Xaero's World Map Mod (1.21.11, 1.20.4) – Trace Your Footsteps

Xaero's World Map is a client-side utility mod that adds a full-screen, self-writing world map to Minecraft, allowing players to view and track every area they have explored across singleplayer, multiplayer, and Realms. It is available for Fabric, Forge, NeoForge, and Quilt mod loaders.

Vanilla Minecraft gives you almost nothing when it comes to navigation. Paper maps are tedious to craft, limited in scope, and nearly useless once you start exploring thousands of blocks from spawn. For players who build across multiple biomes, run large multiplayer servers, or simply hate getting lost, the lack of a proper world map is a real frustration. Xaero's World Map solves this by generating a detailed, zoomable full-screen map as you explore — no crafting required. With over 62 million downloads on Modrinth alone, it has become one of the most popular navigation mods in the entire Minecraft ecosystem. The mod is designed to work as a standalone addition, but it truly shines when paired with Xaero's Minimap for a complete navigation suite.

Key Features of Xaero's World Map

• Self-Writing World Map — Unlike vanilla paper maps that require manual crafting and placement, Xaero's World Map automatically records terrain as you move through the world. This means you can focus on exploring and building without stopping to manage map items. You can also create and switch between multiple maps on the same server, which is invaluable for servers with distinct world sections.
• Intuitive Google Maps-Style Controls — Open the map by pressing M, drag to pan, and scroll to zoom in and out. The interface feels instantly familiar to anyone who has used a modern web map. All keybinds are listed on-screen and fully customizable, so you can tailor the controls to your play style.
• Cross-Platform Compatibility — The mod works across singleplayer worlds, multiplayer servers, and Minecraft Realms. Whether you are running a private survival world or connecting to a large public server, the map functions identically. This consistency makes it a set-and-forget addition to your mod folder.
• Server-Side Configuration and Permission Support — Server administrators can control exactly how players interact with the map through an in-game UI. Permissions integrate with popular systems like LuckPerms, FTB Ranks, and Odyssey Roles, giving server owners granular control. This makes the mod suitable for competitive servers where full map visibility might need restrictions.
• Chunk Claim Integration — When used alongside the Open Parties and Claims mod, Xaero's World Map displays chunk claims and allied players directly on the map. You can even claim or forceload chunks from the map screen itself, turning the world map into a territory management tool rather than just a navigation aid.
• Cave and Nether Dimension Support — The map properly handles cave dimensions like the Nether, rendering underground and alternate-dimension terrain accurately. Players who spend significant time in the Nether or modded dimensions will appreciate not losing their bearings in enclosed spaces where the sky is not visible.
• Resource Pack and Vanilla Map Mode — Changing your resource pack automatically regenerates the world map to match the new textures, keeping the visual style consistent. There is also an optional vanilla maps mode that renders the world map in the style of traditional Minecraft paper maps, which is a nice touch for players who prefer that classic aesthetic.

Screenshots

How to Install Xaero's World Map

1. Install your preferred mod loader. Xaero's World Map supports Fabric, Minecraft Forge, NeoForge, and Quilt. Download and run the installer for whichever loader matches your Minecraft version.
2. Download the correct version of Xaero's World Map for your Minecraft version and mod loader from the official Modrinth page or the download section below.
3. Place the downloaded .jar file into your .minecraft/mods folder. If the folder does not exist, launch Minecraft once with your mod loader profile to generate it.
4. Launch Minecraft using your mod loader profile. Once in-game, press M to open the world map and confirm the mod is working.
5. (Optional) For the best experience, also install Xaero's Minimap — the two mods are designed to complement each other and share waypoint data.

Requirements & Compatibility

What's New

• The mod continues to receive active updates, with the latest release supporting Minecraft 1.21.11 across all four major mod loaders.
• Ongoing compatibility updates ensure the mod works with the newest Minecraft snapshots and stable releases shortly after they launch.
• Server-side permission integration has been expanded to support additional rank systems including Odyssey Roles.
• Bug fixes and performance improvements are published regularly — full changelogs are available on the official changelog page.

Pros and Cons

Alternatives to Xaero's World Map

• JourneyMap — A feature-rich mapping mod that includes both a minimap and full-screen world map in a single package, with a web-based map viewer for viewing your world in a browser.
• Xaero's Minimap — The companion minimap mod from the same developer, designed to work seamlessly alongside Xaero's World Map for a complete navigation solution with waypoints and entity radar.
• VoxelMap — A long-standing Minecraft minimap and world map mod that offers mob radar, waypoint teleportation, and cave mapping in an all-in-one lightweight package.

Download Xaero's World Map

Always download mods from official sources to stay safe.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Xaero's World Map client-side only?

Yes — Xaero's World Map is primarily a client-side mod, so you do not need to install it on the server. However, installing it server-side is optional and unlocks additional features like automatic world identification and server-enforced permission settings through rank-based systems like LuckPerms.

Does Xaero's World Map work with Xaero's Minimap?

Yes — the two mods are designed by the same developer to work together seamlessly. Running both gives you a minimap in the corner during gameplay and a full-screen world map when you press M. They share waypoint data and world map information, providing a complete navigation system.

Can I use Xaero's World Map on multiplayer servers?

Yes — the mod works on multiplayer servers and Minecraft Realms without requiring any server-side installation. Since it runs on the client, you can add it to your mods folder and join any server. Server administrators can optionally install it server-side to manage player permissions and control map features.

What mod loaders does Xaero's World Map support?

All four major mod loaders are supported: Fabric, Forge, NeoForge, and Quilt. Each new Minecraft version typically receives builds for all four loaders, so you can use whichever loader fits your existing mod setup without compatibility concerns.

Is XaeroPlus compatible with Xaero's World Map?

No — XaeroPlus is a third-party addon that is not affiliated with the original developer and is known to cause critical bugs and crashes. The mod author explicitly warns against using XaeroPlus, as it can introduce untrackable issues and has been linked to server griefing concerns. Stick with the official Xaero's World Map and Xaero's Minimap for a stable experience.

Why is my singleplayer world map generating slowly?

Unoptimized world saves are the most common cause. Navigate to Singleplayer, select your world, click Edit, then Optimize World to convert it to your current Minecraft version's format. You should repeat this optimization after every Minecraft version update, as outdated chunk data forces the mod to work significantly harder when generating map tiles.

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