Minecraft – What happens to the world when a Minecraft mod is uninstalled or overwritten

minecraft-java-edition

Lets say I install a Minecraft mod which adds new blocks and items. I then update to a newer version of Minecraft, which does not have these new blocks.

How does the game handle maps with what are now unrecognised items in inventory, unrecognised items in chests, and unrecognised placed blocks?

Best Answer

The world will just generate with air blocks replacing non-vanilla blocks, and your non-vanilla items will just disappear. Re-installing the mod will not bring the blocks or items back, unless you do so before loading the world again.

(As a side note, some mods used to render your world unplayable unless the mod was installed again, I'm pretty sure Notch fixed it though, but there might be a few that mess things up.)