Smooth Scrolling
Minecraft's interface has always been functional, but it has never been particularly graceful. Lists snap into place, the hotbar selector jumps between slots, and chat history lurches upward in chunky steps. Smooth Scrolling changes all of that. This client-side mod introduces fluid, animated transitions across nearly every scrollable element in the game, turning routine menu navigation into something that simply feels better.
Originally created by SmajloSlovakian for Fabric, the mod now has an unofficial Forge port maintained by a separate developer. The port preserves the original behavior and configuration format while bringing the same polished experience to Forge players.
What Smooth Scrolling Actually Changes
The core idea is simple: instead of teleporting instantly to a new scroll position, the interface glides there. That single change ripples through dozens of screens you interact with every session.
Chat and Hotbar
- Chat: scroll through message history with a smooth, weighted motion, plus an animated open and close transition when you press T or Enter.
- Hotbar: the selection indicator slides between slots rather than blinking, with an optional rollover effect that carries the selector from the last slot back to the first.
Inventories and Menus
- Creative inventory: pixel-precise scrolling through the item grid, which makes browsing large creative tabs far less tedious.
- Menu lists: world selection, server lists, resource packs, options, and other list-based screens all receive the same treatment.
- Command suggestions: the autocomplete popup animates as you cycle through candidates, keeping the selection readable at speed.
None of these features affect gameplay balance or server behavior. Everything is client-side, so it works on any server and does not need to be installed by anyone else.
Supported Minecraft Versions and Loaders
The Forge port tracks modern Minecraft releases closely. Current support covers Minecraft Forge 1.20.1 (47+), 1.20.2 (48+), 1.20.3 through 1.20.4 (49+), 1.20.6 (50+), 1.21 through 1.21.1 (51+), 1.21.3 (53+), 1.21.4 (54+), 1.21.5 (55+), 1.21.6 through 1.21.8 (56+), 1.21.9 through 1.21.10 (59+), 1.21.11 (61+), 26.1 through 26.1.2 (62+), and 26.2 (65+).
A NeoForge port is planned, though no release date has been confirmed yet. If you play on Fabric rather than Forge, the original version of the mod remains available and shares the same configuration format, so settings carry over cleanly between the two.
Configuration and Tuning
Smooth Scrolling is adjustable, which matters because "smooth" is subjective. The config file lives at .minecraft/config/smoothscroll.json. After editing it, press F3 + T in a world to reload the changes without restarting the game.
Smoothness values range from 0 to 1:
- 0 disables the animation entirely, restoring vanilla instant scrolling.
- 1 produces the slowest, most pronounced glide.
- Values in between let you dial in a subtle polish or a deliberately floaty feel.
Because the format is shared with the Fabric release, you can copy an existing config between loaders without rewriting anything.
How to Install Smooth Scrolling for Minecraft
Installation follows the standard Forge add-on process:
- Confirm you are running a supported Minecraft version with a matching Forge build.
- Place the mod file into your
modsfolder inside the Minecraft directory. - Launch the game using the Forge profile and verify the mod appears in the mod list.
- Optionally open the config file afterward and tune the smoothness values to taste.
If you would rather skip manual file management, the foxygame.net launcher handles the whole process in a single click, pulling Smooth Scrolling from its curated add-on catalog and keeping it updated automatically whenever a new Forge build drops.
When you download Smooth Scrolling, grab the build that matches your exact Minecraft version, since each Forge release targets a specific range. Mismatched versions are the most common cause of a mod that refuses to load.
Final Thoughts
Smooth Scrolling is one of those quality-of-life mods that quietly improves every session. It does not add content, mobs, or mechanics. It simply makes the parts of Minecraft you already use every day feel considered rather than abrupt. For players who spend time in creative mode, manage large server lists, or rely on chat during multiplayer, the difference is immediately noticeable. Both the original mod and this Forge port are licensed under GPL-3.0-only, and credit for the concept belongs entirely to the original creator.