Overview#
The Ingame Account Switcher (IAS) mod is a vital utility for players who manage multiple Minecraft accounts. It eliminates the tedious process of closing and reopening the game to switch profiles. The mod provides a dedicated user interface accessible from the main menu and the server list, allowing for seamless transitions between different identities, including full support for modern Microsoft authentication and legacy offline modes.
Key features include a robust encryption system to protect account tokens, skin previews for saved accounts, and extensive configuration options to customize how account information is displayed in-game.
Account Management#
The core of the mod is the Account Selector screen, which lists all saved profiles. Each entry displays the account's username and a real-time skin preview using integrated skin widgets.
Adding Accounts
Players can add accounts through several methods:
- Microsoft Login: The standard method for modern accounts. It provides a link to be opened in a browser or an alternative device-code method (similar to MultiMC/Prism) where a code is entered on the Microsoft website.
- Offline Mode: Allows the creation of local-only profiles. These accounts do not require a password but are limited to servers that have
online-modeset tofalse. - Legacy Mojang: Support for older accounts that have not yet been migrated (though most are now Microsoft-based).
Editing and Deleting
Existing accounts can be edited to update credentials or change their display alias. Deleting an account removes its stored tokens and configuration from the local machine. For security, deleting an account within the UI is the recommended way to clear sensitive data before sharing a modpack or game folder.
Mechanics & Features#
The mod introduces several mechanics to improve the user experience and security of account switching.
Skin Preview System
IAS utilizes modern skin widgets to render a 3D preview of the character skin associated with each saved account. This allows players to visually verify which account they are selecting before logging in.
UI Integration
- Main Menu Button: A dedicated button is added to the main title screen. Its position can be adjusted or moved automatically if other mods (like Custom Main Menu) are present.
- Server List Button: An optional button appears in the Multiplayer server list, allowing for quick switches while browsing servers.
- Title Bar Display: The mod can be configured to show the currently logged-in username in the Minecraft window title bar.
- Server List Nicknames: An option to display the current account's nickname directly in the server list UI for quick reference.
Security & Encryption#
Security is a primary focus of the mod, especially regarding the storage of access tokens. Accounts are stored in a dedicated folder outside the standard config directory to prevent accidental sharing.
Encryption Methods
IAS offers three levels of encryption for stored account data:
| Method | Security Level | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Password Encryption | High | Encrypts data using a user-provided password. The password is never stored on disk, only in RAM. Uses AES/GCM with PBKDF2 hashing (500,000 iterations). |
| Hardware Encryption | Medium | Uses unique hardware and OS identifiers to encrypt data. More convenient as it requires no manual password, but less secure against targeted malware. |
| No Crypt | None (Unsafe) | Stores tokens in plaintext. This is disabled by default and requires a specific config change and keybind to enable. |
Token Protection
To prevent token stealing, the mod uses "loud" filenames and disclaimers within the account storage folder. It also provides documentation on how to revoke tokens via the Microsoft account dashboard if a breach is suspected.
Configuration#
The mod's behavior can be fine-tuned through its configuration file. Key options include:
- showNickOnServerList: (Boolean) Toggles the display of the current username in the multiplayer menu.
- buttonOnServerList: (Boolean) Enables or disables the account switcher button in the server list.
- showUsernameInTitle: (Boolean) Displays the active account name in the game window title.
- allowNoEncryption: (Boolean) Enables the unsafe plaintext storage option.
- validateOfflineNames: (Boolean) Enforces standard Minecraft username rules (length and characters) for offline accounts. This can be disabled to allow custom names on specific private servers.
- moveButtonIfNecessary: (Boolean) Automatically shifts the IAS button if it overlaps with other modded UI elements.
Troubleshooting & Errors#
The mod includes detailed error reporting to help users resolve authentication issues.
Common Error Codes
- Invalid Credentials: Occurs when the stored token has expired or the password was changed externally. Re-adding the account usually fixes this.
- Hardware Mismatch: If using Hardware Encryption and the user changes their PC components (CPU, Motherboard, etc.), the accounts will become unreadable and must be re-added.
Secure Log Sharing
Users are cautioned never to share full debug logs publicly, as they may contain sensitive session tokens. The mod includes a "Secure Log Sharing" protocol that strips sensitive data or advises on private sharing with developers.
