ModsFinder

BetterLAN

by kdrnn4105

BetterLAN lets a single-player world be opened to friends over the internet, using relay nodes and encrypted connections in place of a LAN.

ForgeClient-side onlyMIT LicenseOpen source1.20.1

What it does

Once a world is opened with Open LAN, friends in the same configured group see it in the standard Multiplayer menu without typing an address or setting up port forwarding. The host can switch the world public, and joins are routed through a BetterLAN node service that forwards traffic between players.

Every connection is encrypted on the computer before it leaves, and the relay only forwards encrypted bytes, so it cannot read game data. Players can confirm a connection by comparing a 6-digit security fingerprint, which the mod shows on both screens. The mod also includes a presence view that shows which group members are online and their ping to the node.

BetterLAN is a Forge mod for 1.20.1 only, and it runs on the client alone, so servers and other players need nothing extra. It is open source under the MIT License, and its source code and issue tracker are public. The first build was published on 2026-03-24 and the latest, 1.0.1, on 2026-04-01.

Key features

  1. Zero-configuration networking

    A world opened to a group appears in the Multiplayer menu of each friend, with no IP address or port setup.

  2. End-to-end encryption

    Game traffic is encrypted locally with AES-CTR, using a derived shared secret, before it reaches the relay node.

  3. Host approval

    Each join attempt produces a clickable chat prompt, so the host can accept or reject the connection.

  4. Fingerprint verification

    Both players see a 6-digit fingerprint derived from a SHA-256 hash of the session key, which can be compared over voice chat to rule out a man-in-the-middle.

  5. Offline UUID fixes

    Built-in handling of UUIDs under offline-mode authentication keeps player inventories and stats consistent between sessions.

Compatibility

Latest build for each game version and loader.

1.20.11.0.1
ReleaseBetaAlphaNot available

Only full game releases are shown. This mod publishes no snapshot builds.

Use cases

Playing with friends remotely

A group of friends in different places can join one survival world without a dedicated server.

Verifying a connection

Players who talk by voice compare the fingerprint on both screens before the host accepts the game chat.

Who it’s for: Players who host single-player worlds for a small group of friends, and groups that want to play together without running a server or opening router ports.

Questions

Does BetterLAN need to be installed on the server?

No. The mod is client-side only, so each player installs it and no server needs it.

Which loader and version does BetterLAN support?

BetterLAN is published for Forge only, for Minecraft 1.20.1.

How do players confirm that a connection is not intercepted?

Both screens display a 6-digit fingerprint. If the fingerprints match, the connection is protected against relay tampering, as long as the players compare them over a separate channel such as voice chat.

In the catalog

BetterLAN is one of 3,545 Optimization mods on ModsFinder, and one of 1,441 Optimization mods for Forge. 34,764 mods support Minecraft 1.20.1.

Optimization mods3,545Forge modsMods for 1.20.134,764

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What the author says

BetterLAN - Play "LAN" with friends anywhere, securely. Zero Configuration Networking: Just publish your single-player world to LAN. Friends in your configured "Group" will instantly see your world in their Multiplayer menu.
kdrnn4105, on the Modrinth page

Official listing

Owner
kdrnn4105
Published
2026-03-24
Updated on Modrinth
2026-04-01
Facts verified
2026-10-15

Tags

Game mechanicsManagementOptimization
Open on ModrinthCompare