Better Minecraft is a popular modpack that enhances vanilla Minecraft with quality of life improvements, performance mods, and additional content while maintaining the core gameplay experience.

Choose Better Minecraft Version

Select the appropriate version for your server:

Available Versions:

Better Minecraft [FABRIC] 1.20.1: Latest version with Fabric
Better Minecraft [FORGE] 1.19.2: Stable Forge version
Better Minecraft Plus: Extended version with more content
Better Minecraft MODDED: Heavily modified variant

Version Specifications:

Minecraft 1.20.1: Fabric Loader 0.14.21+
Java 17: Required for MC 1.18+
RAM: 4-6GB minimum, 6-8GB recommended
Mods: ~150-200 optimization and content mods

This guide focuses on Better Minecraft [FABRIC] as it's the most popular and stable version.

Download Server Files

Get the Better Minecraft server files:

Download Sources:

CurseForge: Better Minecraft page
Modrinth: Alternative download source
Official server files: Download server pack specifically

Server Pack Contents:

Pre-configured mod list
Optimized configuration files
Fabric server installer
Start scripts for different platforms
Default world generation settings

Install Fabric Server

Set up the Fabric server environment:

Extract server files: Unzip to your server directory
Install Java 17: Ensure correct Java version
Run Fabric installer: Execute the included installer
Accept EULA: Set eula=true in eula.txt
Verify installation: Check fabric-server-launch.jar exists

Fabric installation command:

# Install Fabric server
java -jar fabric-installer.jar server -mcversion 1.20.1 -loader 0.14.21

# First startup
java -Xms4G -Xmx6G -jar fabric-server-launch.jar nogui

Configure Server Properties

Optimize settings for Better Minecraft:

Essential server.properties Settings:

# Basic settings
level-name=world
gamemode=survival
difficulty=normal
hardcore=false

# Enhanced world generation
level-type=minecraft\:normal
generate-structures=true
spawn-protection=16

# Performance optimization
view-distance=10
simulation-distance=8
max-players=20

# Better Minecraft features
allow-nether=true
allow-flight=false
enable-command-block=false

World Generation Features:

Enhanced biome generation with Biomes O' Plenty
Improved structure generation
Better cave and mountain generation
Custom ore distribution

Verify Key Mods

Ensure essential Better Minecraft mods are working:

Core Enhancement Mods:

Sodium: Rendering performance improvement
Lithium: Server-side performance optimization
Phosphor: Lighting engine optimization
Iris: Shader support
Mod Menu: Mod configuration interface

Content Addition Mods:

Biomes O' Plenty: New biomes and blocks
JEI (Just Enough Items): Recipe viewing
WAILA/WTHIT: Block information tooltips
Journey Map: Minimap and waypoints
AppleSkin: Food and hunger information

Optimize Performance Settings

Configure JVM and mod settings for best performance:

Optimized JVM Arguments:

# start.sh/start.bat for Better Minecraft
java -Xms4G -Xmx6G \
-XX:+UseG1GC \
-XX:+ParallelRefProcEnabled \
-XX:MaxGCPauseMillis=200 \
-XX:+UnlockExperimentalVMOptions \
-XX:+DisableExplicitGC \
-XX:+AlwaysPreTouch \
-XX:G1NewSizePercent=40 \
-XX:G1MaxNewSizePercent=50 \
-XX:G1HeapRegionSize=16M \
-XX:G1ReservePercent=15 \
-XX:G1HeapWastePercent=5 \
-XX:G1MixedGCCountTarget=4 \
-XX:InitiatingHeapOccupancyPercent=20 \
-XX:G1MixedGCLiveThresholdPercent=90 \
-XX:G1RSetUpdatingPauseTimePercent=5 \
-XX:SurvivorRatio=32 \
-XX:+PerfDisableSharedMem \
-XX:MaxTenuringThreshold=1 \
-jar fabric-server-launch.jar nogui

Fabric Server Optimizations:

Lithium automatically optimizes server performance
Starlight improves lighting calculations
FerriteCore reduces memory usage
LazyDFU speeds up startup times

Configure World Generation

Set up enhanced world generation features:

Biomes O' Plenty Configuration:

# config/biomesoplenty/biomes.json
{
  "world_generation": {
    "enable_bop_biomes": true,
    "enhanced_vanilla_biomes": true,
    "biome_size": "default"
  },
  "terrain_generation": {
    "enhanced_terrain": true,
    "realistic_world_type": false
  }
}

World Type Options:

Normal: Enhanced vanilla generation
Large Biomes: Bigger biome regions
Amplified: Extreme terrain generation
Single Biome: Entire world in one biome

Set Up Quality of Life Features

Configure convenience and QoL improvements:

Player Experience Enhancements:

Inventory Tweaks: Automatic inventory sorting
Mouse Tweaks: Improved inventory interactions
Roughly Enough Items: Recipe browser and search
WTHIT: Block and entity information overlay
Charm: Various quality of life improvements

JourneyMap Configuration:

# config/journeymap/journeymap.server.properties
# Server-side JourneyMap settings
enabled=true
policy-radar=true
policy-teleport-enabled=false
policy-create-waypoint=true
policy-death-waypoint=true

Test and Launch Server

Verify everything works correctly before opening to players:

Performance test: Monitor server TPS and memory usage
Mod functionality: Test key features like JEI recipes
World generation: Explore and verify new biomes spawn
Client compatibility: Test with Better Minecraft client
Optimization verification: Confirm performance improvements

Server monitoring commands:

# Check server performance
/debug start         # Start performance profiler
/debug stop          # Stop profiler and generate report
/perf start          # Alternative performance monitoring

# Fabric-specific commands
/fabric version      # Check Fabric and mod versions
/fabric mods         # List all loaded mods

Your Better Minecraft server is ready! Players will enjoy enhanced vanilla gameplay with improved performance, new biomes, and quality of life improvements while maintaining the classic Minecraft feel.

Better Minecraft Server Setup Guide