Squint
Squint limits how far the client draws block entities and entities, letting players push render distances for signs, chests, banners, paintings, item frames and mobs.
What it does
Vanilla stops drawing block entities and most entities at a short fixed range. Squint replaces those cutoffs with per-category distances, so signs, chests, banners, paintings, item frames and mobs can each be set farther out, with category distances reaching hundreds of blocks. Entity culling can also extend past the vanilla limit, and a chunk-wide view mode draws block entities and entities only inside the loaded view distance.
Squint is a client-side mod that runs on Minecraft 1.21.1 under Fabric and NeoForge. Fabric needs Fabric API, Cloth Config API and Fabric Language Kotlin, while NeoForge needs Cloth Config API and Kotlin for Forge. Server owners do not install it, because only the client needs it. The configuration screen opens through Mod Menu, with a debug overlay for tuning.
The mod is released under All rights reserved, so the code is not freely licensed, though its source code and issue tracker are public. Version 1.0.0 is the latest file for each loader, published on 2026-06-30.
Key features
Per-category distances
Each category of block entity and entity gets its own render distance, with a global multiplier applied on top.
Far rendering
Distances can be pushed out to hundreds of blocks, past the vanilla cutoff.
Concurrent draw limits
An optional cap sets how many block entities and entities draw at once, with the closest ones drawn first.
Adaptive frame rate
An optional setting tightens limits automatically to hold a target framerate, and the rest of the distance settings stay unchanged.
Chunk view mode
Block entities and entities outside the loaded view distance are not rendered in this mode.
Gallery
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 3
Use cases
Who it’s for: Players who want to set render distances separately for each type of block entity and entity, and who run Minecraft 1.21.1 on Fabric or NeoForge on their own client.
How it compares
Far Block Entity Rendering is a Fabric-only client mod for 1.21.10 – 26.3 under a custom license. Prism Performance is also Fabric-only and client-side, released under the MIT License, covering 1.21 – 1.21.11. Forced Render Distance differs more, because it runs on the server with optional client support and is licensed under the GNU General Public License v3.0 only.
| Mod | Loaders | Game versions | Environment | Updated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Squint | Fabric and NeoForge | 1.21.1 | Client-side only | 2026-06-30 |
| Far Block Entity Rendering | Fabric | 1.21.10 – 26.3 | Client-side only | 2026-09-19 |
| Prism Performance | Fabric | 1.21 – 1.21.11 | Client-side only | 2026-03-23 |
| Forced Render Distance | Fabric, Forge, NeoForge and Quilt | 1.21.5 – 26.3 | Server required, client optional | 2026-10-10 |
Questions
Does Squint need to be installed on the server?
Which dependencies does Squint require on NeoForge?
Can Squint change distances automatically?
In the catalog
Squint is one of 3,545 Optimization mods on ModsFinder, and one of 2,575 Optimization mods for Fabric. 32,366 mods support Minecraft 1.21.1.
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What the author says
Client-side mod for Minecraft 1.21.1 (NeoForge & Fabric). Replace vanilla render cutoffs with per-category distances, optional ultra-far draw, and limits you control. Vanilla caps block entities and many entities around ~64 blocks. Squint lets you push distances out — signs, chests, banners, paintings, item frames…
Official listing
- Modrinth page
- modrinth.com/mod/squint
- Owner
- ThrowNewError
- Published
- 2026-06-30
- Updated on Modrinth
- 2026-06-30
- Facts verified
- 2026-10-15