CBD / Documentation

CBD wiki

Connect your browser, set up touch controls, and make the layout yours.

Getting started

CBD turns a phone or tablet browser into a touchscreen display and controller for the Minecraft Java client running on your PC. No companion app or mobile Minecraft installation is required.

Install the CBD JAR for Minecraft 1.21.1 and your loader. Use Java 21; Fabric also needs Fabric API.
Launch Minecraft and open CBD using F6 or its configured keybind.
Press Start in the CBD configuration screen.
Reveal the connection details, then scan the QR code or open the displayed address in your phone browser. Enter the displayed PIN.

The default listening port is 25570, but use the address actually shown by your game. PC and phone should be on the same trusted local network.

Touch controls

Movement uses a thumbstick or arrow pad. Action buttons can be bound to Minecraft or modpack keybinds. Tap a hotbar slot to select it.

Touch: Tap targets directly and hold to mine under your finger.
Classic: Crosshair and attack/use buttons, with touch targeting available.
Crosshair: Actions target the screen center, like mouse and keyboard.

Multi-touch lets movement and looking happen together. Control behavior is still under development.

Layouts and buttons

Edit the control layout from the phone: move controls, resize them from their corners, adjust opacity, and choose an action. The action picker includes registered modpack keybinds.

Save keeps the layout; Cancel discards the edit. Named layouts live under config/cbd/layouts/. General settings are stored in config/cbd/settings.json.

Inventory, typing, and chat

When a Minecraft GUI opens, CBD switches to GUI mode. Game controls stand down and keyboard, Escape, and close controls become available. Two-finger swipes provide scrolling.

Focus a text field in Minecraft, then use Type on the phone to open its keyboard. CBD routes input through the game callbacks used by vanilla and interface mods.

The phone has its own chat panel with a normal text field. Command completion uses the connected game client. Compatibility with individual mod interfaces can vary.

Connection and privacy

CBD does not open a listening port until you press Start. The listener closes when Minecraft exits and may remain open while you leave or load a world.

The address, PIN, and QR code are hidden by default to avoid showing them in a screen share. Reveal them only when connecting your device.

Keep Local network only enabled. Internet access and router forwarding are separate opt-in settings, not required for local play. Do not expose the stream publicly by default.

Devices and performance

Use a current browser on Android, iOS, a tablet, or another browser-enabled device. Minecraft rendering and game logic remain on the PC.

A stable Wi-Fi connection, lower stream resolution, and a lower frame rate can improve performance. On iOS, adding the page to the Home Screen can remove browser chrome. iOS browsers do not provide the vibration API used for button haptics.

The documented transport is JPEG over WebSocket, not a promise of WebRTC or hardware H.264 encoding. Performance depends on the PC, network, browser, and modpack.

Troubleshooting

The phone cannot connect

Confirm Start is active, both devices use the same local network, and the displayed address and PIN are current. Guest Wi-Fi isolation or a PC firewall can prevent phone access even when the PC browser works. Use the actual configured port when checking firewall rules.

The stream stutters

Check browser hardware acceleration and power-saving settings. Reduce stream resolution or frame rate, and use a stronger local Wi-Fi connection. A successful connection does not guarantee smooth performance.

A modded screen behaves differently

Record the modpack, loader, device/browser, steps, and relevant non-sensitive logs. Report the issue through the CBD report page; do not include your PIN or private connection details.

Is subject to change and be updated.