Java Fabric 1.21.10 Loom

Create Your First Fabric Mod for Minecraft 1.21.10 (2026)

Start Fabric modding in 2026 for Minecraft 1.21.10: Java prerequisites, Loom, project setup, running the client, adding a first item, and building the JAR.

20 min read
Updated May 2026
Intermediate
2026 accuracy note This guide was built from current official documentation checked on May 2026. For preview APIs, always re-check the linked official docs before shipping a public download.

Who should use Fabric

Fabric is a lightweight mod loader and toolchain for Minecraft Java modding. It is a good fit when you want fast updates, a smaller API surface, and direct control over your mod code.

2026 toolchain

The official Fabric documentation currently targets Minecraft 1.21.10. You should be comfortable with Java and object-oriented programming before starting.

Use a current JDK, an IDE such as IntelliJ IDEA or VS Code, Gradle, Fabric Loader, Fabric API when your feature needs it, and Loom for development/build tasks.

Create the project

Start from the official Fabric template or generator, then open the Gradle project in your IDE. Let Gradle finish importing before editing code; the first import can take a while.

Run the client

Use the generated run configuration or the Gradle task `runClient` to launch a development client. Keep a separate test world for your mod so failed experiments do not damage normal saves.

Example
./gradlew runClient
./gradlew runServer

First item plan

For a first mod, add one item, one item model, one texture, one translation entry, and one creative tab entry. Do not start with dimensions or complex rendering; prove your registry and asset pipeline first.

Build the mod

When the mod runs in development, build the JAR and test the shortest non-dev JAR from `build/libs` in a clean Fabric profile.

Example
./gradlew build

Official sources checked

These are the official or primary references used to keep this tutorial current: