Simple AutoTool
by MVPFishstock
Simple AutoTool is a Fabric client mod that selects the most effective hotbar tool for the block a player is looking at.
What it does
When the player targets a block, the mod switches the selected hotbar slot to the tool suited for mining it. Pickaxes go to stone, ores and other hard blocks, axes to wood and wooden materials, shovels to dirt, sand and gravel, and hoes to farmland and plant-based blocks. The matching is handled on the client, so the server does not need to run it.
Holding Shift, which is sneaking, pauses auto-switching so the player keeps manual control of the hotbar. Pressing R toggles the mod on or off, and an on-screen message confirms the new state. The mod uses hotbar slots 0 through 8 only, and the tool must be in the hotbar to be chosen.
Simple AutoTool is a Fabric mod for Minecraft 1.21.4 that requires Fabric API. Files are published for 1.21.2, 1.21.3 and 1.21.4 across three release versions, under the MIT License, and the mod is not open source. Each player installs it; a server may add it but does not have to.
Key features
Automatic tool switching
Targeting a block selects the most effective tool from the hotbar without any key press.
Block type matching
Stone and ores use pickaxes, wood uses axes, soft ground uses shovels, and farmland and plants use hoes.
Manual override
Holding Shift disables auto-switching so the player can choose a tool by hand while sneaking.
Toggle with on-screen feedback
Pressing R enables or disables the mod, and the screen shows whether it is active.
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 1
Use cases
Mining with a full hotbar
Players who carry several tools in the hotbar can keep mining without stopping to change slots between block types.
How it compares
MT AutoTool is a Fabric mod for 1.21.4 only, client-side only, released under the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial Share Alike 4.0 license and not open source. Smart Tool Switcher is client-side only, covers 1.21.4 – 26.1.2 on Fabric, and is under All rights reserved. Hotbar Helper is client-side only, covers 1.21 – 1.21.11 on Fabric, and is open source under the CC0 1.0 Universal license.
| Mod | Loaders | Game versions | Environment | Updated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Simple AutoTool | Fabric | 1.21.2 – 1.21.4 | Client required, server optional | 2025-08-06 |
| MT AutoTool | Fabric | 1.21.4 | Client-side only | 2025-02-20 |
| Smart Tool Switcher | Fabric | 1.21.4 – 26.1.2 | Client-side only | 2026-04-19 |
| Hotbar Helper | Fabric | 1.21 – 1.21.11 | Client-side only | 2026-02-28 |
Questions
Does Simple AutoTool need Fabric API?
Does the server need Simple AutoTool?
How is auto-switching turned off temporarily?
In the catalog
Simple AutoTool is one of 3,545 Optimization mods on ModsFinder, and one of 2,575 Optimization mods for Fabric. 17,979 mods support Minecraft 1.21.4.
More from MVPFishstock
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What the author says
A client-side Minecraft Fabric mod for version 1.21.4 that automatically switches to the best tool in your inventory when mining blocks. Mod not working? - Ensure you have Fabric Loader and Fabric API installed - Check that you're using Minecraft 1.21.4 - Verify the mod is enabled (press G to toggle)
Official listing
- Modrinth page
- modrinth.com/mod/simpleautotool
- Owner
- MVPFishstock
- Published
- 2025-08-06
- Updated on Modrinth
- 2025-08-06
- Facts verified
- 2026-10-15