Pause Server When Empty
by Bodebojo
Pause Server When Empty stops the daylight cycle and weather clock while no players are online, and resumes them when a player joins.
What it does
The mod is a datapack that pauses the daylight and weather cycles on a server whenever no player is online. The clock stays at the same time and weather state until someone connects, then continues from that point. Its name refers to the server.properties setting it sits beside, and it exists because the author wanted the server to keep ticking rather than freezing completely, as the vanilla pause option does.
Server owners install it on a Fabric, Forge, NeoForge or Quilt server running 1.21 – 1.21.8, where the files target 1.21.8 as the latest build. Only the server needs it, so players join without installing anything. Bodebojo's AFK Display is an optional dependency, and when it is present the online player count excludes AFK players, so the clock does not run for idle accounts either. The mod is released under the MIT License and is not open source in the catalog's sense.
Key features
Automatic pausing
The clock pauses when the last player leaves and resumes as soon as one joins, without manual commands.
Weather day counter kept in place
The weather and day counter stay exactly where they were while the server is empty.
Simple setup
A datapack with a configuration step, so the installation is short and needs no extra steps for players.
AFK-aware player count
With AFK Display installed, idle players are left out of the online count that decides whether time runs.
Gallery
Compatibility
Latest build for each game version and loader.
1.21.x9 of 9 versions with builds
Only full game releases are shown. This mod publishes no snapshot builds.
Requirements
Dependencies declared by the latest file for each loader.
Optional 1
How it compares
Pause Day Cycle is the closest option, a server-side mod on Fabric, Forge, NeoForge and Quilt for 1.13 – 1.21.8, released under the MIT License and open source. GoAFK is a Fabric-only server-side mod for 1.21.8 – 1.21.10 under the MIT License, so it covers a different set of loaders and versions. ClockStopper is another server-side Fabric mod, for 1.21.1 – 1.21.11, also under the MIT License.
| Mod | Loaders | Game versions | Environment | Updated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pause Server When Empty | Fabric, Forge, NeoForge and Quilt | 1.21 – 1.21.8 | Server required, client optional | 2025-08-24 |
| Pause Day Cycle | Fabric, Forge, NeoForge and Quilt | 1.13 – 1.21.8 | Server required, client optional | 2025-03-30 |
| GoAFK | Fabric | 1.21.8 – 1.21.10 | Server-side only | 2025-10-15 |
| ClockStopper | Fabric | 1.21.1 – 1.21.11 | Server-side only | 2026-02-09 |
Questions
Does a player need to install Pause Server When Empty?
Which loaders does Pause Server When Empty support?
Does Pause Server When Empty work with AFK players?
In the catalog
Pause Server When Empty is one of 8,016 Management mods on ModsFinder, and one of 5,930 Management mods for Fabric. 17,695 mods support Minecraft 1.21.8.
More from Bodebojo
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What the author says
Pause Server When Empty is a datapack designed to enhance your server by automatically pausing the daylight and weather cycles when no players are online. This makes the weather, and day counter stay exactly as they were. The datapack is named after the server.properties setting because I didn't like how Minecraft…
Official listing
- Modrinth page
- modrinth.com/mod/pause-server-when-empty
- Owner
- Bodebojo
- Published
- 2025-03-15
- Updated on Modrinth
- 2025-08-24
- Facts verified
- 2026-10-15