Vanilla Refresh is a Java Edition data pack that bundles more than 30 small quality-of-life changes into one download: sitting on blocks, a day counter above the hotbar, posable armor stands, wall-mounted tool racks, and a settings menu to toggle each feature individually. It runs as a plain data pack from Minecraft 1.18 through the current 1.21.x releases, so it drops straight into a world or server without a Fabric, Forge, or Quilt installation.
Installing Vanilla Refresh
- 1.Download the data pack file from the Vanilla Refresh project page on Modrinth.
- 2.Place the file in the world's datapacks folder for singleplayer, or the server's world/datapacks folder for multiplayer.
- 3.Run /reload in an already-open world, or restart the server so the pack loads.
- 4.Open the settings menu in chat with /function vanilla_refresh:_settings to enable or disable individual features.
What changes in-game
- Player sitting: face straight down, sneak, then right click to sit on the block below.
- Day counter: a typewriter-style counter shows the current day above the hotbar.
- Armor stand poses: swap poses on a placed armor stand by powering it with a lever.
- Tool racks: right click an armor stand holding an item with a tripwire hook to mount it on a wall.
- Player stats: check personal stats with /trigger stats, or view a nearby player's stats.
- Smaller tweaks: trimmed armor on some piglins, an improved death sound tied to the cause of death, and a baby zombie health nerf, each toggleable on its own.
Multiplayer and server use
The pack is built to run server-side, so a dedicated server only needs the file in its world/datapacks folder for every connected player to see the changes; no client-side installation is required. An optional companion resource pack exists solely to give creative-mode building wands distinct icons when the standalone data pack is used instead of the mod version, and it is not needed for any of the survival-facing features.
Supported Minecraft versions
The project maintains builds across the 1.18, 1.19, 1.20, and 1.21 release lines, with updates continuing into the current 1.21.x cycle. Match the downloaded file to the world's Minecraft version, since data pack format numbers change between major releases and an old pack format can silently fail to load on a newer version.
Questions about Vanilla Refresh.
5 questions
How do I install Vanilla Refresh?
Download the data pack from Modrinth and drop it into the world's datapacks folder for singleplayer, or the server's world/datapacks folder for multiplayer. Run /reload if the world is already open, then use /function vanilla_refresh:_settings to configure which features are active.
Does Vanilla Refresh work on multiplayer servers?
Yes. The pack runs server-side, so installing it on a dedicated server applies the changes to every connected player without any client-side setup. It works on singleplayer worlds and Realms in the same way, since it only needs the datapacks folder.
Can I turn off individual Vanilla Refresh features?
Yes. Running /function vanilla_refresh:_settings opens an in-game menu that toggles each of the more than 30 features on or off separately, so a server can keep features like the day counter while disabling others like the baby zombie health change.
Which Minecraft versions does Vanilla Refresh support?
The project maintains updates across the 1.18 through 1.21 release lines, including current 1.21.x builds. Download the file matching the world's Minecraft version, since data pack format numbers change between major releases.
Does Vanilla Refresh need a resource pack?
No. Every survival-facing feature works with a plain data pack and vanilla resources. A small optional resource pack exists only to label creative-mode building wands, and it has no effect on sitting, the day counter, armor stand poses, or the other gameplay tweaks.
