Packet Catcher
by xffc
Packet Catcher records the network packets exchanged between the client and a server and writes them to a file for later reading.
What it does
Packet Catcher listens to the packets that pass through the game connection and exports them to a file. Each entry is written with a formatted time, the packet flow type, the packet id and its fields, so a capture can be read line by line. The mod is a Fabric client mod for version 26.2 only, and only the client needs it.
Output is controlled by formatting options. Time formatting follows Java's DateTimeFormatter pattern, so the timestamp can use any layout that pattern allows. Values and titles are formatted by the supported value and title formats, and the packet fields are separated so each one can be read on its own line.
Installation needs Fabric API, Fabric Language Kotlin, Mod Menu and YetAnotherConfigLib (YACL), all of which must be present on the client. The code is open source under the MIT License, and public links exist for the source code and the issue tracker. The latest Fabric build is 1.1 for 26.2, published on 2026-07-16 on the beta channel.
Key features
Packet export to file
Captured packets are written to a file, so the traffic of a session can be saved and checked afterwards.
Formatted time stamps
Each entry carries a time stamp whose layout is set with a DateTimeFormatter pattern.
Packet flow and id
Entries show whether a packet is serverbound or clientbound and give its id, such as minecraft:intention.
Configurable values
Packet fields are formatted as values with their names, and the separator and line layout can be adjusted.
Compatibility
Latest build for each game version and loader.
Only full game releases are shown. This mod publishes no snapshot builds.
Requirements
Dependencies declared by the latest file for each loader.
Required 4
Use cases
Reading a connection
A player can capture the packets of one session and check the order in which the handshake and other messages were sent.
Debugging a mod
A developer can compare the packets a mod sends with the expected ones by reading the exported file.
Who it’s for: Players and developers who want a text record of the packets sent between the game and a server, and who run Minecraft 26.2 with Fabric.
How it compares
Hostname Catcher is server-side only, released under the GNU General Public License v3.0 only, and covers 26.1 – 26.2, so it runs on the server rather than in the client. PacketDump is client-side only, released under the GNU Lesser General Public License v3.0 or later, and covers 1.21.8 – 26.2. Firewall is optional on either side and released under the MIT License, covering 1.21 – 26.2.
| Mod | Loaders | Game versions | Environment | Updated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Packet Catcher | Fabric | 26.2 | Client-side only | 2026-07-16 |
| Hostname Catcher | Fabric | 26.1 – 26.2 | Server-side only | 2026-06-11 |
| PacketDump | Fabric | 1.21.8 – 26.2 | Client-side only | 2026-08-04 |
| Firewall | Fabric | 1.21 – 26.2 | Client or server, optional | 2026-08-27 |
Questions
Does Packet Catcher need to be installed on the server?
What does Packet Catcher require?
Which game version does Packet Catcher support?
In the catalog
Packet Catcher is one of 8,016 Management mods on ModsFinder, and one of 5,930 Management mods for Fabric. 13,894 mods support Minecraft 26.2.
More from xffc
Similar mods
What the author says
A simple Minecraft mod for capturing packets and exporting them to a file. Supported title formats: 1. %time% - Formatted time 2. %type% - Packet flow type (example: serverbound) 3. %id% - Packet id (example: minecraft:intention) 4. %values% - Formatted values 5. %nl% - New line
Official listing
- Modrinth page
- modrinth.com/mod/packetcatcher
- Owner
- xffc
- Published
- 2026-07-12
- Updated on Modrinth
- 2026-07-16
- Facts verified
- 2026-10-15