Forge 1.20.1 is a popular combination for big modpacks, and many animation-heavy mods built for it rely on Player Animation Mod. This page walks through a clean Player animation mod 1.20.1 Forge install.
Before you start
- You own and use Minecraft: Java Edition.
- You have a Forge profile for 1.20.1, or you are about to create one.
- You know which mod needs the library. Check that mod's page for any library version requirement.
Step 1: Install Forge for 1.20.1
Use the official Forge installer for 1.20.1 and choose "Install client". Open your launcher, select the new Forge profile and start the game once. This creates the mods folder in your game directory. Close the game.
Step 2: Get the Forge build of the library
Download the library file built for Forge and 1.20.1. A Fabric file will not load on Forge. Our download guide explains how to confirm the right file.
Step 3: Add it to the mods folder
Move the .jar file into the mods folder. Leave it zipped. Remove any older copy of the library first, because it should only be loaded once.
Step 4: Add the mod that depends on it
Place the dependent mod (for example an emote or animation mod built for Forge 1.20.1) in the same folder. Some mods bundle the library inside their own jar. If yours does, you may not need a separate file. The mod's description will say so.
Step 5: Launch and test
Start the Forge 1.20.1 profile. If the game reaches the main menu, open the mod list and check that both the library and the dependent mod appear. Join a world and trigger an animation from the dependent mod.
If Forge shows a dependency screen listing playerAnimator, the file is missing, is not a Forge build, or is a different game version.
Forge-specific tips
- Forge reports missing dependencies clearly. Read the screen before closing it; it names the mod and the version range it expects.
- Crash reports are saved in the
crash-reportsfolder, and the full log is inlogs/latest.log. - On a Forge server, install the same library file on the server and on every client.
Related reading
Using another loader? See Fabric, NeoForge and Quilt installation. For general version advice on this release, read Player Animation Mod for Minecraft 1.20.1.
