Visual Keystrokes
by soymods
Visual Keystrokes puts a configurable on-screen display of the keys and mouse buttons a player presses, with pressed-state feedback, on the Fabric loader.
What it does
The overlay shows the movement keys, the attack and use buttons, and the other inputs as they are pressed, giving streamers and tutorial makers a readable record of input during play. Each key lights up while held, so a viewer can follow the timing of a combo or a fight.
The layout is editable in two ways. In the pause menu, the Edit Keystrokes button opens an in-game editor where elements can be moved, resized or removed. A JSON config file holds the same layout for direct editing, and the overlay's position, colors and padding can be adjusted there. The F8 key toggles the overlay on and off by default, and the key can be changed in the controls menu.
The mod requires Fabric API and runs on the Fabric loader only, so it is not available for Forge or NeoForge. It is a client-side mod: only the player's game needs it, and a server does not have to install it. Files target Minecraft 1.21 – 1.21.11, with 1.0.2 for 1.21.11 as the latest build, released under All rights reserved, so the code is not open source.
Key features
Live key visualization
Keyboard keys and mouse buttons appear on screen and change state while they are pressed.
In-game layout editor
The Edit Keystrokes pause menu button lets a player move, resize and remove overlay elements without leaving the game.
JSON layout file
The layout can also be written by hand in a JSON config file, which sets element placement and appearance.
Adjustable appearance
Position, colors and padding of the overlay can each be changed to fit the screen and the recording setup.
Toggle hotkey
The overlay is shown or hidden with the F8 key by default, and the binding can be reassigned in the controls menu.
Gallery
Compatibility
Latest build for each game version and loader.
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
How it compares
KeysOverLayers is a Fabric mod for 1.21.11 only, under the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial No Derivatives 4.0 license, and is not open source. KeyStrokes Overlay With Lua is also Fabric-only, covers 1.20 – 1.21.11, and is released under the MIT License without being open source; it adds Lua scripting, which Visual Keystrokes does not offer. Both are client-side only, like this mod.
| Mod | Loaders | Game versions | Environment | Updated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Visual Keystrokes | Fabric | 1.21 – 1.21.11 | Client-side only | 2026-02-15 |
| KeysOverLayers | Fabric | 1.21.11 | Client-side only | 2026-07-13 |
| KeyStrokes Overlay With Lua | Fabric | 1.20 – 1.21.11 | Client-side only | 2026-01-09 |
Questions
Does Visual Keystrokes need Fabric API?
Does the server need Visual Keystrokes?
Which game versions does the mod support?
How is the overlay moved or hidden?
In the catalog
Visual Keystrokes is one of 8,499 Technology mods on ModsFinder, and one of 4,201 Technology mods for Fabric. 19,862 mods support Minecraft 1.21.11.
More from soymods
Similar mods
What the author says
A client-side highly customizable keystroke overlay for Minecraft
Official listing
- Modrinth page
- modrinth.com/mod/visual-keystrokes
- Owner
- soymods
- Published
- 2025-12-28
- Updated on Modrinth
- 2026-02-15
- Facts verified
- 2026-10-15