Chest Preview
by Hackartem
Chest Preview lets a player inspect the contents of a chest or other container from the world without opening it, through an in-world overlay.
What it does
The overlay shows container contents directly in the world and updates in real time, with animated display and several customization options. Looking at a chest or another container is enough to see what it holds, and the preview covers containers such as the Shulker Box and the Blast Furnace.
The mod is client-side only, so servers run without it and players install it alone, while multiplayer play on servers that do not run it is still possible. Chest Preview is released under All rights reserved and is not open source. Builds exist for Fabric, Forge and NeoForge across 24 release versions, 1.20 – 26.3.
Key features
In-world content preview
Container contents appear as an animated overlay in the world, so chests can be checked without opening them.
Real-time updates
The overlay refreshes as the container changes, so the displayed items stay current while the player looks at it.
Customizable display
Several options adjust how the overlay looks and behaves, letting each player set the preview to their preference.
Local effect hiding
Opening animations and interaction sounds of other players' containers are hidden locally, giving a smoother client experience.
Gallery
Compatibility
Latest build for each game version and loader.
26.x5 of 5 versions with builds
1.21.x12 of 12 versions with builds
1.20.x7 of 7 versions with builds
Only full game releases are shown. This mod publishes no snapshot builds.
Use cases
Checking storage before opening
A player scanning a base can see which chests hold a needed item without walking to each one.
Browsing shared containers
On multiplayer servers, players can preview chests that other players use, without triggering the opening animation or sound.
Who it’s for: Players who manage large storage systems or visit shared bases on multiplayer servers. It is a client-side mod, so only players who want the preview need to install it.
How it compares
Shulker Preview is client-side only and open source under the MIT License, published for Fabric across 1.20 – 26.3. Unobstructed is server-side only and released under All rights reserved, with builds for Fabric, Forge and NeoForge across 1.20.1 – 26.3.
| Mod | Loaders | Game versions | Environment | Updated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chest Preview | Fabric, Forge and NeoForge | 1.20 – 26.3 | Client-side only | 2026-10-03 |
| Shulker Preview | Fabric | 1.20 – 26.3 | Client-side only | 2026-09-16 |
| Unobstructed | Fabric, Forge and NeoForge | 1.20.1 – 26.3 | Server-side only | 2026-09-26 |
Questions
Does Chest Preview need to be installed on the server?
Which loaders does Chest Preview support?
Do resource packs affect the preview?
Can the preview clash with other container mods?
In the catalog
Chest Preview is one of 4,058 Storage mods on ModsFinder, and one of 2,474 Storage mods for Fabric. 8,071 mods support Minecraft 26.3.
More from Hackartem
Similar mods
What the author says
Chest Preview is a client-side mod that lets you quickly inspect chests and other containers without opening an inventory screen. The overlay appears directly in the world, updates in real time, and features smooth animations and customization options.
Official listing
- Modrinth page
- modrinth.com/mod/chest-preview-plus
- Owner
- Hackartem
- Published
- 2026-08-20
- Updated on Modrinth
- 2026-10-03
- Facts verified
- 2026-10-15