Hold That Chunk V2

A clean, from-scratch re-implementation of the original idea behind Hold That Chunk updated for Minecraft 1.21+ with some extra configuration options.

Instead of dropping terrain the instant the server says “unload,” this mod keeps already-rendered chunks around and lets go of them later under your control: chunks are held and only removed later based on configurable rules. Great for keeping what you’ve already seen on screen—like your base on low render-distance servers.

Credit & inspiration: the original Hold That Chunk (created to help ice boat racing).
For 1.18–1.20.6, use the original: https://modrinth.com/mod/hold-that-chunk

✨ Features

Enable Hold That Chunk — master toggle.
Note: changes take effect when switching worlds or reconnecting.
Ignore Server’s Render Distance
- True: your render distance can exceed the server’s render distance (vanilla fog may sit far out).
- False: your maximum render distance is capped to the server’s render distance.
  Note: changes take effect when switching worlds or reconnecting.
Respect Server’s Render Distance — always honor server unloads immediately (no holding).
Link to Render Distance — uses your render distance as the hold limit.
Hold Distance (2–256) — set a custom limit if you don’t want to link to render distance.
Ignore Empty Chunks (keep visuals) — when the server sends a clear/empty chunkdata packet for a chunk you already have rendered, the client can ignore it and keep your current visuals.
Ignore Empty Chunks Distance (2–256) — if you’re farther than this disance, empty chunkdata is ignored (visuals kept). If you’re closer, the clear is allowed.
Restore Empty Chunks Distance (2–256) — once you move within this distance, any previously ignored “clear” for that chunk is applied so you don’t carry stale terrain up close.
Server Render Distance readout — see the server-reported distance in the config screen.

🧠 How it works

When an unload packet arrives for a chunk you already rendered, the client holds it instead of removing it instantly.
Every tick the mod decides whether each held chunk should be removed (based on your settings).
Empty/clear chunkdata handling: if the server sends a “clear/empty” full-chunk packet for a chunk you already have rendered, the mod can ignore the clear and keep visuals if you’re farther than Ignore Empty Chunks Distance (and the chunk is currently loaded). Queue that clear and apply it later when you move within Restore Empty Chunks Distance, or when the chunk gets real updates, so nearby terrain doesn’t look stale.
You can ignore the server’s distance (keep more of what you’ve seen) or cap yourself to it so fog matches.

This does not force the server to send new chunks or raise its view distance. It only changes how long the client keeps chunks you’ve already rendered.

🧩 In-game Configuration (Mod Menu + Cloth Config)

If you have Mod Menu and Cloth Config installed, this mod exposes a full settings screen:

Open Mods → Hold That Chunk V2 → Configure (Mod Menu button).
All options (enable toggle, ignore/cap server distance, link to render distance, hold distance, ignore empty chunks, ignore empty chunks distance, restore empty chunks distance) can be adjusted in-game.

Don’t have them? Install Mod Menu and Cloth Config to access the in-game UI. Otherwise, you can edit the JSON config file manually.

🔎 Notes & limitations

Client-side only; does not increase server view distance or generate new data.
Holding more chunks can use additional memory—tune Hold Distance to your preference.
Options that change the client/server distance relationship (ignore/cap) typically apply after a world switch or reconnect because the server distance is negotiated on join.
The mod does not work in Singleplayer (same limitation as the original).
On pure vanilla servers the client may not receive the unload/forget-chunk packets this mod relies on, so the mod may appear inactive.

🙏 Credits

Original mod: Hold That Chunk — by dlee13 (Modrinth) / The_TermiGator (CurseForge)
Modrinth: https://modrinth.com/mod/hold-that-chunk
CurseForge: https://www.curseforge.com/minecraft/mc-mods/hold-that-chunk