Simple Modpack Update Checker
by Wohlhabend
Players who maintain a modpack can have Simple Modpack Update Checker compare the installed pack version with a remote source each time Minecraft starts.
What it does
On startup the mod reads a configuration file and checks the pack's local version string against a remote one. The remote source is either a URL to a text file holding a line such as version = "2.0.5", as written by packwiz, or a Modrinth project ID. When a newer version is found, a toast notification appears in game. Only the client runs the check, so the mod is for the player's installation rather than the server.
The release channel controls how far the check looks. The default, release, only compares against stable builds. Beta also counts beta builds, and alpha counts every build type, with more unstable channels including the more stable ones. Minecraft version filtering and channel selection work only with a Modrinth project ID; a URL-based setup checks just the version string it points to.
Installation requires Fabric API. The mod is published for Fabric alone, for 1.21 – 26.3 with 17 release versions, and the code is open source under the MIT License. The latest file is 2.2.1 for 26.3, published 2026-09-03.
Key features
Startup update check
The check runs automatically when Minecraft starts, based on the settings in the configuration file.
Toast notification
When the installed pack is out of date, a toast appears in game to tell the player an update is available.
URL or Modrinth source
The remote version can come from a text file at a URL or from a Modrinth project ID, chosen in the configuration.
Release channel setting
Three channels, release, beta and alpha, set whether stable, beta or all builds count as updates.
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
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
Pack distribution
A pack author using packwiz can point the checker at the pack's own version file, so players see when a new release is out.
Modrinth-hosted packs
Where the pack is published on Modrinth, the project ID lets the checker filter by Minecraft version and release channel.
Who it’s for: Modpack authors who want players to learn about new releases without visiting a website, and players who run a shared pack and want to know when it has changed.
How it compares
Simple Update Checker is an alternative for Fabric and Quilt, with files for 1.21.1 – 26.3, open source under the GNU Lesser General Public License v3.0 only, and it can run on a client, a server or both. PackPing is client-side only, open source under the MIT License, and covers Fabric and NeoForge for 1.21 – 26.2. Modpack Checker runs on client and server, is open source under the Apache License 2.0, and targets Fabric for 1.20 – 1.21.7.
| Mod | Loaders | Game versions | Environment | Updated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Simple Modpack Update Checker | Fabric | 1.21 – 26.3 | Client-side only | 2026-09-03 |
| Simple Update Checker | Fabric and Quilt | 1.21.1 – 26.3 | Client or server, optional | 2026-09-11 |
| PackPing | Fabric and NeoForge | 1.21 – 26.2 | Client-side only | 2026-06-18 |
| Modpack Checker | Fabric | 1.20 – 1.21.7 | Client and server | 2025-06-30 |
Questions
Does Simple Modpack Update Checker require Fabric API?
Does the server need this mod?
What happens if a URL is used instead of a Modrinth project ID?
In the catalog
Simple Modpack Update Checker is one of 8,016 Management mods on ModsFinder, and one of 5,930 Management mods for Fabric. 8,071 mods support Minecraft 26.3.
More from Wohlhabend
Similar mods
What the author says
Simple Modpack Update Checker is a lightweight mod designed to check if your modpack is up-to-date. This mod verifies the version of your modpack against a remote source and notifies you if an update is available. Note: minecraftVersions and releaseChannel only work when using a Modrinth project ID. When using a URL…
Official listing
- Modrinth page
- modrinth.com/mod/smuc
- Owner
- Wohlhabend
- Published
- 2024-06-25
- Updated on Modrinth
- 2026-09-03
- Facts verified
- 2026-10-15