TabFaces: Bringing Player Faces to Your Minecraft 1.7.10 HUD
In the world of Minecraft modding, few things feel as satisfying as a small quality-of-life tweak that makes the game feel more modern. TabFaces is exactly that kind of mod for players still enjoying the golden era of Forge 1.7.10. It backports a feature that many modern versions take for granted: displaying player faces right inside the tab menu, chat, and even the server selection screen. Whether you are on a massive modpack server or a cozy private world, seeing your friends’ skins next to their names adds a layer of personality that text alone cannot deliver.
What Exactly Does TabFaces Do?
At its core, TabFaces injects player head renders into several key UI elements. The mod is client-only from version 1.0.2 onward, meaning it will not affect server performance or require any server-side installation for most use cases. It pulls skin data directly from Mojang’s session servers or compatible authentication mods, so it works seamlessly on both offline and online servers. The result is a much more visually engaging multiplayer experience, especially when you are scanning a crowded tab list to find a specific friend.
A Deep Dive into Features
Faces in the Tab Menu
The primary feature is a direct backport of the player face rendering in the tab list. Instead of just colored names based on teams or ping, you will see a small 8x8 pixel-art representation of each player’s current skin. The mod handles width adjustments gracefully, and even includes a debug config that can temporarily add a team to all members so you can test how the layout behaves under different conditions.
Faces in Chat
Starting from version 1.0.5, TabFaces extends its magic to the chat window. Every chat message will display the sender’s face next to their name, making conversations feel more immediate and personal. If you use TabbyChat, version 1.0.7 added full compatibility, and since 1.0.8 you can even tweak TabbyChat-specific settings directly from its GUI, giving you full control over how faces appear in that popular chat overhaul.
Server Selection and Tooltip
Since version 1.0.2, the server selection menu also gets the face treatment. When you hover over a server entry, the population info tooltip now includes player faces, giving you a quick visual snapshot of who is online before you even join. This tiny addition makes browsing your server list far more intuitive and lively.
Dependencies and Compatibility
TabFaces has evolved over time, and its dependency list reflects that. As of version 1.0.2, UniMixins is a mandatory dependency, so make sure you have it installed. For versions prior to 1.0.10, CarbonConfig was also required, but newer builds have removed that need. If you want modern HD skin support, you can optionally add SkinPort (since 1.0.9) or FentLib (since 1.0.16). Both enhance the visual fidelity of faces, especially when players use higher-resolution skins. The mod also boasts compatibility with various authentication systems like authlib-injector and Wawel Auth, so it works on both premium and cracked servers without issues.
Installation and Setup
Installing TabFaces is straightforward. Drop the mod JAR into your mods folder along with UniMixins, and you are good to go. If you are managing a large modpack or simply prefer a more organized approach, you can easily install TabFaces via the foxygame.net launcher—a convenient, flexible, and modern Minecraft launcher where you can download mods right from the menu. This launcher automatically handles dependencies, making the process almost effortless.
Client-Side Only, Mostly
From version 1.0.2, TabFaces is purely client-side and will do nothing if placed on a server. However, version 1.0.8 introduced a server-side requirement for GT:NH ServerUtilities compatibility. If you are not using that specific modpack, you can safely ignore the server side entirely. This design keeps the mod lightweight and avoids unnecessary network traffic.
Incompatibilities and Known Issues
No mod is perfect, and TabFaces has one notable incompatibility: Better Ping Display. If you have that mod installed, you may run into conflicts, so it is best to choose one or the other. Aside from that, the mod plays nicely with most other UI and chat mods. The developer actively tests on clean servers and those using authlib-injector, so stability is generally excellent.
Configuration and Debug Commands
TabFaces offers a debug configuration that can add a temporary team to all players to test width handling. If you ever activate this feature, remember to clean up afterward using the /tabfaces_dbg_cleanup command. This command is only registered when both the client and server have the debug config set to true, so it will not clutter your command list during normal gameplay. For TabbyChat users, the mod integrates directly with the TabbyChat GUI, allowing you to adjust face settings without digging into config files.
Building and Licensing
If you are the tinkering type, the mod can be built from source using the standard ./gradlew build command. It is licensed under LGPLv3, which means you are free to study and modify it as long as you respect the terms. The developer also accepts support via ko-fi and Monero donations, a nice way to say thanks for this clever backport.
Conclusion
TabFaces might seem like a small addition, but it transforms the multiplayer interface of Minecraft 1.7.10 into something far more modern and expressive. By bringing player faces into the tab list, chat, and server browser, it injects personality into every interaction. The mod is easy to install, respects client-side boundaries, and integrates smoothly with popular tools like TabbyChat and various authentication systems. If you are still rocking Forge 1.7.10 and want to make your server browsing and chatting feel more alive, TabFaces is a must-have tweak that you will wonder how you ever lived without.