DynamicSkins 2.1.1 — Free Skin API

A complete rework of how skins are delivered. Skins no longer travel through the Minecraft connection: they are stored on the DynamicSkins skin API and players download them directly over HTTPS. Servers use the free DynamicSkins API out of the box — no setup, no secrets.

⚠️ Install on both the server and every client. 2.x uses a new network protocol: 1.x clients cannot join 2.x servers, and 2.x clients cannot join 1.x servers.

✨ Highlights

• Zero-config free API — Drop the jar into the server's mods folder and start it. The server creates its own key and registers with the free API by itself. Nothing to configure.
• Each server's skins stay separate — a server only sees and changes its own players' skins.
• Lighter servers — skin PNGs no longer go through the game connection; the server only sends small version updates, and clients download the files themselves.
• CrafOps Skin Studio — a new editor with a 3D preview (drag to rotate, Normal/Talking), where you can add, edit, apply and delete skins in one place.
• Skin library groups — organise saved skins into folders, move skins between them, and pick the folder when saving.
• Skin hotkeys — bind a key (with Ctrl, Shift or Alt) to a saved skin and switch skins in-game instantly, no menu needed.
• Hide the 3D preview per skin — keep a new skin a surprise while editing others.
• Choose your editor — the classic Legacy editor or Skin Studio as the default for F8; both share the same library, groups and hotkeys.

⚡ Performance

• Downloaded skins are cached on disk (up to 512 MB, oldest removed first), so skins you have seen load instantly next time. Every file is checked against its SHA-256 hash.
• At most 4 downloads at once, and skin updates are spread over a few seconds, so busy servers don't cause download spikes.
• The server re-reads online players' skins every minute, so changes always arrive.

🛠️ For server admins

• /dynamicskins status — mode, server id, players with a skin, API calls and the last error.
• /dynamicskins status <player> — that player's skin version, model and files.
• /dynamicskins test — checks that the skin API is reachable.
• /dynamicskins reload — applies config changes without a restart.
• Back up config/dynamicskins-server-key.json. It is your server's identity on the free API: if it is lost, the server registers again with a new identity and players upload their skins again.
• Running your own skin API instead? Set [api] url and secret in config/dynamicskins-common.toml. Leave both empty to use the free API.

🔒 Privacy & network

• Clients connect to the free API (api-ds-revo.54621325.xyz) over HTTPS to upload and download skins.
• Stored there: skin images (PNG), the player's UUID and skin model (slim/wide), and for each server its public key, server name (MOTD) and the IP address it registered from (for abuse limits). No passwords or Minecraft account credentials are ever sent.
• A player can only change their own skin: uploads need a short-lived token from the server.
• The free API is provided as-is (best effort) and has usage limits. Skins of servers that stay inactive for a long time may be removed.

⬆️ Upgrading from 1.x

• Skins stored on your server by 1.x are not moved automatically: players upload their skin again. Each player's saved skin library on their own PC is kept.
• The [delivery] serverKBps setting is gone (skins no longer go through the server).

📦 Requirements

• Minecraft 1.20.1, Forge 47.4.0 or newer — on the server and on every client.
• Optional: Plasmo Voice 2.1+ for the talking texture while speaking.
• Skins: square PNG, 64–1024 px, a normal and an optional talking texture.