(Discontinued) Hotbars+
Even though it has been officially archived in favor of its successor Librarian, (Discontinued) Hotbars+ remains a fascinating and still-functional mod for Minecraft that revolutionized how players manage their toolbars. If you have ever felt limited by the single saved hotbar in vanilla, this add-on opens up a world of practically infinite storage, letting you organize gear, blocks, and consumables across dozens of pages. While the mod is no longer updated, it continues to work on a wide range of versions, and understanding its capabilities can help you decide whether to stick with it or migrate to the newer Librarian.
What Is (Discontinued) Hotbars+ for Minecraft?
(Discontinued) Hotbars+ for Minecraft is a client-side mod that dramatically expands the vanilla hotbar saving system. Normally, you can save only one hotbar configuration to the creative inventory, but this mod hijacks that mechanism and replaces the single hotbar.nbt file with a multi-page system. Each page acts as an independent saved hotbar, allowing you to store countless loadouts and switch between them on the fly. Whether you are a builder who needs quick access to different block palettes or an adventurer juggling potions, tools, and weapons, this mod eliminates the need to manually rearrange your inventory every time.
Key Features of (Discontinued) Hotbars+
- Practically infinite storage capacity through a paged hotbar file system.
- Quick hotswapping of saved hotbars with simple keybinds or commands.
- Rudimentary backup system to prevent accidental loss of your layouts.
- Multi-version support spanning Minecraft releases from 1.14.4 all the way to 1.20.2.
- Lightweight and focused, with minimal performance impact.
How (Discontinued) Hotbars+ Works
Under the hood, the mod intercepts the way Minecraft reads and writes the saved hotbar data. Instead of using the default hotbar.nbt file, it creates and manages separate files for each page you create. When you switch pages, the mod hot-swaps the active file, making the transition seamless. This approach means you can have a dedicated hotbar for mining, another for combat, and a third for redstone tinkering, all without cluttering your creative inventory. The backup system periodically copies your hotbar files, so if something goes wrong, you can restore a previous state.
How to Install (Discontinued) Hotbars+
To get started with a download (Discontinued) Hotbars+, you will need a modded Minecraft environment. The mod is built for the Fabric loader, so your first step is to install Fabric for your chosen game version. For most versions, you will also need the Fabric API library placed in your mods folder. Once those prerequisites are in place, simply download the (Discontinued) Hotbars+ .jar file from a trusted mod repository and move it into the same mods folder. Launch the game, and the mod will automatically activate, giving you access to the /hotbars+ command and configurable keybinds.
If you prefer a more automated approach, the foxygame.net launcher includes (Discontinued) Hotbars+ in its extensive add-on catalog. With a single click, the launcher handles the entire setup—installing the correct Fabric loader, matching the required Fabric API version, and placing the mod file exactly where it needs to go. This eliminates manual version hunting and ensures that even a discontinued mod runs smoothly on your selected Minecraft release.
Version Compatibility and Loader Requirements
(Discontinued) Hotbars+ supports an impressive range of Minecraft versions, from 1.14.4 through 1.20.2. The exact dependencies vary slightly depending on which version you are running. In general, you will need the Fabric loader and, for most modern releases, the Fabric API. Some older versions may require additional library mods, but the mod will still launch without them—though client-side commands like /hotbars+ may not function. Always check the mod’s documentation for the specific requirements tied to your Minecraft version. Because the mod is discontinued, no further updates will be released, but the existing builds remain stable and fully usable on their target versions.
Why Migrate to Librarian?
While (Discontinued) Hotbars+ still works, the developer strongly recommends migrating to Librarian, its direct successor. Librarian is a drop-in replacement that offers all the same hotbar paging features plus a host of new improvements, including a more intuitive interface, better backup management, and extended mod compatibility. Since Librarian is actively maintained, it will continue to receive updates for future Minecraft versions, making it the smarter long-term choice. If you are currently using (Discontinued) Hotbars+, the transition is painless—simply remove the old mod and install Librarian, and your existing hotbar pages will be recognized automatically.
Conclusion
(Discontinued) Hotbars+ for Minecraft may be archived, but it remains a testament to clever modding that solves a real inventory headache. Its infinite hotbar pages and rapid swapping can still enhance your gameplay on versions from 1.14.4 to 1.20.2, and installing it is straightforward with Fabric. However, for anyone starting fresh or looking for ongoing support, Librarian is the clear upgrade path. Whether you choose to stick with the classic or embrace the new, the ability to save and switch between countless hotbar layouts will forever change how you play Minecraft.