# How to use Fabric mods on NeoForge or Forge (2026)

> How to use Fabric mods on NeoForge or Forge in 2026: install Sinytra Connector, Forgified Fabric API and Launchpad, match versions and fix what breaks.

Source: https://synagy.org/blog/fabric-mods-on-neoforge
Published: 2026-11-03
By: the Synagy team (https://synagy.org)

**Short answer:** to use Fabric mods on NeoForge, install three mods next to them: Sinytra Connector, Forgified Fabric API and Launchpad. Then drop the Fabric mods into the same mods folder. As of 2026-11-03, Connector supports Minecraft 26.2 and 26.1.x with new fixes, 1.21.1 with some fixes, and 1.20.1 not at all. Modern Forge has no working option. Most Fabric mods load this way, but not every one.

This guide shows the setup step by step, which versions work and what to do when a mod still crashes. Numbers come from the official project pages and were checked on 2026-11-03.

## Can you run Fabric mods on NeoForge or Forge?

Yes on NeoForge, mostly no on Forge. Fabric and NeoForge load mods in different ways, so a Fabric `.jar` does nothing on NeoForge by itself. A translation layer has to sit in between.

That layer is [Sinytra Connector](https://github.com/Sinytra/Connector), a free, MIT-licensed mod. Its README describes it as a compatibility layer that lets Fabric mods run on NeoForge. Its [Modrinth page](https://modrinth.com/mod/connector) shows 27.8 million downloads. The Fabric API port it builds on, [Forgified Fabric API](https://modrinth.com/mod/forgified-fabric-api), has 31.5 million.

For Forge, the story is short. Connector once supported Forge on 1.20.1. The README now lists 1.20.1 as end of life and unsupported. Newer versions are NeoForge only.

## Which Minecraft versions does Connector support?

Check this first, because a version mismatch is the most common reason a setup fails. This is the support table from the Connector README:

| Minecraft version | Loader | Support status |
|---|---|---|
| 26.2.x | NeoForge | New features and bug fixes |
| 26.1.x | NeoForge | New features and bug fixes |
| 1.21.1 | NeoForge | Long-term support, some bug fixes |
| 1.20.1 | Forge | End of life, unsupported |
| 26.3 | none | No build listed on Modrinth yet |

**26.2 | newest Minecraft version with Connector support**

- **3**: helper mods you install next to your Fabric mods
- **27.8M**: Connector downloads on Modrinth

> **Note:** 26.3 is out, but on 2026-11-03 neither Connector nor Forgified Fabric API listed a 26.3 build. If your pack is on 26.3, use plain Fabric for now. Our guide on [installing Fabric mods on Minecraft 26.3](https://synagy.org/blog/install-fabric-mods-minecraft-26-3) covers that setup.

## How do you install Fabric mods on NeoForge, step by step?

You need NeoForge plus three helper mods, all for the same Minecraft version. You can set it up in a launcher profile or by hand.

**Fabric mods on NeoForge in five steps**

1. **Install NeoForge**: the latest stable version for 26.2 or 26.1.x
2. **Add Connector**: Sinytra Connector for the same Minecraft version
3. **Add Forgified Fabric API**: the NeoForge port of Fabric API
4. **Add Launchpad**: the third helper mod, required on 26.x
5. **Drop in your Fabric mods**: same mods folder, then start the game

1. **Install NeoForge.** Get the installer from the [official NeoForge website](https://neoforged.net/) and pick the latest stable version. A launcher like the Modrinth App can also create a NeoForge profile for you.
2. **Download Connector.** Choose the file that matches your exact Minecraft version, for example 26.2.
3. **Download Forgified Fabric API.** Do not use the normal Fabric API. Connector needs the NeoForge port.
4. **Download Launchpad.** The [Launchpad page](https://modrinth.com/mod/launchpad) lists 26.2 and 26.1.x. The Connector README names it as a required install.
5. **Add your Fabric mods.** Put them in the `mods` folder next to the three helper mods. Connector loads them with no extra steps.

> **Tip:** Connector Extras is an optional fourth mod. The Connector docs recommend it for better support of REI, EMI and TR Energy.

**Download from the official pages only**

In October 2026, malware was found in mods on CurseForge and Modrinth. Get Connector and its helpers from the links above, and read our post on [whether Minecraft mods are safe](https://synagy.org/blog/are-minecraft-mods-safe) before you add unknown files.

## What do you do when a Fabric mod still crashes?

Start by finding out whether Connector is the cause. Most mods load, but the README says some problems are too complex for Connector's patching system. Those issues are marked "Not Planned".

Work through this list in order:

- **Check the versions.** Connector, Forgified Fabric API, Launchpad and every mod must target the same Minecraft version.
- **Update everything.** The docs ask you to try the latest Connector release before reporting a bug.
- **Test the mod on plain Fabric.** If it crashes there too, the mod or another mod is the problem, not Connector.
- **Look for a NeoForge port.** Many mods ship both versions. For "Not Planned" cases, the README suggests the mod's NeoForge port instead.
- **Remove mods in halves.** Take out half your mods, start the game and repeat until the crash goes away.

Debugging is harder in a mixed pack. A crash log may name Connector even when another mod caused it. That is why a native NeoForge version of a mod is always the safer choice when it exists.

## What if the mod is one you made yourself?

Then you can skip the translation layer and build a real NeoForge version. That is more reliable than running your Fabric `.jar` through Connector.

If you make mods with [Synagy for Minecraft](https://synagy.org/minecraft), they are built and played on Fabric 26.2. The free Mod Compiler in the Synagy Studio can then build your finished Synagy mod for NeoForge 26.2, Fabric 26.3 and Fabric 1.21.1. Every build first passes game tests on a real server of that version.

Here is where Synagy stops. The Mod Compiler only builds mods you made with Synagy. It does not convert other people's Fabric mods; porting open-source mods is still in development. NeoForge for 26.3 and 1.21.1 is also not live yet, and Forge and Bedrock are not supported. A free account gets 25 Free Credits a day, and the [pricing page](https://synagy.org/pricing) explains the free beta.

**Use Connector if … | you want someone else's Fabric mod in a NeoForge 26.2, 26.1 or 1.21.1 pack**

- **Use plain Fabric if …**: you play 26.3 or most of your mods are Fabric anyway
- **Build a native NeoForge version if …**: the mod is yours and you want fewer crashes

## FAQ

### Can I use Fabric mods on Forge?

Not on current versions. Sinytra Connector once supported Forge on Minecraft 1.20.1, but its README now lists 1.20.1 as end of life and unsupported. For 26.x and 1.21.1, Connector only works on NeoForge. Look for a Forge version of the mod instead.

### Do all Fabric mods work with Sinytra Connector?

No. Most mods load, but some do things Connector cannot translate. The README says issues that are too complex are marked "Not Planned". For those, use the mod's NeoForge port if one exists, or play on plain Fabric.

### Do I need Fabric API when I use Connector?

You need Forgified Fabric API, not the normal Fabric API. It is a port of Fabric API built on top of NeoForge. Download the build that matches your Minecraft version, and put it in the mods folder next to Connector and Launchpad.

### Does Connector work on Minecraft 26.3?

Not yet. On 2026-11-03, the Modrinth pages of Connector and Forgified Fabric API listed 26.2 as their newest version. Check the version list again before you update your pack, or stay on Fabric for 26.3.