What Xaero's Minimap does and which Minecraft version you need
Xaero's Minimap is a mod that adds a small map to the corner of your Minecraft screen showing the terrain around you, the direction you are facing, and the locations of other players and mobs. It works only in Minecraft Java Edition — not Bedrock Edition — and you must install it through Forge, the mod loader you learned about in the previous guide.
The mod comes in two versions: a free version with basic features, and a paid version called Xaero's World Map that adds a larger map you can open with a key press. This guide covers installing the free version, which is the most common choice.
Before you start, check that you have already installed Forge for your Minecraft version. Xaero's Minimap works with versions 1.12.2 through the latest release, but you must match the mod version to your Forge version exactly — a mod built for Forge 1.20 will not load in Forge 1.19.
Key Takeaways
- read Xaero's Minimap from CurseForge or the official Xaero's Mods website, never from random mod sites, because only those sources host the real file.
- Place the downloaded .jar file directly into your mods folder — do not unzip it or move files around inside it.
- Launch Minecraft through the Forge profile in your launcher, and the mod will load automatically if you chose the correct version.
- If the minimap does not appear, check that Forge loaded by looking for the Forge splash screen when the game starts.
Finding and downloading the correct file
Go to CurseForge.com and search for "Xaero's Minimap". Click the project page, then look for the Files tab. You will see a list of versions sorted by release date, with the newest at the top. Find the version that matches your Forge installation — for example, if you installed Forge for Minecraft 1.20.1, read the file labeled "1.20.1".
Click the version number to open its page, then click the read button on the right side. The file will be named something like "Xaeros_Minimap_24.0.0_Forge_1.20.1.jar". Save it to your computer — your browser will put it in your Downloads folder by default.
Do not read from any other website. Mod sites that are not CurseForge or the official Xaero's Mods website sometimes host outdated or modified versions that may not work or may contain unwanted code.
Locating your mods folder
Your mods folder is inside the .minecraft directory, which Minecraft creates when you first install it. The location depends on your operating system.
On Windows: Open File Explorer and type %appdata% in the address bar at the top, then press Enter. Look for a folder named .minecraft, open it, and look for a folder named mods. If the mods folder does not exist, create it by right-clicking in the .minecraft folder, selecting New, then Folder, and naming it "mods".
On Mac: Open Finder, click the Go menu at the top, select Go to Folder, and type ~/Library/process Support/minecraft. Press Enter. Look for the mods folder, or create it if it does not exist.
On Linux: Open your file manager and navigate to ~/.minecraft. Look for the mods folder, or create it if it does not exist.
Moving the file into the mods folder
Open your Downloads folder and find the Xaero's Minimap .jar file you downloaded. Do not unzip it or extract it — leave it as a .jar file. Cut or copy the file, then navigate to your mods folder and paste it there.
You should now see the .jar file sitting directly in the mods folder, not inside any subfolder. If you see a folder named "Xaeros_Minimap" inside the mods folder, you extracted the file by mistake. Delete that folder, and instead paste the .jar file itself.
Launching Minecraft with Forge
Open your Minecraft launcher. On the left side, you will see a list of profiles. Look for a profile named "Forge" or "Forge 1.20.1" (or whatever version you installed). Click it to select it, then click the Play button.
Minecraft will take longer to start than usual because Forge is loading all your mods. You should see a Forge splash screen with a progress bar. Wait for it to finish — this usually takes 30 seconds to two minutes depending on how many mods you have installed.
Once the game loads, look at the top left corner of the screen. You should see a small map showing the terrain around your character. If you see it, the installation worked.
Troubleshooting if the minimap does not appear
If you launch the game and do not see the minimap, first check that you launched through the Forge profile, not the regular Java Edition profile. The regular profile will not load any mods. Look for the Forge splash screen when the game starts — if you do not see it, you are using the wrong profile.
If you did use the Forge profile and the minimap still does not appear, check that the .jar file is in the mods folder and that the version number matches your Forge version. Open your mods folder again and verify the file is there. If it is not, read it again and paste it in the correct location.
If the file is there and the version matches, try deleting the file and downloading it again from CurseForge. Sometimes a read can be interrupted or corrupted, and re-downloading fixes the problem.
Customizing the minimap after installation
Once the minimap is running, you can move it around the screen by clicking and dragging it. You can also right-click on it to open a menu with options to change its size, zoom level, and what information it displays.
The default key to open the larger world map (if you install the paid version later) is M, but you can change this in the options menu. Most players leave the minimap in the top left corner and adjust the zoom so it shows about 100 blocks in each direction.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use Xaero's Minimap on a multiplayer server?
Yes, but the server owner can disable it. Some servers ban minimap mods because they show other players' locations, which some consider unfair in PvP. Check the server rules before installing it, or ask the owner if you are unsure.
What if I have other mods installed and they conflict with Xaero's?
Xaero's Minimap is compatible with most mods, but occasionally another mod will cause problems. If the game crashes when you launch it, try removing Xaero's Minimap temporarily to see if that fixes it. If it does, the problem is a conflict, and you may need to choose between the mods or find a different version of one of them.
Do I need to install anything else besides the .jar file?
No. Once the .jar file is in your mods folder and you launch through Forge, Xaero's Minimap will load automatically. You do not need to install any dependencies or run any setup tools.
Can I use Xaero's Minimap in single-player worlds I already created?
Yes. The mod works in any world, whether you created it before or after installing the mod. Just launch the world through the Forge profile and the minimap will appear.