Dynamic Lights
by CreepermeYT
Dynamic Lights makes torches, lanterns and other light sources cast moving light on the world, and the server decides when it applies.
What it does
A server running Dynamic Lights turns held and placed light sources into moving light for players. Entities that carry a glowing effect, fire and glow squids can also emit light. The mod is delivered as a data pack and as mods for Fabric, Forge, NeoForge and Quilt, with a built-in chat menu that toggles each lighting feature individually and shows the count of active lights. Presets cover the common choices: a FASTEST preset that lights only torches, an OPTIMIZED preset, and a SMART default that fixes known lighting bugs.
Installing it on the server alone is enough, since players join without installing anything. Changing settings requires operator rights, and running the install command opens the options menu. Dynamic Lights is open source under the MIT License. Files cover 1.17 – 26.3, and snapshot builds are published.
Key features
Entities that emit light
Entities with the glowing effect, fire and glow squids can cast light, each switchable from the menu.
Lighting presets
FASTEST, OPTIMIZED and SMART presets set the enabled features in one step, and each can be adjusted afterward.
Chat options menu
A built-in chat menu opens the toggles and reports how many lights are active at a given moment.
Enchanted and armor lighting
Enchanted items and armor can be set to emit light, so their glow follows the player through the world.
Known limitations
Light blocks can clog piston movement, interfere with flowing water and lava, and are erased when players pass by.
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
1.19.x5 of 5 versions with builds
1.18.x3 of 3 versions with builds
1.17.x2 of 2 versions with builds
This mod also publishes snapshot builds. Snapshots are not shown in the matrix.
Use cases
Who it’s for: Server owners who want dynamic lighting for players on Java Edition, and map makers who need to know where light blocks can interfere with redstone and fluids.
Questions
Does a player need Dynamic Lights installed?
Which loader should a server use?
How is Dynamic Lights removed safely?
In the catalog
Dynamic Lights is one of 19,031 Adventure mods on ModsFinder, and one of 10,052 Adventure mods for Fabric. 8,071 mods support Minecraft 26.3.
More from CreepermeYT
Similar mods
What the author says
(Up to 50% faster than similar datapacks) Warning: This datapack/mod will not work in multiplayer unless it is installed server-side.
Official listing
- Modrinth page
- modrinth.com/mod/dynamic-lights-creepermeyt
- Owner
- CreepermeYT
- Published
- 2024-10-06
- Updated on Modrinth
- 2026-09-16
- Facts verified
- 2026-10-15