Axiom is a Java Edition mod for editing worlds. You install it on Fabric with Fabric API, then press Right Shift in a creative world to open Editor Mode. Bedrock cannot load it, since Java mods never run on Bedrock, and Mojang's own Bedrock Editor is a separate tool.
Single-player use is unrestricted for non-commercial players. Multiplayer is where the licence terms start to matter, so read the server section before you plan a shared project.
What Axiom is and what it needs
Axiom is described as an all-in-one tool for editing Minecraft worlds. It aims to help you shape terrain, organic forms and structures faster, with real-time client-side previews. The most beginner-friendly tools live in Builder Mode, and the deeper ones in Editor Mode.
- Loader: Fabric only. Builds cover Minecraft 1.20 to 26.3, and the newest release is 6.1.3.
- Dependency: Fabric API is required by the newest release.
- Side: the client is optional and so is the server, but the mod is built around what you see on your own screen.
- Edition: Java only.
The trade-off is the terms of use. The project links no source code, and installing it means agreeing to the EULA on the creator's site. Professional builders who earn money from building are asked to buy a Commercial License.
How to install Axiom
The steps are the standard ones for a Fabric mod. If you have never set up a loader, start with how to install Fabric, then follow the general mod install guide. Grab the file from the Axiom page, which links to the project on Modrinth.
- 1.Install Fabric for the same Minecraft release as the Axiom file you picked.
- 2.Put the Axiom .jar and the Fabric API .jar in the `mods` folder inside `.minecraft` (the default game directory).
- 3.Launch Minecraft with the Fabric profile.
- 4.Create a new creative world.
In that world you should see a 10th hotbar slot holding an icon. If it is missing, run `/whynoaxiom` and follow what it tells you. If that fails, the Axiom Discord is where help is offered.
Turning on editor mode
Axiom has three default keybinds. All of them can be changed in Minecraft's Controls Menu.
- Right Shift opens and closes Editor Mode.
- Left Alt with the 10th hotbar slot selected opens the Builder Tools menu. Use the scroll wheel to move through the options.
- Left Alt with any hotbar slot from 0 to 9 selected opens the Context Menu.
Editor Mode borrows camera controls from 3D software, and you can rearrange its windows to suit your screen. Builder Mode is the gentler layer on top of ordinary Creative. It adds a Hotbar Swapper for switching between sets of materials, toggleable Capabilities, and a flight speed slider that goes up to 10x.
Selection and tools
Start with selection. Axiom offers cuboid and magic selection, and you can combine selections with boolean logic. Tool Masks add more control to the deeper Editor Mode tools, at the cost of a steeper learning curve.
The other tool groups in Editor Mode are worth knowing by name.
- Painting tools replace existing blocks instead of only adding new ones.
- Drawing tools sculpt and mold the world, with different placement algorithms for different effects.
- Heightmap tools change terrain in layers, an approach inspired by World Machine.
- Manipulation tools smooth, distort and refine terrain.
Using Axiom on servers
Rules depend on how you use it. Non-commercial players can use Axiom in single-player, on localhost servers, and on plot-based servers such as Builders Refuge and The Bakery without restrictions. For your own private multiplayer server, you can request a multiplayer whitelist through the Axiom Discord. Large public servers can request a permanent server whitelist by contacting Moulberry on Discord.
The Commercial License unlocks Multiplayer Support for collaborating on private build servers, custom server APIs such as server-side custom blocks, and Automatic History Persistence, which backs up changes Axiom makes to the world. To enable those features, Axiom sends a request containing your UUID to axiom.moulberry.com.
For how the two sides of a mod differ in general, see client-side vs server-side mods.
Frequently asked questions
Is Axiom free to use?
Non-commercial players can use it in single-player, on localhost servers and on plot-based servers without restrictions. People who make money through building in Minecraft are asked to buy a Commercial License. The Modrinth page also mentions backing the project on Patreon. Installing the mod means agreeing to its EULA.
What key opens Axiom Editor Mode?
Press Right Shift to open or close Editor Mode. Hold Left Alt to open the Context Menu, or to reach the Builder Tools menu when the 10th hotbar slot is selected. If the keys clash with another mod, you can rebind them in Minecraft's Controls Menu.
Why can't I see the Axiom hotbar slot?
In a new creative world, you should see a 10th hotbar slot with an icon. If it is missing, run `/whynoaxiom` in-game and follow the instructions it gives. If the problem continues, ask in the Axiom Discord. Also confirm Fabric API is in the `mods` folder and you launched the Fabric profile.
Does Axiom work on Bedrock or with Forge?
No. Axiom is a Java Edition mod, and the only loader with builds is Fabric, so it needs Fabric API. Bedrock has its own Editor, launched from the Creator Tools tab in the Minecraft Launcher. That is a different tool from Axiom.
