Deep configuration access

If a mod exposes a configuration screen via Mod Menu’s API, a "Configure" button appears next to the entry.

Clicking it opens the mod’s own GUI, letting you tweak options without remembering command lines or file paths.

Badges and metadata

Through the Fabric Metadata API you can add badges like "Library" or "Deprecated", links to Discord or wiki, and even specify a parent mod for grouping.

These details appear in the right-hand pane when you select a mod.

Tips, Pitfalls, and Common Gotchas

First, remember that ModMenu only works on the client; installing it on a server will have no effect.

Second, some older mods that predate the ModMenu API won’t show a configure button even if they've a config file.

In that case you still need to edit the config manually or rely on the mod’s own key bindings.

Third, the update checker relies on the mod providing correct metadata; if a mod’s Modrinth page is missing or misconfigured, the checker may show a false negative.

Always double-check the mod’s source if you suspect a newer version exists.

Finally, if you run a heavily modded client, enabling the “show library mods” filter can clutter the list; keep it off unless you really need to see those dependencies.

Alternatives

If you’re using Forge, the comparable tool is Mod Menu (Forge) which offers a similar searchable list but lacks the Fabric-specific metadata APIs.

Another option is Modium, a lightweight client-side mod that focuses only on showing mod versions and update notices.

For Quilt users, the built-in Quilt Mod Menu provides the same core features and shares the same API ecosystem, so switching loaders doesn’t mean losing functionality.