Friendly Chests(backport)
If you have ever played Minecraft 1.13 or later, you know the small joy of placing two chests side by side without a gap. Then you go back to 1.12.2 or 1.8.9 and suddenly every chest placement feels clumsy again. Friendly Chests(backport) solves exactly that problem by bringing modern chest behavior to older versions of the game.
What Friendly Chests(backport) Actually Does
This add-on is a faithful backport of the original Friendly Chests mod by jbredwards, created with the original author's permission. The concept is simple but transformative. When you place a chest next to another chest, the mod lets them sit adjacent to each other automatically. If you want to place a chest individually instead, you simply hold shift and right-click. That is the exact chest behavior introduced in Minecraft 1.13, now available in older versions.
The mod supports all properly coded chests and does not add any new blocks. That means it plays nicely with vanilla chests and most modded ones, keeping your world clean and your inventory uncluttered. It can be safely added to any existing world, though making a backup first is always a smart habit. Removing it from a world later, however, is likely to break things, so plan accordingly.
Supported Minecraft Versions and Loaders
Friendly Chests(backport) is built for Minecraft 1.12.2 and 1.8.9, two of the most popular modding versions still played today. It targets the Forge mod loader, which remains the standard for these older releases. If you are running a modpack on either version, this add-on slots in without drama. There is also a possibility of a future backport to 1.7.10, though nothing is confirmed yet.
Why Older Versions Still Matter
Plenty of players stick with 1.12.2 for its massive mod library, and 1.8.9 remains a favorite for PvP and lightweight setups. Friendly Chests(backport) for Minecraft respects those choices by delivering a quality-of-life feature that modern players take for granted. You do not need to abandon your favorite version just to get sensible chest placement.
How to Install Friendly Chests(backport)
Getting the mod running is straightforward. Follow these steps:
- Make sure you have Forge installed for Minecraft 1.12.2 or 1.8.9.
- Download Friendly Chests(backport) from a trusted source and place the file in your mods folder.
- Launch the game with the Forge profile selected.
- Load any existing world and start placing chests next to each other.
If you want to skip the manual steps, the foxygame.net launcher offers a one-click install for Friendly Chests(backport), pulling the correct build straight from its curated add-on catalog. That same launcher also handles automatic version compatibility checks, so you never end up with a mismatched file. It is a convenient option for players who would rather not dig through folders.
Compatibility and Practical Tips
Because the mod does not introduce new blocks, conflicts are rare. Still, if you run a heavily modded pack, test it alongside your other chest-related mods. If you spot a bug or a conflict, reporting it helps keep the backport stable for everyone. Modpack developers distributing outside CurseForge or Modrinth should use File Director to avoid reuploading the mod's files.
One important note: always back up your world before adding or removing any mod. Friendly Chests(backport) is safe to add to existing saves, but removal can corrupt chest data. Treat your backups like insurance, because they are.
Final Thoughts
Friendly Chests(backport) is one of those small mods that quietly improves every session. It removes a daily annoyance, respects the original design, and works across two beloved Minecraft versions. Whether you are building a storage room in 1.12.2 or setting up a base in 1.8.9, this backport makes chest placement feel modern again. Download Friendly Chests(backport), drop it into your mods folder, and enjoy the smoother building experience.