Minecraft Explorer's Compass mod: Features, installation guide, and more

Minecraft worlds are pretty big places, and finding a specific structure without the assistance of commands can be a pain sometimes. This is where a mod like Explorer's Compass comes in, providing a craftable item that lets players receive the approximate coordinates of a generated structure of their choosing. Here, they don't need to rely on the command console.

With that in mind, it doesn't hurt to examine how to install the Explorer's Compass mod for Minecraft as well as the features it brings to the table. It's also worth observing the basics of how the Explorer's Compass works and how you can interact with it in the game world.

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How to download and install the Explorer's Compass mod for Minecraft

Installing this Minecraft mod can be accomplished with three different mod loaders (Image via Fabricmc.net)

As a Minecraft: Java Edition mod, a mod loader is highly recommended for installing this modification. Fortunately, Explorer's Compass is compatible with the three most popular mod loaders (Forge, Fabric, NeoForge). Below, we'll examine the steps for installing the three major mod loaders as well as how to download and install Explorer's Compass itself:

Forge

1. Head to https://files.minecraftforge.net/net/minecraftforge/forge/ and select the version of Forge that matches your Minecraft version, then click the installer button.
2. Wait a few seconds on the following page and click the "skip" button to bypass the AdFocus link.
3. Your device should download a .jar file. Run the .jar file and choose "install client" in the setup wizard, then complete the setup process. This will install Forge on your device and allow you to start filling your mods folder.
4. Head to your preferred Minecraft modding site (CurseForge, Modrinth, etc.) and find the page for Explorer's Compass. Head to the Featured Versions/Files section of the page and select the version of the mod that matches your game version and the Forge version and download it. You should receive a .jar file much like you did with the mod loader.
5. Open your Minecraft Launcher, then select Java Edition, then the Installations tab. Find the listing for your Forge mod loader and click the folder icon next to it to open your mod loader's directory where a folder called "mods" can be found. Place the .jar file for the Explorer's Compass mod in this mods folder, then return to your launcher and press play for the Forge list in the Installations tab to enjoy the mod. You can also click the Play tab, then click the latest release button, and select your Forge mod loader there before pressing the play button.

Fabric

1. Use your web browser, head to https://fabricmc.net/, and click the download button. From here, you can select your method of installation. We'll be using the universal .jar for this particular example. Click the universal .jar link and then run the subsequent .jar file you've just downloaded.
2. This will open the setup wizard where you'll select your Minecraft and mod loader version. Ensure that the "create profile" checkbox is checked, then proceed through the setup. You'll be notified when Fabric is installed.
3. Head to your modding website of choice and find the page for Explorer's Compass, then navigate to the Featured Versions/Files portion of the page and download the version of the mod that matches your Minecraft/Fabric version.
4. Much like Forge, open your official game launcher, select Java Edition, then the Installations tab. Click the folder button next to the listing for the Fabric mod loader and place the Explorer's Compass mod's .jar file within the "mods" folder of the Fabric directory. From here, you can return to the installations tab and click the play button to enjoy the mod, or you can click the Play tab and change "latest release" to "Fabric" and hit the play button there.

NeoForge

1. Open your web browser, head to https://neoforged.net/ and select the version of NeoForge that matches your Minecraft version under the "NeoForge installer files" section on the web page. Like the other mod loaders, you'll receive a .jar file.
2. Run the .jar file and choose to install the client, then complete the setup wizard.
3. Like before, head to the mod site of your choice and find the page for Explorer's Compass, then select the Featured Version/File that matches your Minecraft and NeoForge versions. You'll receive a .jar file for the mod.
4. As with the other loaders, open the Minecraft Launcher, select Java Edition, and then the Installations tab. Find the listing for NeoForge and click the folder button to access its directory, then place the Explorer's Compass mod in the mods folder. You can now return to the Installations tab and select NeoForge's play button to enjoy the game or click the Play tab, swap "latest release" for NeoForge, and click the play button there.

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Features of the Explorer's Compass mod for Minecraft and how it works

The Explorer Compass' UI, complete with modded and vanilla structures (Image via Chaosyr/Modrinth)

With the Explorer's Compass mod installed, you gain access to the ability to craft the titular compass, which is assembled with four cracked stone brick blocks, one compass, and four cobweb blocks. To craft the compass, open your crafting table and place the compass in the center slot and the cracked stone bricks in the top-center, left-center, right-center, and bottom-center slots.

Lastly, place the cobweb blocks in the four corners of the crafting grid to create the Explorer's Compass. While the compass is equipped, right-clicking (with the default controls) will open its UI, allowing a player to select the structure they wish to find. After doing so, the nearest structure's coordinates will appear on your HUD along with the distance to reach it.

Moreover, the compass itself will point toward the structure that has been assigned. Otherwise, it will point to the world's spawn point. Using the shift + right-click combo by default will also reset the state of the compass, which is useful when players want to locate a different structure or have found the one they're looking for.

The crafting recipe for the Explorer's Compass (Image via Mojang)

It should also be noted that the Explorer's Compass is compatible with many other mods, and is capable of finding mod-created structures in addition to vanilla ones. This way, players can always locate a structure when they need to, no matter where they might find themself.