Camera Lock-On

Camera Lock-On is a lightweight, highly configurable client-side target lock-on mod for Minecraft. It adds smooth camera lock-on, intelligent target selection, customizable HUD elements, and combat awareness while remaining fully compatible with vanilla servers.

Compatibility

• Client-side only.
• The server normally does not need the mod.
• Camera rotation automation may be restricted by competitive servers or anti-cheat systems, so check server rules before using it in multiplayer.

Showcase

See the mod in action:

https://youtu.be/P3lowF0oZbA

Features

Core Lock-On

• Lock onto any living target with a rebindable key (default: Middle Mouse Button).
• Smart Lock allows free camera movement while locked on, then smoothly recenters when mouse movement stops. It can also be disabled for a traditional always-centered lock.
• Adjustable elliptical dead zone for more natural camera control.
• Optional camera steering pause while mining, using items, riding entities, or flying with Elytra.
• Configurable Lost Target Grace prevents lock-on from instantly breaking when a target briefly leaves your view.

Targeting & Switching

• Two switching modes:
  • Smart: automatically selects the best nearby target.
  • Cycle: switches through visible targets in a stable clockwise order.
• Switch to both next and previous targets using configurable keybinds.
• Retarget Rule options:
  • Any Entity
  • Same Type First
  • Same Type Only
• Type Filter options:
  • Any Entity
  • Selected Only
  • Prefer Selected
• Search and select any registered vanilla or modded living entity.
• Multiple target priority modes:
  • Balanced
  • Crosshair
  • Nearest
  • Lowest Health
  • Highest Health
• Pin the current target type to temporarily restrict or prioritize switching within the same species.
• Optional Hostile Mobs Only filter.
• Prefer Bosses option.
• Per-entity blacklist.
• Auto Lock after aiming at a target.
• Auto Retarget when the current target is lost.
• Lock on Hit with configurable behavior.
• Per-entity Aim Overrides:
  • Feet
  • Lower Body
  • Center
  • Chest
  • Head
  • Custom point

Awareness & HUD

• Fully customizable Target HUD displaying:
  • Name
  • Health
  • Distance
  • Armor
  • Registry ID
  • Source mod
• Compact and Detailed display styles.
• Freely position the HUD anywhere on screen.
• Off-screen attacker indicators.
• Optional automatic lock-on after repeated attacks.
• Configurable behavior allowing attackers to replace the current target.

Extras

• Experimental Group Aim for AOE weapons.
• Optional Same Type Only safeguard for Group Aim.
• Save, load, update, import, export, and share complete configuration presets.
• 3D world-space targeting reticle with five color choices:
  • Cyan
  • Red
  • Green
  • Yellow
  • Purple
• Optional sounds for locking, switching, pinning, and unlocking.
• Complete in-game configuration interface with the following tabs:
  • Main
  • Camera
  • Auto
  • Filter
  • HUD
  • Threat
  • Group

No external configuration file editing is required.

How to Use

1. Look at a living entity.
2. Press the lock-on key (Middle Mouse Button by default) to lock onto it.
3. Press Tab to switch targets.
4. Press the lock-on key again to unlock, or simply move out of range.
5. Open Mods → Camera Lock-On → Config to customize every feature.

Setting Tips

• Farming a single mob? Set Retarget Rule to Same Type Only so switching stays within that species.
• Fighting inside villages or crowded areas? Enable Hostile Mobs Only to ignore villagers and passive animals.
• Want to focus on one specific mob, including modded creatures? Use Type Filter with Selected Only or Prefer Selected, then choose the desired entity.
• During boss fights with summoned adds, enable Pin Current Target Type to keep switching focused on the boss type. Use Clear Temporary Pinned Type when you're finished.
• If the camera feels inaccurate on unusually shaped mobs, create a per-entity Aim Override instead of relying on the global aim height.
• Enable Prefer Bosses to reduce accidental switching to nearby weaker enemies.
• Turn on Attacker Awareness if you frequently get hit from off-screen. Using Lock After Hits is generally less disruptive than Lock Immediately.
• Save different Presets for boss fights, farming, exploration, or PvP so you can switch configurations instantly.
• Group Aim is still experimental. Enabling Same Type Only helps prevent the aim from drifting toward unrelated nearby entities.