Villagers Don't Despawn

Name: Villagers Don't Despawn
Author: AlzAlz123

Villagers Don't Despawn keeps villagers in the world by giving them the PersistenceRequired tag, so they are not removed when no player is nearby.

FabricForgeNeoForgeQuiltServer required, client optionalCreative Commons Attribution Share Alike 4.01.21.6 – 26.1.2

What it does

Villagers normally despawn when they are far from players. This mod applies the PersistenceRequired tag to villagers, so they stay loaded and remain where they are. The mod is delivered as a data pack, which runs through a datapack loader rather than changing game code, and the author lists it as a workaround for problems with mod-based versions. Files are published for Fabric, Forge, NeoForge and Quilt, with 1.0+mod for 26.1.2 as the latest file on each loader.

The server must run the mod, while players can join without installing anything. Servers can also use the same content as a data pack, which the listing names as a supported platform. Creative Commons Attribution Share Alike 4.0 covers the mod, and it is not open source. The author reports a compatibility note in the text, but the details are not spelled out, and the listing includes an open issue tracker for reports that the mod does not work.

Key features

Persistent villagers
Villagers receive the PersistenceRequired tag, which keeps them in the world instead of despawning far from players.
Data pack delivery
The same behavior is available as a data pack, which avoids the mod-loader problems the author describes.
Issue reporting
A public issue tracker is linked, so players can report cases where the mod does not work as expected.

Gallery

Compatibility

Latest build for each game version and loader.

Version

26.x3 of 3 versions with builds

26.1.21.0+mod1.0+mod1.0+mod1.0+mod

26.1.11.0+mod1.0+mod1.0+mod1.0+mod

26.11.0+mod1.0+mod1.0+mod1.0+mod

1.21.x6 of 6 versions with builds

1.21.111.0+mod1.0+mod1.0+mod1.0+mod

1.21.101.0+mod1.0+mod1.0+mod1.0+mod

1.21.91.0+mod1.0+mod1.0+mod1.0+mod

1.21.81.0+mod1.0+mod1.0+mod1.0+mod

1.21.71.0+mod1.0+mod1.0+mod1.0+mod

1.21.61.0+mod1.0+mod1.0+mod1.0+mod

ReleaseBetaAlphaNot available

Only full game releases are shown. This mod publishes no snapshot builds.

Use cases

Who it’s for: Server owners who want villagers to remain in the world between visits, and players who run a shared world and need their trading villages to stay put.

Questions

Does Villagers Don't Despawn need to be on the client?

No. It is required on the server and optional for players.

Can it be used as a data pack instead of a mod?

Yes. The listing names a data pack option for servers, which the author recommends because of problems reported with the mod-loader version.

Which loaders and versions are supported?

Files exist for Fabric, Forge, NeoForge and Quilt, covering 1.21.6 – 26.1.2, with the newest build for 26.1.2.

In the catalog

Villagers Don't Despawn is one of 11,058 Mobs mods on ModsFinder, and one of 5,189 Mobs mods for Fabric. 15,189 mods support Minecraft 26.1.2.