Install YUNG's Better Mineshafts for Minecraft

YUNG's Better Mineshafts replaces vanilla abandoned mineshafts with webs of tunnels in 13 biome variants, with workstations, ore deposits and chests to find. It runs on the server only: Modrinth lists it as required on the server and unsupported on the client, so players join with a normal game.

Checked against YUNG's Better Mineshafts 5.1.1 on NeoForge with Minecraft 1.21.1, October 2026.

Pick the right build

YUNG's Better Mineshafts has one build per Minecraft version and loader, so the file you want depends on the server:

• Minecraft 26.1.1 and 26.1.2: version 6.1.1 on Fabric and NeoForge. There is no Forge build for these.
• Minecraft 1.21.4: version 5.4.0 on Fabric and NeoForge.
• Minecraft 1.21 and 1.21.1: version 5.1.1 on Forge, NeoForge and Fabric.
• Minecraft 1.20.4: version 4.4.2 on Fabric, Forge and NeoForge.
• Minecraft 1.20 and 1.20.1: version 4.0.4 on Fabric and Forge.

Modrinth lists no build for Minecraft 26.2 or 26.3 yet. If your server runs one of those, switch to 26.1.2 or 1.21.1 first.

To change loader or version, open JAR Manager under More, choose the loader under Server software and the version under Minecraft version, then press Apply change. Change your Minecraft version or mod loader has the full steps. Switching reinstalls the server and keeps your world, but make a backup first in the Backups tab.

What it needs

YUNG's API is required on every loader. The Fabric builds also need Fabric API and Cloth Config API.

Install it

1. Open Mods under Content and keep the Modrinth chip selected in the source chip row at the top of the tab. The Game version filter starts on your server's version.
2. Search for YUNG's Better Mineshafts. Choose the result by YUNGNICKYOUNG.
3. Press Install. When a "Needs" prompt appears, press Install all so YUNG's API comes with it.
4. Restart from the Console tab.

Open the Installed view to check. The mod and YUNG's API should be listed with no Failed to load badge.

What you will find

The project's page lists these parts:

• Abandoned workstations and workstation cellars
• Ore deposits at the end of some tunnels, with coal, iron, redstone, gold, lapis, emerald and diamond
• Abandoned miners' outposts
• Surface openings
• A mushroom mineshaft among the 13 biome variants

It is intended to work with every world generation mod, and the project names YUNG's Better Strongholds, Better Dungeons, Extras and Bridges as examples.

Settings

The Forge and NeoForge builds use a .toml settings file, named bettermineshafts-neoforge-1_21.toml on 1.21.1 NeoForge, bettermineshafts-forge-1_21.toml on 1.21.1 Forge and bettermineshafts-neoforge-26_1.toml on 26.1.2 NeoForge. On NeoForge 1.21.1 the file appears in the config folder after the first start. Inside you can change the lowest and highest height a mineshaft can spawn, turn ore deposits on or off, set the chance of each ore, and set spawn rates for lanterns, torches, workstations, small shafts and cobwebs. Stop the server before you edit the file in the File Manager. The Fabric builds use Cloth Config API, so their file name may differ.

Common problems

• The server stops at startup: open the Console and read the last lines. A missing YUNG's API is the usual cause, and a Fabric server also needs Fabric API and Cloth Config API. Fix mod and plugin errors on Minecraft covers reading the log.
• The mod is not in the store: the Game version filter follows your server, and there is no build for Minecraft 26.2 or 26.3.
• Old mineshafts are unchanged: read the tip under Install it, then walk into ground you haven't explored.