How to Install and Use NotEnoughItems in Minecraft

What NotEnoughItems Does

Minecraft has a lot of blocks, items, recipes, and tiny crafting details waiting to ambush your memory. Add a few mods and the recipe list becomes less of a list and more of a filing cabinet with a sword in it.

NotEnoughItems, often shortened to NEI, helps by adding an item browser, recipe lookup tools, cheat controls, and inventory preset features depending on the Minecraft version being used. It is especially useful in older Forge modpacks where recipes from multiple mods can be difficult to track through the normal game interface.

This guide explains the difference between the standalone and add-on versions, when NEI needs to be installed on a server, how to install it, and how to use the main controls once it is loaded.

Standalone NEI vs the JustEnoughItems Add-On

NotEnoughItems has changed over time, so the version you need depends heavily on the Minecraft version.

For Minecraft 1.8 and older, NotEnoughItems is a standalone mod. It includes its own item list, recipe viewer, search tools, cheat buttons, inventory save slots, and related controls. It does not require JustEnoughItems because JEI was not available for those older versions.

For Minecraft 1.9 and newer, NotEnoughItems works more like an extension for JustEnoughItems. JEI became the main recipe and item viewer for newer modded versions, while NEI continued by restoring some older convenience features, such as inventory presets and enchantment editing.

In practical terms, older packs usually install NEI by itself with its required dependency. Newer packs need JEI first, then NEI on top if the extra NEI features are wanted.

Client-Side and Server-Side Behavior

NEI can be used as a client-side mod, a server-side mod, or both. A client-side mod runs on the player's computer. A server-side mod runs on the Minecraft server. Some mods require both, but NEI is mostly useful on the client.

If NotEnoughItems and JustEnoughItems are installed only on your own Minecraft client, the item list and recipe lookup tools should still work normally when joining a server. That is usually enough for players who only want to search recipes and browse items.

Installing it on the server mainly affects control and permission features. Server-side configuration can decide who may use options like creative-style item spawning, weather changes, time changes, magnet mode, and similar tools. On most servers, those controls should be limited to operators unless chaos is the actual game mode.

Main Features

The exact feature set depends on whether NEI is running as a standalone mod or as a JEI add-on.

As a standalone mod, NotEnoughItems can provide:

• A searchable item list for vanilla and modded items
• Recipe viewing for supported items and blocks
• Item spawning when cheat mode is enabled
• A command-style control panel for changing game mode, weather, time, and similar settings
• Inventory preset saving and loading
• Quick enchantment changes for items

As an add-on for JustEnoughItems, NEI keeps the JEI item browser and recipe viewer in place while adding back selected NEI tools. The most important additions are inventory presets and enchantment editing.

Downloading the Correct Files

Before installing anything, match every mod file to the Minecraft version and Forge version being used. Mixing versions is one of the fastest ways to meet a crash report.

For Minecraft 1.8 and older:

• Download NotEnoughItems from its CurseForge files page: NotEnoughItems
• Download CodeChickenCore for the same Minecraft version: CodeChickenCore
• Keep both `.jar` files somewhere easy to find

For Minecraft 1.9 and newer:

• Download the matching NotEnoughItems file for your Minecraft version
• Download the matching CodeChickenCore file if required by that version
• Install JustEnoughItems as well, since NEI depends on it in newer versions
• Keep all required `.jar` files ready before moving them into the `mods` folder

CurseForge's game version filter is helpful here. Use it instead of guessing from file names alone.

Installing NEI on a Minecraft Server

A Forge server is required for NotEnoughItems. If the server is still running a vanilla jar, switch it to the correct Forge version first and start the server once so the `mods` folder is created.

1. Stop the Minecraft server.
2. Open the server files through your hosting file manager or FTP client.
3. Open the `mods` folder.
4. Upload the NotEnoughItems `.jar` file and any required dependency files.
5. Wait for the upload to finish completely.
6. Start the server again.

If the server deletes the uploaded mods after restart, Forge may not have been installed or started correctly before the files were added. Confirm the server jar and version, then try again.

Installing NEI on a Fresh Minecraft Client

To install NotEnoughItems on an unmodded Minecraft client, install Forge first. Minecraft will not load NEI without a compatible mod loader.

After Forge is installed, open the Minecraft installation folder:

• Windows: press `Windows Key + R`, enter `%APPDATA%\.minecraft`, then click OK
• macOS: press `Command + Space`, enter `~/Library/Application Support/minecraft`, then press Enter
• Linux: open a terminal and run `cd ~/.minecraft`

Inside the Minecraft folder, open or create a folder named `mods`. Place the NotEnoughItems `.jar` file and any required dependencies inside it. Start Minecraft using the matching Forge profile, and NEI should load with the game.

If Minecraft crashes on launch, check the mod versions first. NEI, CodeChickenCore, JEI, Forge, and Minecraft all need to agree on the same version range.

Adding NEI to an Existing Modpack

For an existing modpack, the process is usually just finding the pack folder and placing the downloaded `.jar` files into its `mods` directory. Do not overwrite files unless you know the replacement is compatible.

CurseForge

1. Open the CurseForge app.
2. Find the modpack and right-click its profile image.
3. Select Open Folder.
4. Open the `mods` subfolder.
5. Drag the downloaded `.jar` files into the folder.

Technic

1. Open Technic Launcher.
2. Go to the Modpacks tab and select the pack.
3. Click Modpack Options.
4. Click Open beside the directory path.
5. Open the `mods` folder and add the required files.

ATLauncher

1. Open ATLauncher.
2. Go to Instances.
3. Find the modpack and click Open Folder.
4. Open `mods`.
5. Add the downloaded NEI files and dependencies.

Voidswrath

1. Open Voidswrath Launcher.
2. Select the modpack.
3. Click Advanced.
4. Click Edit Mods.
5. Add the downloaded `.jar` files.

FTB

1. Open the FTB app.
2. Go to My Modpacks.
3. Hover over the pack and click the three dots.
4. Select Open Folder.
5. Open `mods` and place the downloaded files inside.

Once the files are in place, launch the modpack. If it fails to start, remove the newly added files and confirm you downloaded versions made for that exact pack's Minecraft version.

Using NotEnoughItems as a Standalone Mod

Open your inventory after loading into a world. NEI adds its item browser beside the normal inventory screen. The exact layout can vary between versions and configurations, but the main tools are generally in the same places.

If cheat buttons or inventory preset buttons are missing in singleplayer, check the NEI inventory settings:

1. Click Options in the lower-left corner.
2. Open Inventory.
3. Set the second option from the top to Cheat Mode.
4. Click Global in the upper-right corner.
5. Right-click the `W` next to Cheat Mode.

The item and recipe viewer appears on the right side of the inventory. It lists items from Minecraft and supported installed mods. Hover over an item and right-click to view its recipe. Left-clicking can add the item to your inventory when cheat mode is enabled. The counter at the bottom changes how many items are given at once.

Use the Prev and Next buttons above the item list to move through pages. You can also hover over the item panel and use the mouse wheel.

The Item Subsets menu at the top of the screen filters item groups. Left-click a category to show it, or right-click to hide it. This is useful when a large modpack fills the browser with hundreds of nearly identical parts.

The cheat buttons in the upper-left corner provide quick access to commands such as time changes, weather changes, healing, and game mode switching. On servers, these controls are normally available only to operators.

Below the cheat buttons are inventory preset slots. A slot labeled Save stores your current inventory. After saving, the same slot becomes a Load button for restoring that inventory later. Use the X beside a preset to delete it. On servers, preset access may also require operator permissions.

Using NEI as a JEI Add-On

When installed as an add-on, NEI plugs into JustEnoughItems instead of replacing it. JEI continues to handle the item list, searches, and recipe display, while NEI adds its extra controls to the left side of the inventory.

The cheat buttons work the same way as in standalone NEI. They can change time, weather, game mode, and other settings when the player has permission. On multiplayer servers, that usually means operator status.

Inventory presets also work the same way. Save a loadout, load it later, or delete it when it is no longer useful. This is handy for builders, testers, and server staff who need to move between tool sets quickly.

Final Notes

NotEnoughItems is most useful in older Forge environments and modpacks where the normal recipe book is not enough. Standalone NEI gives older versions a full item and recipe interface, while newer versions use it to extend JustEnoughItems with extra inventory tools.

Install the correct version, keep dependencies matched, and treat cheat controls carefully on servers. Recipe lookup is helpful. Accidental item spawning for everyone is less helpful.