Better Nametags
by MGC8
Better Nametags changes how player nametags are drawn, with controls for text shadow, background color, text color and whether a player sees their own tag.
What it does
The mod adds a small set of quality-of-life options for the nametags that appear above players. A player can turn the text shadow on or off, pick the background color in full ARGB, and pick the text color in full ARGB. A separate option hides the player's own nametag, and another switches all nametags off entirely.
Cloth Config API is required, and it supplies the settings screen where these options are changed. Better Nametags runs on the client alone, so players install it and servers do not need it. The files cover 1.21 and 1.21.1, with 1.0.0 for 1.21.1 as the latest build, and the mod is released under the CC0 1.0 Universal license, which is not open source.
The author notes that some background colors can produce artifacts with the nametag shadow, a Minecraft bug the author plans to address in a future release. Until then, choosing a fully transparent or very dark background may avoid the problem.
Key features
Text shadow toggle
The shadow behind nametag text can be switched on or off to suit different background colors.
Background color control
The nametag background takes any ARGB value, so its color and transparency can be set exactly.
Text color control
The nametag text takes any ARGB value, giving full control over its color and opacity.
Own nametag toggle
A player can hide their own nametag while still seeing the tags of others.
Disable all nametags
A single option turns off every nametag, for players who want a clean view.
Gallery
Compatibility
Latest build for each game version and loader.
Only full game releases are shown. This mod publishes no snapshot builds.
Requirements
Dependencies declared by the latest file for each loader.
Required 1
How it compares
Show Player Nametags is a client-side mod with MIT-licensed open source code, published for 1.21.2 – 1.21.11 on Fabric. Right-Clickable Nametags is open source under CC0 1.0 Universal and runs on client and server, covering 1.21.1 – 1.21.11. GolbNametags is a client-side Fabric mod for 1.21.4 only and is not open source. RecipeLife differs in running on the server alone, for 1.21.8 – 1.21.11, and its license is All rights reserved.
| Mod | Loaders | Game versions | Environment | Updated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Better Nametags | Fabric | 1.21 – 1.21.1 | Client-side only | 2024-08-11 |
| Show Player Nametags | Fabric | 1.21.2 – 1.21.11 | Client-side only | 2025-08-19 |
| Right-Clickable Nametags | Fabric | 1.21.1 – 1.21.11 | Client and server | 2026-03-03 |
| GolbNametags | Fabric | 1.21.4 | Client-side only | 2026-01-14 |
| RecipeLife | Fabric | 1.21.8 – 1.21.11 | Server-side only | 2026-03-18 |
Questions
Does Better Nametags need Cloth Config API?
Does the server need Better Nametags installed?
Which game versions does Better Nametags support?
In the catalog
Better Nametags is one of 12,078 Decoration mods on ModsFinder, and one of 6,982 Decoration mods for Fabric. 32,366 mods support Minecraft 1.21.1.
More from MGC8
Similar mods
What the author says
Note: Some background colors may create an issue with nametag shadows, this is currently a minecraft bug that is planned to be fixed in a future release.
Official listing
- Modrinth page
- modrinth.com/mod/better-nametags
- Owner
- MGC8
- Published
- 2024-08-11
- Updated on Modrinth
- 2024-08-11
- Facts verified
- 2026-10-15