How do you install and use Sodium in Minecraft?

Who this is for: Minecraft players experiencing low frame rates or wanting to optimize their game’s performance without changing core gameplay.


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What is Sodium and Why Use It?

Sodium is a powerful optimization mod for Minecraft that dramatically improves your game’s performance by rewriting the rendering engine. Unlike OptiFine, Sodium focuses purely on performance gains, often doubling or tripling your frame rates without changing gameplay mechanics. It’s particularly beneficial for players with lower-end hardware or those wanting smoother gameplay on higher settings.

Installing Sodium: Step-by-Step Process

Before installing Sodium, you’ll need Fabric Loader since Sodium is a Fabric mod. Here’s how to get everything set up:

Step 1: Install Fabric Loader

Download the Fabric installer from the official Fabric website. Run the installer, select your Minecraft version (1.16.1 or newer), and click install. This creates a new Fabric profile in your Minecraft launcher.

Step 2: Download Sodium

Visit Modrinth or CurseForge to download the latest Sodium version compatible with your Minecraft version. Make sure the mod version matches your game version exactly to avoid compatibility issues.

Step 3: Install the Mod

Navigate to your Minecraft directory and locate the “mods” folder. If it doesn’t exist, create it. Simply drag the downloaded Sodium .jar file into this folder. No extraction or additional setup required.

Launching Minecraft with Sodium

Open your Minecraft launcher and select the Fabric profile from the dropdown menu. Launch the game normally. You’ll notice Sodium is working when you see improved performance and new video settings options in the game menu.

Optimizing Sodium Settings

Once in-game, access Video Settings to find Sodium’s optimization options:

  • Render Distance: Start with 12-16 chunks and adjust based on performance
  • Graphics Quality: Use “Fast” for maximum performance or “Fancy” if you have headroom
  • Smooth Lighting: Keep enabled for better visuals with minimal performance impact
  • Biome Blend: Set to 5×5 or lower for better performance

Troubleshooting Common Issues

If Minecraft crashes on startup, verify your Sodium version matches your Minecraft version. Some players experience issues when mixing Sodium with OptiFine – these mods are incompatible and shouldn’t be used together. For shader support, consider using Iris alongside Sodium instead of OptiFine.

Performance Tips and Best Practices

Sodium works best when paired with other optimization mods like Lithium (server optimization) and Phosphor (lighting optimization). Allocate 4-6GB of RAM to Minecraft for optimal performance. Monitor your frame rates and adjust settings gradually to find the sweet spot between visual quality and performance.

Ready to explore more ways to enhance your Minecraft experience beyond performance optimization?

TL;DR

Sodium is a Fabric mod that dramatically improves Minecraft performance. Install Fabric Loader first, download Sodium from Modrinth, place the .jar file in your mods folder, then launch using the Fabric profile.

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Joyst1ck

Gaming Writer & HTML5 Developer

Answering gaming questions—from Roblox and Minecraft to the latest indie hits. I write developer‑focused HTML5 articles and share practical tips on game design, monetisation, and scripting.

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