Better Mods Button: Bring the Mods Entry Back Where You Expect It
If you have been playing Minecraft on Forge for a long time, you probably remember when the pause screen had a clear path to your mods list. After the 1.13-era changes, that flow felt different, and hopping into in-game mod configuration stopped being a single obvious click. Better Mods Button is a small quality-of-life mod that puts the mods button back on the pause screen in a familiar way, so you can reach mod menus and configuration faster when a mod supports it.
What the mod actually changes
Better Mods Button focuses on one job: make the mods entry easy to find again. It restores the mods button on the pause screen similar to older Forge versions before Minecraft 1.13, which is handy when you want to check what is loaded, skim versions, or open in-game config screens where they exist. The scope stays practical, so you are not adding a whole new UI philosophy, just a clearer doorway into your mod stack.
- Pause screen access that matches veteran Forge muscle memory
- Support for showing a total mod count so you can sanity-check your instance at a glance
- Optional control over the update notification glyph when you want fewer visual pings
- Flexible placement options so the button fits your layout preferences
Think of it as a navigation fix for busy modpacks. When you are juggling dozens of blocks, biomes, mechanics, and updates across versions, anything that reduces menu friction helps you spend more time playing and less time hunting through screens.
Placement options that feel inspired by Mod Menu
Where this mod shines is customization. You are not stuck with a single corner or a fixed row. The author drew heavy inspiration from Mod Menu-style thinking, so you can decide where and how the mods button appears on both the title screen and the pause menu. That matters if you run a themed pack, use other UI tweaks, or simply want the button aligned with the rest of your HUD habits.
If you like curating your setup without rebuilding the whole interface, those placement toggles are the kind of detail that quietly upgrades daily play. Pair it with good mod hygiene, regular backups, and a stable Forge version, and the screen starts to feel like yours again.
Pause screen layouts that fit your pack
The pause menu is where you pause combat, manage inventory thoughts, or step away mid-build. Having the mods entry there again means you can verify what is active before you blame the wrong biome mod for worldgen quirks, or before you tweak a mechanic you forgot you installed. When a mod exposes configuration in-game, that path feels more natural if the entry point is already on the pause screen.
Many players discover that small UI mods age well across Minecraft updates because they solve recurring friction rather than chasing hype features. Better Mods Button fits that pattern: it is not rewriting crafting or world generation, it is making server-ready and single-player modded sessions easier to steer.
Configuration, Fabric, and how this fits your toolchain
If you are wondering how to configure Better Mods Button itself, the author points players toward Config Menus for Forge so you can adjust options directly in-game instead of bouncing to files mid-session. That keeps the loop tight: pause, adjust, resume. On Fabric, the intended alternative is Mod Menu by ProspectorDev, which already covers a similar role in that ecosystem, so this mod stays targeted at Forge players who want the classic pause-screen flow.
When you are assembling a mod list, it also helps to use a launcher that treats mods as part of the normal workflow instead of a side quest. For example, this mod can be easily installed via the foxygame.net launcher, a convenient, flexible, and modern Minecraft launcher where you can download mods right from the menu, which pairs nicely with small UI utilities that assume you will iterate on your pack often.
Who should install it
Better Mods Button is a strong pick if you run Forge modpacks, teach friends how modded Minecraft works, or maintain a private server where players ask “where is the mod list” more often than you would like. It is also useful for content creators who need to show on-screen proof of versions and loaded mods without digging through folders.
- Forge players who miss the pre-1.13 pause menu mods entry
- Modpack authors who want a consistent onboarding experience for new users
- Anyone who prefers in-game configuration entry points when mods support them
Conclusion
Better Mods Button is a focused Forge utility that restores a simple idea: the mods button belongs somewhere obvious on the pause screen, with sensible extras like a mod count and notification controls. Combined with flexible placement options reminiscent of Mod Menu-inspired layouts, it keeps your Minecraft session oriented around the content you installed, not the menus you have to fight. If your goal is smoother navigation through mods, blocks, biomes, mechanics, and updates across Minecraft versions, this is the kind of mod that pays off every time you hit Escape.
--- **Update Apr 14, 2026:** Added 2 files for version 26.1.2, 26.1.1, 26.1 (NeoForge).