InstallationLast verified 2026-07-29

Distant Horizons Dependencies: Fabric, Forge, Iris, and Sodium

Distant Horizons dependencies change with Minecraft version and loader. The safest approach is to choose the exact game version first, install the matching loader, and then add only dependencies that target that same version.

Common symptoms

  • the mod does not appear in the Mods menu
  • Minecraft reports a missing dependency
  • Iris or Sodium fails to load
  • a shader works without DH but not with it

Step-by-step fix

1

Match Minecraft and the loader

Choose Fabric, Forge, or NeoForge for the exact Minecraft version. A nearby patch version is not a safe substitute for a matching dependency.

2

Install the loader API

Fabric profiles commonly need Fabric API. Forge and NeoForge profiles use their own loader environment and compatible performance libraries.

3

Add performance mods after the base test

Use Sodium on Fabric or the matching NeoForge performance stack. Launch once before adding shaders or a large modpack.

4

Add shader support separately

Iris and a shader pack are optional. A shader loader being installed does not guarantee that the shader implements Distant Horizons integration.

5

Use the exact version page

Check the installation page for your Minecraft version and loader instead of copying dependencies from another version.

Still stuck?

Record your Minecraft version, DH version, loader, shader pack, GPU, and crash log before asking the community. That information makes compatibility problems much easier to diagnose.