Better Game Mode Switcher
by MDLC01
Better Game Mode Switcher changes which game mode the F3 + F4 switcher preselects, and makes the F3 + N switcher work for players without operator permissions.
What it does
The vanilla game mode switcher, opened with F3 + F4, always preselects Spectator. This mod changes that so the switcher preselects the last game mode the player used that is not Spectator. Players who only want to move between Spectator and another game mode can use F3 + N, which is the same switcher layout with the selection handled differently.
Vanilla decides whether the switcher is enabled by checking the player's permission level, which must be at least 2. Some servers grant access to the gamemode command without granting that permission level, and in that case vanilla leaves the switcher disabled. The mod instead checks whether the gamemode command is available to the player, so the F3 + N switcher works on those servers as well.
The mod is client-side only, so the server does not need it and players join without installing anything on the server side. It is published for Fabric only, with builds for 1.20.1 – 26.2 and 1.5 as the latest file for 26.2. The code is distributed under a custom license, and the mod is not open source.
Key features
Last non-Spectator preselection
The switcher opens on the last game mode the player chose other than Spectator, instead of always on Spectator.
Command-based availability check
The F3 + N switcher is enabled whenever the gamemode command is available, even without operator permissions.
F3 + N for Spectator switching
Players who mostly switch between Spectator and one other mode can use F3 + N, which keeps that choice on a separate key.
Compatibility
Latest build for each game version and loader.
26.x1 of 1 version with builds
1.21.x12 of 12 versions with builds
1.20.x6 of 6 versions with builds
Only full game releases are shown. This mod publishes no snapshot builds.
How it compares
Smooth Gamemode Switcher is also client-side only and runs on Fabric for 1.20 – 26.2, but it is licensed under the GNU General Public License v3.0 only and is open source. Persistent Gamemode Switcher works on Fabric and Quilt for 1.16 – 26.2 under the MIT License, and it is open source. Gamemode Unrestrictor is client-side only for Fabric, covers 1.16.2 – 1.21.4, and is released under the MIT License. Better Game Mode Switcher is Fabric only and not open source, so it differs from all three in license and loader support.
| Mod | Loaders | Game versions | Environment | Updated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Better Game Mode Switcher | Fabric | 1.20.1 – 26.2 | Client-side only | 2026-07-06 |
| Smooth Gamemode Switcher | Fabric | 1.20 – 26.2 | Client-side only | 2026-06-12 |
| Persistent Gamemode Switcher | Fabric and Quilt | 1.16 – 26.2 | Client-side only | 2026-08-10 |
| Gamemode Unrestrictor | Fabric | 1.16.2 – 1.21.4 | Client-side only | 2024-11-26 |
Questions
Does Better Game Mode Switcher need to be installed on the server?
Which loader does Better Game Mode Switcher use?
Why does the F3 + F4 switcher no longer start on Spectator?
Which game versions does Better Game Mode Switcher support?
In the catalog
Better Game Mode Switcher is one of 36,990 Utility mods on ModsFinder, and one of 25,772 Utility mods for Fabric. 13,894 mods support Minecraft 26.2.
More from MDLC01
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What the author says
This mod makes the game mode switcher ( F3 + F4 ) never preselect Spectator. It also enables F3 + N and the game mode switcher even without operator permissions. No. The way the game determines if the game mode switcher should be enabled in vanilla is by checking if you have the right permission level (at least 2)…
Official listing
- Modrinth page
- modrinth.com/mod/better-game-mode-switcher
- Owner
- MDLC01
- Published
- 2023-06-25
- Updated on Modrinth
- 2026-07-06
- Facts verified
- 2026-10-15