Overview#
Better Ping Display replaces the small five-bar connection icon in the multiplayer tab player list with each player's exact latency, written as a number in milliseconds.
The change is purely visual and happens entirely on the client, so it works on any server without the server needing the mod. Open the player list the way you normally would (by default, hold the player-list key) and every player's ping is shown as a number next to their name.
What the Ping Number Shows#
The number is the round-trip latency between that player and the server, measured in milliseconds (ms). A lower number means a faster, more responsive connection.
| Ping range | What it usually means |
|---|---|
| Under 50 ms | Excellent, very responsive |
| 50 - 150 ms | Good, normal for most online play |
| 150 - 300 ms | Noticeable delay |
| Over 300 ms | High latency, likely to feel laggy |
Because the exact value is shown instead of a rough bar icon, it is much easier to compare connections between players.
Automatic Ping Colours#
By default the ping number is coloured automatically based on how high it is, so you can judge a connection at a glance:
- Green for a low ping (a good connection).
- Yellow as the ping rises into the middle range.
- Red for a high ping (a poor connection).
The colour blends smoothly between green, yellow and red as the latency changes. Automatic colouring can be turned off in the configuration, in which case a single fixed colour is used for every player.
Configuration Options#
All behaviour is controlled from the mod's configuration file, which is created automatically the first time the game runs.
| Option | What it does |
|---|---|
| Automatic colouring | Turns the green-to-red colouring on or off |
| Text colour | Sets the fixed colour used when automatic colouring is off |
| Number format | Controls how the ping value is written (for example, whether an ms suffix is shown) |
| Show ping bars | Chooses whether the original vanilla connection bars are still drawn next to the number |
Edit the values, then rejoin a world or server to see the changes applied to the tab list.
Using It on Servers#
Better Ping Display only needs to be installed on your own game. Everything is drawn on the client side while the tab list is rendered, so:
- It works on any vanilla or modded server.
- The server does not need the mod installed.
- Other players do not need the mod to appear with a numeric ping in your tab list.
This makes it a lightweight, server-friendly way to keep an eye on connection quality during multiplayer play.
Tips#
- Use the numeric ping to spot which players have a weak connection before starting time-sensitive activities such as PvP.
- If every player shows a high ping, the problem is more likely the server or your own connection than any single player.
- Keep automatic colouring on for the quickest read; switch to a fixed colour if you prefer a cleaner, single-colour look.
- Turn the vanilla bars back on if you like seeing both the number and the classic connection icon together.
