Michael Turner
Use shulker boxes and an ender chest for the widest built-in inventory expansion; add mods or Bedrock add-ons when you want a wearable sack that occupies an equipment slot.
Shulker boxes: crafted from one chest plus two shulker shells (shulkers drop shells in end cities). Each box provides 27 inventory slots, retains contents when broken, and can be dyed for visual organization. Empty boxes stack to 64; boxes with contents do not stack. Nesting is blocked: a shulker box cannot contain another shulker box.
Ender chest: crafted from an Eye of Ender in the center surrounded by eight obsidian blocks. It offers 27 slots that are player-specific and shared across dimensions, making it ideal for secure personal items. Combining shulker boxes and an ender chest (placing filled boxes into the chest) creates a highly portable aggregate storage without mods.
To add wearable inventory (a sack or rucksack that you equip), install a mod loader that matches your client version: choose Forge or Fabric for Java Edition, or obtain Bedrock add-ons from trusted sources. Typical steps: match loader version to game release, download the mod/add-on from a reputable site, put the mod file into the “mods” folder (or import the add-on on Bedrock), and launch the game. Make a full world backup before installing or joining modded servers; multiplayer use requires the server to host the same mods.
When selecting a mod, filter by keywords like “wearable storage” or “portable inventory” on CurseForge or MCPEDL, verify compatibility with your game version, and read user comments for stability and multiplayer behavior. For unmodded play, prioritize shulker boxes for bulk transport and the ender chest for secure, cross-dimension access.
Portable storage: vanilla vs mods
Use shulker boxes paired with an Ender Chest for the most practical portable storage in the vanilla experience: craft an Ender Chest (8 obsidian + Eye of Ender) and multiple shulker boxes (1 chest + 2 shulker shells each), dye boxes for fast visual sorting, then store filled shulker containers inside the Ender Chest to access up to 729 item slots per player across dimensions (27 Ender slots × 27 slots per shulker box).
Vanilla item specifics and crafting
Shulker box: 27 item slots, retains contents when broken, non-stackable, colorable by combining with any dye. Introduced in 1.11; ideal for organizing ores, blocks, or tools by color-coded sets.
Ender Chest: 27 item slots, player-specific inventory accessible from any Ender Chest instance; crafted with 8 obsidian surrounding an Eye of Ender. Use it as a secure cross-dimension carrier for shulker containers or high-value items.
Modded solutions and practical tips
For wearable or expanded inventory features, search trusted mod repositories for “portable storage” or “wearable inventory” filters and check compatibility with your client and server mod loaders (Forge or Fabric). Prefer mods that support the Curios API when you need extra equip slots. Back up worlds before installing, match mod versions to the game build, and install server-side counterparts on multiplayer hosts to avoid desync or missing-item issues.
Organization tips: create labeled sets (color + single-purpose contents), keep at least one Ender Chest near base and one in your main exploration kit, and limit each shulker to a single item category to speed mid-run sorting and reduce inventory clutter during raids or mining sessions.
Using Shulker Boxes, Ender Chests and Bundles as portable storage in vanilla
Primary recommendation: prioritize shulker boxes for organized, high-density hauling – each shulker box offers 27 slots, preserves its contents when broken (NBT preserved), can be dyed for quick identification, and empty units stack to 64. Use them for bulk materials, pre-packed tool sets, and categorized item groups.
Secure long-range transfer: pair shulker boxes with an Ender Chest to create a private transport system. An Ender Chest provides 27 player-specific slots accessible across dimensions and after death; placing shulker boxes inside one moves whole 27-slot containers between bases while keeping items private. Crafting notes: Ender Chest = 8 obsidian + 1 Eye of Ender; Shulker Box = chest + 2 shulker shells. Example capacity: one Ender Chest filled with 27 shulker boxes equals 27 × 27 = 729 accessible item slots tied to a single player.
Single-slot consolidation with bundles: use a bundle to consolidate mixed small stacks into one inventory slot – useful for partial stacks and miscellaneous drops (arrows, pearls, seeds, ores fragments). Bundles accept multiple item types until their internal capacity (roughly one full stack equivalent) is reached, freeing hotbar real estate during runs and caving sessions.
Practical setups and tips: 1) Pre-dye 3–5 shulkers per activity (building, farming, mob loot) and load them into a chest or Ender Chest for instant role-specific kits. 2) Keep 1 shulker empty in a chest near a base for emergency extraction. 3) Carry 1–2 bundles in the hotbar to consolidate stray drops while mining, then transfer contents into shulker boxes at a base. 4) Avoid storing high-value shulker boxes in public chests on multiplayer servers; use an Ender Chest for private holdings. 5) For maximal compactness, fill a double chest with shulker boxes: 54 shulkers × 27 slots = 1,458 item slots in one placed container.
Top storage pack mods (features, compatibility, and quick install guide)
Recommendation: install Traveler’s Pack for wearable storage with integrated crafting, furnace and fluid tanks when using Forge-based mod sets; pair with a Curios-enabled alternative on Fabric.
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Traveler’s Pack (features)
- Wearable 3D model that opens into a multi-slot inventory (small/medium/large variants).
- Integrated mini-crafting grid, smelting slot, water/lava tanks, and sleeping bag.
- Customizable dyeing and upgrades (expand slots, auto-sort on newer ports).
Compatibility: widely supported on Forge for legacy versions; community ports exist for Fabric. No mandatory extra APIs on standard Forge builds; Fabric ports often require Fabric API and Curios for equip slots.
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Backpacked-style mods (features)
- Lightweight bag variants focused on extra inventory space and quick equip/unequip keybinds.
- Some include crafting or modular add-ons (pouches, ender-linked slots).
Compatibility: many authors publish separate builds per game release (1.12.2, 1.16.5, 1.18+, 1.19.x); Fabric builds commonly require Fabric API and Curios; Forge builds rarely need extra APIs.
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Rucksack / Wearable Satchel mods (features)
- Smaller profile, stackable variants, compatibility with armor slots via Curios API.
- Focus on low-overhead and PvP-compatible behavior (configurable to drop or keep on death).
Compatibility: designed for modern versions on Fabric; confirm Curios and Fabric API versions match game build.
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Carry/Transfer helpers (features)
- Not pure storage: allow moving containers and attached inventories, useful with portable packs for base-building workflows.
- Good choice when combining portable inventory mods with block-based storage solutions.
Compatibility: available on both Forge and Fabric; check server-side requirements for multiplayer.
Quick compatibility checklist before installing any mod:
- Confirm game version (1.12.2, 1.16.5, 1.18.x, 1.19.x, 1.20.x).
- Pick correct loader: Forge for legacy modpacks, Fabric for many modern small-footprint mods.
- Match API addons: Fabric API and Curios are common prerequisites on Fabric; Fabric/Forge versions must match game build.
- For multiplayer, install identical mod list on server and client; mismatches will prevent joining.
Quick install guide (5 steps)
- Install Java suitable for the selected game version: Java 8 for 1.12.2 builds; Java 17 for 1.18+ releases.
- Install a launcher or profile with the target loader: Forge installer or Fabric installer (use official installers or MultiMC/CurseForge/GDLauncher setups).
- Download mod jar and any required APIs (Fabric API, Curios, etc.) from official mod pages or trusted hosts.
- Place jars into the “mods” folder of the profile. If upgrading from an older mod, back up your world and export the mod’s inventory data when supported.
- Start the profile, verify mod list from the main menu, check keybinds and config options, and test in a creative world before using on a live world.
Troubleshooting and config tips
- Conflict on equip slot: install Curios or change mod keybinds in Controls to avoid overlap with armor mods.
- Modpack performance: prefer Fabric builds and slimmer mods for large modlists; disable visual extras in config if FPS drops occur.
- Inventory migration: some mods provide import/export tools; otherwise use chest-based manual transfer when updating major versions.
- Server use: set server.jar to the same loader and put identical mod jars into the server’s mods folder; watch for server-only APIs.
Tools and launchers that simplify installation: CurseForge app, GDLauncher, MultiMC and ATLauncher provide automatic loader selection and mod deployment; use them to avoid manual mismatch errors. For unrelated household purchases, compare product reviews like best fully automatic washing machine 8kg.
Crafting recipes and configuration for pack mods on Fabric and Forge
Prefer mods that expose configurable recipes (JSON/TOML) and support data-pack or CraftTweaker overrides so server operators can control item tiers and ingredients.
Install matching MC version for both Fabric and Forge loaders; place mod JAR into mods/ and use the same config set on client and server. Use data packs to override recipes without mod recompilation: world/datapacks//data//recipes/.json. Custom recipe files override mod-provided recipes when names match.
Common modification methods and file locations:
| Method | Typical path | Example snippet | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shaped recipe (data pack) | world/datapacks//data//recipes/pack_small.json | {
“type”:”minecraft:crafting_shaped”, “pattern”:[“LLL”,”LCL”,”LLL”], “key”:{“L”:{“item”:”minecraft:leather”},”C”:{“item”:”minecraft:chest”}}, “result”:{“item”:”:small_pack”,”count”:1} } |
Use same file name as mod’s recipe to override; works on Fabric and Forge servers. |
| Shapeless recipe (data pack) | …/recipes/pack_upgrade.json | {
“type”:”minecraft:crafting_shapeless”, “ingredients”:[{“item”:”minecraft:ender_pearl”},{“item”:”:small_pack”}], “result”:{“item”:”:ender_pack”,”count”:1} } |
Good for item upgrades that combine existing pack with special item. |
| CraftTweaker script (Forge/Fabric) | scripts/pack_scripts.zs | // remove old and add shaped
recipes.remove(< :small_pack >); recipes.addShaped(< :small_pack >, [[,,],[,,],[,,]]); |
Requires CraftTweaker mod; ideal for servers that need scripted recipe changes and conditional logic. |
| Mod config (size, slots, restrictions) | config/<modid>.toml or config/<modid>.json | size = 27
slotsPerRow = 9 lockOnDeath = false shareable = true |
Many mods expose TOML or JSON keys. Edit configs on server and restart to apply. Backup before changes. |
| Server-side lock / permissions | config/<modid>.toml or permissions plugin rules | allowUseInPvP = false
keepOnLogout = true permission.node = “pack.use” |
Combine mod config with permission plugins to restrict crafting or use by role. |
When changing recipes or config, follow this checklist: stop server, back up world and config, apply JSON/TOML or CraftTweaker changes, restart server, verify recipe appears in crafting book or via /recipe give, and test pickup/drop behavior on death. For cross-mod compatibility prefer recipes using common items (leather, chest, iron) and avoid conflicts by namespacing custom datapack files with your server name.
Syncing and sharing portable-storage inventories on multiplayer servers and Mojang-hosted worlds
Use a central persistent store plus async caching for networks; for hosted worlds rely on vanilla Ender Chest + named shulker conventions or datapack storage if plugins/mods are unavailable.
Server networks (Paper/Spigot/Bukkit, Fabric/Forge with proxy)
Recommended architecture: persistent SQL store (MySQL/MariaDB/Postgres) + Redis Pub/Sub for cross-instance invalidation + in-memory LRU cache per instance. Example SQL schema: CREATE TABLE storage_inventory (player_uuid CHAR(36) NOT NULL, inventory_name VARCHAR(64) NOT NULL, items_blob LONGBLOB NOT NULL, last_update TIMESTAMP NOT NULL DEFAULT CURRENT_TIMESTAMP ON UPDATE CURRENT_TIMESTAMP, PRIMARY KEY (player_uuid, inventory_name)); Store items_blob as GZIP-compressed NBT (binary) or base64-encoded compressed NBT. Use async writes: write-through cache set to false; schedule batch flush every 60s; set cache TTL to 600s and refresh on pub/sub notification.
Redis message format (JSON): action: “save”. Subscribe to channel storage-sync and apply updates atomically to local caches to avoid race conditions across proxies (BungeeCord/Velocity).
Permission pattern (LuckPerms): storage.open.self, storage.open.others, storage.share.create, storage.share.use, storage.sync.crossserver. Implement share tokens: short alphanumeric token (8 chars), store token row with owner_uuid, target_uuid/null (for public), inventory_name, expires_at. Token TTL default 3600s; revoke after use if single-use.
Anti-duplication and security: validate incoming NBT against server item whitelist; enforce slot/weight limits on server side; log transfers to an audit table: (id, actor_uuid, target_uuid, inv_name, action, hash, ts). For cross-server low latency, replicate small diffs only (changed slots mask + compressed payload) instead of full inventory on each save.
Hosted worlds without plugins/mods (official Mojang-hosted)
Use Ender Chest per-player as canonical persistent container for cross-session storage. For manual sharing, place named shulker boxes inside Ender Chest and follow a naming convention: -stash-. Advise players to avoid placing shared shulkers in world chests without logging. For limited automation, datapacks can store JSON/NBT in the storage namespace using /data get storage and /data modify storage; recommended key format: pack:inventories//. Persist entire NBT blob compressed with base64 if complex. On player join, datapack function should copy storage key to the player’s Ender Chest via /data modify entity Inventory set from storage value (run with care; test on duplicate prevention).
When true sharing is required but server-side code is blocked, use an external web service: players upload exported shulker NBT via single-click UI (client-side tool or allowed resourcepack-assisted flow) and share link tokens; server operator must approve external transfers to avoid cheating. For admins, manual world saves can be edited offline with NBT editors to move storage between worlds or players, then re-upload world to hosted service.
Preserve portable storage on death and during backups
Prevent item loss on death
Recommendation: set the server rule /gamerule keepInventory true for immediate, universal preservation of player inventories after deaths. If full keep-on-death is undesired, deploy a death-chest/tombstone solution (examples: GraveStone, Corail Tombstone, DeathChest plugins) configured to create an owner-protected container at the death location and expire after a fixed window.
Concrete configuration advice for tombstone plugins/mods: enable owner-lock, set expiry to ~1800 seconds (30 minutes) or 36000 ticks, enable location logging for admins, and disable automatic item redistribution to avoid duplication exploits. For PvP servers prefer plugin options that exclude certain item categories (armor, tools) from automatic retention or provide per-permission behavior (e.g., keep-on-death for +moderator only).
When using keepInventory=false plus a death-chest, also enable anti-exploit checks: whitelist allowed container types, block placement/destruction by other players while chest is active, and record the chest UUID in the plugin log for forensic restores.
Backup and targeted restore procedure
Backup target list (minimum): level.dat, the world folder’s playerdata/ (or players/ for very old versions), region/ (or DIM* folders for nether/end), data/, advancements/, stats/, and any mod-specific directories under world/data or world/DIM*. Include server.properties and the mods/plugins folder when mod/plugin data must be preserved.
Safe automated backup sequence for a running dedicated server (use RCON or mcrcon):
1) send “save-off” to pause autosaves; 2) send “save-all” to flush all chunks to disk; 3) copy the world folder with rsync/zip to the backup destination; 4) send “save-on” to resume autosaves. Example mcrcon + rsync sequence: mcrcon -H 127.0.0.1 -P 25575 -p PASS “save-off” ; mcrcon … “save-all” ; rsync -a –delete /srv/server/world/ /backups/world-YYYYMMDD/ ; mcrcon … “save-on”.
Full-stop backup alternative: stop the server process, copy the world folder, then restart. This yields an atomic snapshot with zero risk of partial writes.
Restore a single player’s inventory from a backup:
Step A: identify player’s UUID (match current account UUID; use Mojang API or existing server file names). Step B: stop server. Step C: copy backup_file/world/playerdata/UUID.dat into current_world/playerdata/, overwriting the existing file. Step D: start server. Ender chest contents and most persistent per-player data are stored inside that same .dat file; for older servers check world/players/USERNAME.dat.
When migrating across versions, confirm NBT schema compatibility: playerdata formats changed between major releases and direct .dat replacements can corrupt data. For cross-version restores consider using an NBT editor or a conversion utility and always test on a staging server.
Automated retention and offsite storage: schedule daily snapshot rotations (retain 7 daily, 4 weekly, 6 monthly), compress with zstd or gzip, and push to remote storage via rclone/S3. Verify backups regularly by spinning up a temporary instance and confirming that playerdata and portable-storage contents restore correctly.
Customizing pack capacity, item filters and hotkeys for faster item management
Use fixed presets: 27 slots for general exploration, 36 for long trips, 54 for dedicated resource runs; set expansion tiers at +9 slot increments so upgrades feel incremental and predictable.
Reserve dedicated slot ranges by function: slots 0–8 = hotbar spillover (tools), 9–17 = building blocks, 18–26 = ores/ingots, 27–35 = food/potions, 36–53 = valuables. Configure autosort rules to move items into those ranges on pickup.
Filter setup: implement three rule types–whitelist (exact ID match), category (ore, food, potion), and NBT tag match (enchanted:true, custom_name). Example syntax for a typical mod config line: filter.whitelist=diamond,emerald; filter.nbt.0=enchantments; filter.category.ores=iron,coal,gold. Apply priority: whitelist > NBT > category > blacklist.
Thresholds and stacking: set stack-thresholds to auto-compress small stacks into storage slots when count >=16; enable smart-stack for tools to reserve a single slot per tool-type. Example config: stack.compress_min=16; stack.reserve_tools=true.
Hotkey recommendations: map quick-transfer to K (press to move selected stack into pack), Shift+K to transfer all matching items from inventory, Ctrl+K to open filter editor. Assign Alt+number (Alt+1..Alt+4) to switch between configured filter profiles (e.g., Mining, Building, Farming, Loot).
Automation toggles: add three toggles in UI–Auto-Pickup (on/off), Auto-Sort (on/off), Priority Mode (on/off). Default profile: Auto-Pickup=on, Auto-Sort=on, Priority Mode=off. For resource runs set Priority Mode=on so ores and food never get ejected by loot overflow.
Server-side config tips: keep maxSlots consistent between client and server to avoid duplication bugs; expose these config keys to operators: server.pack.maxSlots, server.pack.allowRemoteAccess, server.pack.syncIntervalSeconds. Recommended syncIntervalSeconds=5 for responsive multiplayer with minimal bandwidth.
Backup and recovery: enable autosave snapshots for pack inventories every 300 seconds; store snapshots as compressed NBT with timestamp and player UUID. For conflict resolution prefer Last-Write-Wins but keep up to 5 historical versions for manual restore.
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