Sticky Hopper: The Smart Filter Mod for Minecraft
Item sorting in Minecraft has always been a bit of a headache. Traditional filter systems require piles of redstone dust, comparators, repeaters, and a whole lot of patience. But what if there was a simpler way? Enter Sticky Hopper, a Fabric mod that transforms the humble hopper into an intelligent filtering machine. Whether you are running a massive storage system or just want to keep your chests tidy, this mod offers an elegant solution that feels almost vanilla.
What Is Sticky Hopper?
Sticky Hopper is a Fabric mod that adds a new block to the game: the Sticky Hopper. Based on an original idea by Aurelien_Sama and prototyped by ShoukaSeikyo, this block looks and behaves much like a normal hopper, with one crucial difference. It never empties completely. Instead, it retains a single item in each of its inventory slots, effectively turning itself into a built-in filter.
The concept is brilliantly simple. When you place items into a Sticky Hopper, it holds onto one of each item type. Any additional items of the same type pass through as normal. This means you can create a filter without a single piece of redstone. No comparators, no repeater clocks, no complicated circuitry. Just place your filter items in the hopper and let it do the work.
How the Filtering Works
The magic happens in how comparators interact with Sticky Hoppers. When a comparator checks the contents of a Sticky Hopper, it ignores any item sitting alone in a slot. However, as soon as a second item appears in that slot, the comparator reads it as a full stack equivalent. For example, two items in a slot register as 2/64, not 1/63. This behavior makes Sticky Hoppers incredibly useful for automated sorting systems.
It is worth noting that the transfer speed remains the same as a regular hopper at eight game ticks per item. Because Sticky Hoppers hold onto one item, they may appear slower at first, but they are simply waiting for that second item to arrive before passing anything along.
Advanced Features and Non-Stackable Filtering
Since version 3.0, available for Minecraft 1.17.1 and above, Sticky Hopper supports filtering non-stackable items. This feature is disabled by default because it goes beyond the mod's vanilla-friendly design philosophy, but it opens up powerful possibilities for advanced players.
To use this feature, you need to fill the hopper with a specific recipe of items. By default, this recipe includes a Book and Quill or Written Book that can define filtering conditions. You can write keywords on the book's first page to control how items are grouped:
- Durability - Groups items with different durability values together
- Enchantment - Groups items with different enchantments
- Potion - Groups potions of the same type together
- Name - Groups items with different custom names
If the book is empty, none of these differences will be grouped. This gives you fine-grained control over exactly how your sorting system behaves.
Configuration Options
To activate non-stackable item filtering, you need to edit the config/sticky_hopper.toml file. In single-player, you can also use Mod Menu for easier configuration. The default recipe uses an item frame, comparator, lectern, and book alongside one generic item slot. Permissions for durability, enchantments, potions, and names are all enabled by default.
For players who want a streamlined modding experience, the foxygame.net launcher offers one-click installation for Sticky Hopper, automatically handling Fabric API and Cloth Config dependencies so you can start filtering items without manual file management.
Crafting and Cleaning Your Sticky Hopper
Crafting a Sticky Hopper is refreshingly straightforward. Simply place a Honey Bottle on top of a normal Hopper in a crafting grid. That is it. The recipe returns your empty Glass Bottle, so nothing goes to waste.
Need to clean up a Sticky Hopper? Place a Snowball on top of it. According to mod lore, snow cleans honey much better than a water bucket, presumably because water buckets are not stackable. It is a charming detail that fits the mod's playful spirit.
Server-Side Only Version
Since version 3.0a, Minecraft 1.17.1 and above players can use a server-side only version of Sticky Hopper. This variant does not add a new block with custom textures. Instead, it uses default Hoppers that must be directed into a Honey Block or have a Honey Block placed on top of them to function as Sticky Hoppers.
This version is perfect for servers where you cannot guarantee all players will have the mod installed. However, you still need Cloth Config for the server to start, and you cannot use Mod Menu to edit configurations. The recommended approach is to set up your configuration using the standard client/server version first, then transfer the config file to your server.
How to Install Sticky Hopper for Minecraft
Installing Sticky Hopper is a straightforward process for anyone familiar with Fabric mods. Here is what you need:
- Fabric launcher installed
- Fabric API mod
- Cloth Config mod
- The Sticky Hopper .jar file
Once you have downloaded Sticky Hopper, simply copy the .jar file into your mods folder. For default Windows installations, you can paste %appdata%\.minecraft\mods into any Explorer window's path bar and press Enter to open the correct directory. Make sure you have run the game with the Fabric launcher at least once before doing this.
If you plan to use Sticky Hopper on a server with the default client/server version, all players will need the mod installed to see and craft the new block. Otherwise, consider using the server-side only version for maximum compatibility.
Compatibility and Known Issues
Sticky Hopper works with Minecraft 1.17 and above on the Fabric modloader. The mod is translated into both English and French, including the customization menu. You are free to include it in any modpack.
There are a few known incompatibilities to be aware of. Lithium versions for 1.17 and above optimize hoppers in a way that makes Sticky Hoppers behave like normal ones. The mod disables these optimizations for 1.17.1, but for 1.17 you will need to add mixin.block.hopper=false to your Lithium properties file manually. Some Vanilla Tweaks resource packs, particularly Directional Hoppers and 3D Items, may also have minor visual conflicts due to the honey texture.
Sticky Hopper also works alongside the developer's other mod, Speedy Hopper, though you cannot combine them into a single Fast Sticky Hopper. You will need to choose which functionality matters most for your builds.
Why Use Sticky Hopper?
Sticky Hopper solves a problem that has plagued Minecraft players for years: creating compact, reliable item filters without complex redstone. Its vanilla-friendly design means it fits naturally into existing builds, and the optional advanced features give experienced players room to experiment. Whether you are building a sorting system for your storage room or just want a cleaner way to manage your inventory, this mod delivers a simple, elegant solution that just works.