Offline Tab Head
by MagM1go
Offline Tab Head makes the player heads in the tab list render for players on offline-mode servers, where Minecraft normally hides them.
What it does
On servers that run in offline mode, the default client does not draw player heads in the tab list, because the server reports its players as encrypted. Offline Tab Head changes that check in the client so the heads are drawn anyway. The change is made by injecting into the PlayerListHud class and locating the render method that calls isEncrypted, then forcing its result to true. The approach is documented in the source code, so experienced users can follow how it works.
Offline Tab Head is a client-side only mod. Players install it on their own game, and the server does not need it or any other change. The mod is built for Fabric and targets 1.21.1 only, with version 1.0.0 as the latest file, first published and last updated on 2024-10-03. It is released under the Apache License 2.0, and the code is open source.
Key features
Tab list heads on offline servers
Player heads appear in the tab list when the connected server runs in offline mode and would otherwise hide them.
Render method override
The client's head-rendering check is changed so the heads are drawn regardless of the encryption flag the server sends.
PlayerListHud injection
The mod works by injecting into the PlayerListHud class, the code that draws the tab list.
Readable source
The source code shows the injection and the render method it targets, so the change can be traced step by step.
Gallery
Compatibility
Latest build for each game version and loader.
Only full game releases are shown. This mod publishes no snapshot builds.
Use cases
Offline-mode community servers
Players who join a server that runs in offline mode can see the heads of other players in the tab list.
Who it’s for: Players who join offline-mode servers and want the tab list to show player heads, and players who want to see how the default head check works in the source code.
How it compares
TabPlayerDistance is also a client-side only Fabric mod, published under the MIT License and open source, with files for 1.21 – 1.21.11. Head Above Xp is a client-side only Fabric mod for 1.21.11 with All rights reserved, so its code is not open source. RJ's Offline Server Skins is a client and server Fabric mod for 1.21.11 under CC0 1.0 Universal, so it must be installed on both sides. OfflinePlayers is server-side only, with files for 1.21 – 26.1.2, and it is open source under CC0 1.0 Universal.
| Mod | Loaders | Game versions | Environment | Updated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Offline Tab Head | Fabric | 1.21.1 | Client-side only | 2024-10-03 |
| TabPlayerDistance | Fabric | 1.21 – 1.21.11 | Client-side only | 2025-12-23 |
| Head Above Xp | Fabric | 1.21.11 | Client-side only | 2026-09-11 |
| RJ's Offline Server Skins | Fabric | 1.21.11 | Client and server | 2026-03-03 |
| OfflinePlayers | Fabric | 1.21 – 26.1.2 | Server-side only | 2026-04-15 |
Questions
Does Offline Tab Head need to be installed on the server?
Which game versions does Offline Tab Head support?
Does Offline Tab Head need Fabric API?
In the catalog
Offline Tab Head is one of 36,990 Utility mods on ModsFinder, and one of 25,772 Utility mods for Fabric. 32,366 mods support Minecraft 1.21.1.
Similar mods
What the author says
Deprecated. Use by Infinitumcraft for newer versions. Minecraft by default renders player heads when server is encrypted. This mod just says to renderer "yo I'm on encrypted server" and that's all.
Official listing
- Modrinth page
- modrinth.com/mod/offline-tab-head
- Owner
- MagM1go
- Published
- 2024-10-03
- Updated on Modrinth
- 2024-10-03
- Facts verified
- 2026-10-15
