Tool Switcher
by Maganoos
Tool Switcher, a Fabric utility, picks the right tool from the player's inventory as blocks are broken, so the hotbar slot changes on its own.
What it does
Tool Switcher switches to the tool that breaks the block being mined. It compares tools by their mining efficiency and by the factors that affect it, then selects the strongest candidate. A tool found outside the hotbar is swapped into the current slot for the duration of the mining and is returned once the attack key is released. Sneaking turns the switching off, so a player can keep a specific tool in hand.
Behaviour can be narrowed in the config file. A list of blocks and tools can be disabled, so the switching skips them, and switching away from a tool can be blocked when it carries Silk Touch or Fortune. Entries use Minecraft's identifier format and are written as a TOML array, with each entry in quotes and separated by commas. Modded items such as create:wrench work in the same list, and tags are accepted as well.
The mod depends on Fabric API and has an optional link to McQoy. It is client-side only, so the server does not need it, and the server can still disable the behaviour so that clients connected to it stop using it. The source code and issue tracker are public, and the code is under the MIT License. Files are published for 1.20 – 26.3, with 3.2.5 for 26.3 as the latest Fabric build.
Key features
Automatic tool choice
The strongest tool for the block being broken is picked from the player's inventory without a manual slot change.
Hotbar and inventory tools
Tools in the hotbar are selected directly, while a tool found in the inventory is swapped into the current slot temporarily.
Silk Touch and Fortune guard
An option keeps the current tool when it has Silk Touch or Fortune, so enchanted tools are not replaced.
Customisable block and tool lists
A TOML list holds the blocks and tools to exclude, using Minecraft identifiers and tags, including modded items.
Sneak to disable
Sneaking turns the switching off, so a chosen tool stays in the hand while the player crouches.
Server-side disabling
A server can turn the behaviour off, so clients connected to it stop switching tools.
Compatibility
Latest build for each game version and loader.
26.x5 of 5 versions with builds
1.21.x12 of 12 versions with builds
1.20.x7 of 7 versions with builds
This mod also publishes snapshot builds. Snapshots are not shown in the matrix.
Requirements
Dependencies declared by the latest file for each loader.
Required 1
Optional 1
How it compares
Paxels runs on client and server and supports Fabric and NeoForge, with files for 1.20.1 – 26.1.2, under All rights reserved. Axe and Sword Switcher is client-side only and MIT licensed, but it targets only 1.21.1 and switches between axes and swords, not mining tools. Auto Tool Mod is client-side only, licensed under the GNU General Public License v3.0 or later, and covers 1.21.4 – 26.1.2.
| Mod | Loaders | Game versions | Environment | Updated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tool Switcher | Fabric | 1.20 – 26.3 | Client-side only | 2026-10-11 |
| Paxels | Fabric and NeoForge | 1.20.1 – 26.1.2 | Client and server | 2026-05-13 |
| Axe and Sword Switcher | Fabric | 1.21.1 | Client-side only | 2025-10-15 |
| Auto Tool Mod | Fabric | 1.21.4 – 26.1.2 | Client-side only | 2026-04-15 |
Questions
Does Tool Switcher need Fabric API?
Does a server need Tool Switcher installed?
How are blocks and tools excluded from switching?
In the catalog
Tool Switcher is one of 17,631 Equipment mods on ModsFinder, and one of 8,894 Equipment mods for Fabric. 8,071 mods support Minecraft 26.3.
More from Maganoos
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What the author says
Tool Switcher is a simple utility mod that enables you to automatically switch tools depending on what block you are trying to break. All configuration options can be edited in the config file at config/tool-switcher.toml or through Mod Menu & McQoy (recommended).
Official listing
- Modrinth page
- modrinth.com/mod/tool-switcher
- Owner
- Maganoos
- Published
- 2025-07-23
- Updated on Modrinth
- 2026-10-11
- Facts verified
- 2026-10-15