Install Explorer's Compass on a Minecraft server

Explorer's Compass is an item that locates structures anywhere in the world, vanilla and modded ones alike. Right-click it, pick a structure from a list, and the compass points the way. It runs on Fabric, Forge and NeoForge, and both the server and the players need it.

Checked against Explorer's Compass 3.3.2 on NeoForge 26.3, October 2026.

What it needs

• A mod loader. Modrinth lists Fabric, Forge and NeoForge builds. The newest are 3.3.2 (NeoForge) and 2.5.2 (Fabric), both for Minecraft 26.3, and Forge has builds for older versions such as 1.20.1. It is a mod, not a plugin, so a Paper server cannot run it.
• Fabric API, on Fabric only. The Fabric build's fabric.mod.json lists fabric-api as a dependency, and the Modrinth page does not list it, so the store will not offer it. Install Fabric API yourself first.
• The same mod on the client. Modrinth marks it as required on both sides.

To change loader or version, use JAR Manager under More (Change your Minecraft version or mod loader). It reinstalls the server and keeps your world, so make a backup first in the Backups tab.

Install it

1. Open the Mods tab, under Content in the panel menu, with the Modrinth chip selected.
2. On Fabric, search for Fabric API and click Install on it.
3. Search for Explorer's Compass and click Install on the one by Chaosyr. Names like "Explorer's Compass Addon" are separate mods.
4. Press Restart on the Console tab, or Start if the server is stopped.

Check the Installed view for Explorer's Compass with no Failed to load badge.

Use it

Players can craft the compass. The project's shaped recipe uses a compass, cracked stone bricks and cobwebs. You can also give one from the Console tab:

give <player name> explorerscompass:explorerscompass

• Right-click opens a list where you pick a structure or a group of structures.
• Shift and right-click resets the compass.
• Details about the search show on the HUD.
• When it is not tracking a structure, it points at the world spawn.

Settings

The Fabric build keeps its settings in config/explorerscompass.json, in a common section for server rules and a client section for the HUD. The NeoForge build writes config/explorerscompass-local.toml after the first start. Edit it in the File Manager while the server is stopped. The keys that matter on a server:

• maxRadius is the furthest it will search (default 10000). The project's own comment says a bigger value is more accurate but can be more resource intensive, so raise it carefully.
• allowTeleport (default true) lets a player teleport to a located structure when in creative mode, opped or in cheat mode.
• structureBlacklist hides structures from the list and stops searches for them. It accepts wildcards, such as minecraft:*village*.
• compassDurability (default 0) makes the compass break after that many searches. 0 turns it off.

Common problems

• Fabric server fails to start: Fabric API is missing. Install it from the Mods tab.
• The search is slow or the server hitches: lower maxRadius, because the project says a large radius can be resource intensive. Also check Why is my server lagging?.
• A NeoForge 26.3 server crashes on startup: the 3.3.2 changelog says it fixed a startup crash with NeoForge 26.3.0.37-beta and later, so make sure you run 3.3.2 or newer.