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How to Display a Day and Time Counter on-Screen in Minecraft

How to Display a Day and Time Counter on-Screen in Minecraft

MinecraftMods
4 min read

If you've ever lost track of time while playing Minecraft, the Simple World Timer mod is here to help. Designed for Minecraft 1.20.1 on Forge, this lightweight, configurable mod displays various time sources—both in-game and real-life—right on your screen. Whether you're a speed runner, making a 100-days hardcore video, or just someone who wants to keep an eye on the clock, this mod is a must-have.

How did I set this up in my Remain Mod pack video?

Simple World Timer mod setup showing day counter display in Remain modpack gameplay

If you're here from my Remain video and want the quick setup, do this:

  1. Install the Simple World Timer mod by adding it to your mod pack. This is easy to do in Curseforge or Prism with the add mod feature. In Curseforge, you might need to edit the profile to allow content modification.
  2. The default hotkey is 'H', but I remapped mine to '\' as there was a key conflict.
  3. Configure it like I did in the image below. set Preset to Custom, set the first row to 'Day: &D' (single quotes included) and the second row to HH:MM (no single quotes)
Simple World Timer configuration settings showing custom preset with Day and time format options

Here's what it looks like in action

Key Features of Simple World Timer

The Simple World Timer mod provides several options to track time:

  • Total World Time: Tracks the total ticks that have passed in the world using getTotalWorldTime().
  • Minecraft Time: Displays the day-night cycle with getWorldTime().
  • Stopwatch: Perfect for speedrunners and task tracking.
  • System Time: Shows your real-life clock, so you never miss dinner during those fullscreen Minecraft marathons.

This mod’s versatility makes it perfect for measuring time in-game, tracking progress, or just staying organized.

Customization Made Easy

The Simple World Timer mod is highly configurable, with both in-game settings and file-based options:

  1. In-Game Configuration: Press the default H key to bring up the settings menu. From here, you can select your time source, adjust display formatting, and tweak settings to your liking.
  2. Timer Visibility: Use Sneak + H to toggle the timer display on or off without navigating menus.
  3. Command Support: Enter /swt in chat to quickly manage settings, freeing up your key bindings.
  4. Config File: Advanced users can dive into the SimpleWorldTimer.cfg file for precise control over timer functionality.

Custom Formatting Options

The timer uses Java's SimpleDateFormat syntax, paired with mod-specific extensions for Minecraft. You can customize how the timer looks using:

  • &w: Total world ticks.
  • &t: Ticks within the current second (00-19).
  • &d: Total days elapsed in the world.
  • &D: Total in-game days of the year (resets at 6:00 AM daily).
  • &Y: Total in-game years (resets January 1st, 6:00 AM).

Use square brackets [] to conditionally display values only if they’re non-zero.

Example:

'D: &d, Y: [&Y] Time: &t'  This will show the year only if it’s non-zero, creating a tidy display that adapts as you play.

For more details, you can consult Java's SimpleDateFormat documentation.

Why Use Simple World Timer?

Here are a few ways Simple World Timer enhances your Minecraft experience:

  • Speedrunning: Measure tasks or total run time with precision.
  • Stay Immersed: Keep track of real-life time without exiting fullscreen.
  • Efficient Roleplay: Monitor Minecraft time for events tied to day-night cycles.
  • Streamlined Gameplay: Stopwatch functionality helps with timing farms or builds.

With its easy positioning system, you can place the timer anywhere on your screen to keep it visible but unobtrusive.

Installation Instructions

Installing Simple World Timer is straightforward. Here’s how to get started:

  1. Download the mod from its CurseForge page.
  2. Install Forge for Minecraft 1.20.1 if you haven’t already.
  3. Place the downloaded .jar file into your mods folder.
  4. Launch Minecraft, adjust the timer settings, and enjoy!

Whether you’re tracking Minecraft days for a long-term project or keeping tabs on real-world time during immersive gameplay, Simple World Timer is an invaluable tool. With its seamless integration, customization options, and simplicity, it’s an excellent addition to any Minecraft 1.20.1 Forge setup.