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Xaero's World Map and Minimap: the lightest map mod

Xaero's World Map and Xaero's Minimap are a pair of mods that add what vanilla Minecraft is missing: a proper map. A minimap in the corner of the screen, a full-screen world map, waypoints, a cave map and automatic markers for the places where you died. All with minimal impact on FPS.

Minimap vs World Map: what each mod does

Xaero makes two separate mods that you can install on their own or together:

Xaero's Minimap shows a small round (or square) map in the corner of your choice. It displays the terrain around you in real time: blocks, mobs, other players and waypoints. Think of it as the pocket compass and radar you use while exploring.

Xaero's World Map is a full-screen map of the areas you've visited. You open it with a keybind (M by default) and see everything you've explored, along with your waypoints and your recent path. The map saves itself automatically and is still there after you restart the game.

Installing both mods together gives you the full experience: the minimap for everyday play, the full-screen map for planning expeditions.

Key features

Waypoints

Xaero's waypoint system is one of the best among map mods. You create a waypoint with the B key, then give it a name, a color and an icon. A waypoint is visible on the minimap and in the game world. You can keep sets of waypoints for different dimensions: the Overworld, the Nether and the End.

Cave map

When you go underground, the minimap switches to cave mode automatically. You see the layout of tunnels, open spaces and even the different levels of a cave. It comes in handy in maze-like mineshafts and Ancient Cities, where it's easy to get lost.

Death points

Every place where you die is marked with a waypoint automatically. When you die, you can see exactly where your items are lying. This one feature saves a lot of frustration.

Entity radar

The minimap can show icons of nearby mobs: hostile, neutral and passive. On some PvP servers the entity radar is blocked, but in singleplayer you see everything. It helps you avoid creepers sneaking up from behind.

Overworld and Nether integration

The map automatically converts coordinates between the Overworld and the Nether (the 8:1 ratio). Waypoints you set in the Overworld show up on the Nether map in the right proportions, so you don't have to do the math by hand.

Installing on Fabric and Forge

Fabric (recommended)

  1. Install Fabric Loader from fabricmc.net
  2. Download Fabric API from Modrinth and put it in the .minecraft/mods folder
  3. Download Xaero's Minimap and Xaero's World Map from Modrinth, and make sure the version matches your Minecraft version
  4. Put both .jar files in the .minecraft/mods folder
  5. Launch Minecraft with the Fabric profile

Forge / NeoForge

  1. Install Forge or NeoForge
  2. Download the Forge versions of both mods from Modrinth or CurseForge
  3. Put the .jar files in the .minecraft/mods folder
  4. Launch Minecraft with the Forge profile

Neither mod needs extra dependencies (apart from Fabric API on Fabric). They work on their own and are compatible with most popular mods, including Sodium, Iris and Create.

Settings and customization

Open the Xaero's settings menu with the Y key (minimap) or from the pause menu. The most important options:

  • Minimap size: from small to large. A bigger map takes up more of the screen but shows a larger area
  • Shape: round or square. Round looks nicer, square shows more terrain in the corners
  • Position: top right (default), top left, bottom right or bottom left
  • Zoom: how far the map is zoomed in. More zoom means more detail and a smaller area
  • Mob radar: turn mob icons on or off, and turn off passive mobs for less clutter on the map
  • Fair-play edition: a separate edition of the mod without the entity radar and cave map, for servers that require it

Xaero's vs JourneyMap vs VoxelMap

The three most popular map mods for Minecraft, each with a different approach:

  • Xaero's: the lightest and fastest, with a minimalist design. The best choice if you care about FPS and simplicity. Two separate mods (minimap + world map) let you install only what you need
  • JourneyMap: the most feature-rich. A map in your browser, advanced filtering, auto-mapping. It uses more resources. Best for players who want the most mapmaking features
  • VoxelMap: a classic mod with a long history. A good balance between features and performance, although development has slowed in recent years

For most players Xaero's is the best choice: light, fast and well maintained. Go with JourneyMap if you need a map in your browser or advanced auto-mapping.

Frequently asked questions

Does Xaero's Minimap work on servers?

Yes, Xaero's is a client-side mod. You don't need to install it on the server. Some servers restrict the entity radar or the cave map, but the minimap itself works almost everywhere.

Can I use just one of the mods?

Yes. Xaero's Minimap and Xaero's World Map are independent mods. You can install the minimap without the full-screen map (or the other way round). They complement each other best together, but neither depends on the other.

How do I move waypoints between computers?

Waypoints are stored in the xaero/minimap folder inside your Minecraft game folder (XaeroWaypoints in older versions). Copy the whole folder to the other computer. You can also use a cloud service (Dropbox, Google Drive) to sync waypoints between machines.

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