Nicer Portals is a utility mod that refines portal behavior in Minecraft through client and server-side improvements. It requires installation on both client and server to access all features, though single-player worlds only need the mod on the client. The mod supports Forge, NeoForge, Fabric, and Quilt loaders for Minecraft versions 26.2 and 26.3.
On the client, the mod deduplicates portal break sounds. When a portal is destroyed, instead of each block producing an individual break noise, the entire structure emits a single unified sound. Here's the thing, this eliminates the repetitive screeching that occurs with large portal frames, improving audio comfort during destruction.
On the server - or in single-player - the mod prevents zombified piglins from spawning through overworld portals. This stops unwanted invasions near player bases, particularly useful for megabuilds or automated portal systems. And it allows crying obsidian to be used interchangeably with regular obsidian when constructing portal frames, expanding aesthetic options without requiring new resources.
The mod also enables custom portal shapes beyond the standard rectangle. Players can create portals of any enclosed shape using portal blocks, provided the total number of blocks doesn't exceed a configurable limit. The default maximum is 2304 portal blocks, a value chosen to balance flexibility with performance; exceeding this may cause lag or crashes. Related settings include enforcing a minimum 1x2 size so players can walk through portals, or allowing 1x1 portals if desired - both only active when custom shapes are enabled.
Configuration is managed via TOML files. A global nicerportals.toml resides in the main config folder, while each world has its own copy inside the world’s save folder for local settings. If ModMenu is installed, players can adjust options in-game through the mod list. All features are togglable individually, and the mod introduces no new items, blocks, or dimensions - it solely modifies existing portal mechanics.
