CompatDatapacks
by pitan76
CompatDatapacks lets datapacks written for older Minecraft versions load on newer ones by converting their data formats during world load.
What it does
The mod targets datapack authors and server owners who keep using packs written before the 1.21 data format changes. It handles plural directory names such as loot_tables and tags, merging singular tag folders into their plural forms, and it converts recipe result fields written as item into the id format used from 1.20.4 on. Because the work happens on the server, players who join need nothing installed.
CompatDatapacks is published for Fabric, Forge and NeoForge across 18 release versions, 1.20.4 – 26.2. Only the server needs it, and players join without installing anything. The code is released under the MIT License and is open source, and public links exist for the source code and the issue tracker. Files were first published on 2024-07-01 and last updated on 2026-04-04.
Key features
Plural directory handling
Datapack folders written in the singular form, such as loot_table, are read as their plural equivalents.
Tag directory merging
Singular tag directories like tags/block are merged into the plural tags/blocks layout that newer versions expect.
Recipe result conversion
Recipe results written with an item field are rewritten to the id field used in 1.20.4 and later.
Compatibility
Latest build for each game version and loader.
26.x4 of 4 versions with builds
1.21.x11 of 11 versions with builds
1.20.x3 of 3 versions with builds
Only full game releases are shown. This mod publishes no snapshot builds.
Use cases
Reviving an older pack
A server owner can keep a datapack from an earlier release in use after moving the world to a newer version.
Mixed-version pack collections
A pack maker who ships one datapack to several releases can rely on the converters rather than maintaining separate copies.
Who it’s for: Server owners and datapack authors who need older packs to keep working on newer Minecraft releases. Players on a server that runs the mod need nothing extra.
How it compares
Config Datapack is server-side with a client-optional environment, open source under the GNU General Public License v3.0 only, and published for 1.21.6 – 26.3 on Fabric, Forge, NeoForge and Quilt. Craftable Name Tag is also server-required, licensed under the MIT License but not open source, and covers 1.20.1 – 26.1.2 on the same four loaders. Compared with CompatDatapacks, which targets data format conversion, these two mods add gameplay or configuration content instead.
| Mod | Loaders | Game versions | Environment | Updated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CompatDatapacks | Fabric, Forge and NeoForge | 1.20.4 – 26.2 | Server-side only | 2026-04-04 |
| Config Datapack | Fabric, Forge, NeoForge and Quilt | 1.21.6 – 26.3 | Server required, client optional | 2026-08-26 |
| Craftable Name Tag | Fabric, Forge, NeoForge and Quilt | 1.20.1 – 26.1.2 | Server required, client optional | 2026-04-18 |
Questions
Does CompatDatapacks need to be installed on clients?
Which loaders does CompatDatapacks support?
Does the mod cover every version since 1.20.4?
In the catalog
CompatDatapacks 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 pitan76
Similar mods
What the author says
The mod enables backward compatibility for datapacks. The mod may allow 1.21 to load pre-1.21 data packs.
Official listing
- Modrinth page
- modrinth.com/mod/compatdatapacks
- Owner
- pitan76
- Published
- 2024-07-01
- Updated on Modrinth
- 2026-04-04
- Facts verified
- 2026-10-15