What Distant Horizons works with.
| Platform | Java Edition |
|---|---|
| Loaders | Fabric, Forge, NeoForge |
| Minecraft versions | 1.16.3, 1.16.4, 1.16.5, 1.17, 1.17.1, 1.18, 1.18.1, 1.18.2, 1.19, 1.19.1, 1.19.2, 1.19.3, 1.19.4, 1.20, 1.20.1, 1.20.2, 1.20.4, 1.20.6, 1.21, 1.21.1, 1.21.3, 1.21.4, 1.21.5, 1.21.6, 1.21.7, 1.21.8, 1.21.9, 1.21.10, 1.21.11 |
| Environment | Client, Server |
Distant Horizons replaces the grey void at the edge of Minecraft's render distance with a Level of Detail (LOD) rendering layer. Terrain beyond your standard draw distance is simplified and re-rendered so distant mountains, coastlines, and valleys stay visible instead of disappearing. The default LOD render distance is 64 chunks, but the setting can be pushed to 4096. The project notes that anything above 512 may demand significantly more RAM and GPU headroom.
- Loaders: Fabric and NeoForge track current Minecraft releases through 26.2; a separate Forge build stays capped at 1.20.4, still updated alongside the rest of the project (latest build published July 7, 2026)
- Runs client-side by default; a matching server install enables automatic LOD sync to players
- Compatible with modded terrain generators including Terralith
- A separate Bukkit server plugin is available at modrinth.com/plugin/distant-horizons-support
Client and Server Installation
With a client-only install, LODs are generated as you explore and saved between sessions. Your long-distance view improves the more of the world you load.
With the mod also running on the server, LODs are automatically pushed to any connected player who has Distant Horizons installed. This removes the need to pre-explore and delivers consistent long-distance views from the moment a player connects. Disabling distant generation on the server side stops automatic LOD delivery.
Shader Compatibility
OptiFine supports partial LOD rendering with forward-rendered shaders. For Iris, Distant Horizons 2.1.0 or newer is required alongside Iris 1.7 or later, and the shader pack itself must include Distant Horizons support. Packs without dedicated DH support will not render the LOD terrain layer correctly.
Questions about Distant Horizons.
3 questions
Which mod loader does Distant Horizons support?
For Minecraft 1.20.6 and newer, including the current 26.x releases, the mod ships as a combined Fabric and NeoForge jar. Forge support stops at 1.20.4, but that line isn't abandoned: a Forge build was published alongside the rest of the project's July 2026 release, so players stuck on 1.20.4 Forge are still covered.
Does it work on multiplayer servers?
Yes, in two ways. With a client-only install, LODs are saved locally as you explore the world. With the mod installed on the server as well, LODs are automatically synced to every connected player who has it installed. A separate Bukkit plugin handles compatibility with Bukkit-based server software.
Does it work with shader packs?
Partially. OptiFine works with forward-rendered shaders. Iris requires Distant Horizons 2.1.0 or newer paired with Iris 1.7 or later, and the shader pack must include DH support. Packs without it will not render the distant terrain layer correctly.
