Iris Shaders

Iris Shaders is a performance mod created by IrisShaders. A shader mod for Fabric that allows OptiFine shader packs to be used alongside Sodium for maximum performance. As a performance mod it concentrates on frame rate, loading times, and memory use, and it has been downloaded around 80 million times, which puts it among the options players reach for in this space.

Iris Shaders is built for Sodium players who want shader packs. Iris loads OptiFine-format and other shader packs while running on top of Sodium, combining high frame rates with modern lighting effects. It is approachable enough to drop into a world and use right away, with little setup required.

The mod is available for Fabric and Quilt, so it fits a range of modpacks and launchers. It currently supports Minecraft 1.20.1, 1.20.4, and 1.21.1, spanning the 1.20.1 to 1.21.1 releases. It is a client-side mod, which means you can add it to your own game for personal benefit even when the server you join does not run it.

Iris Shaders works particularly well alongside Sodium. It depends on Sodium, so those must be present and on the same loader and version. It targets the Fabric side of the ecosystem, so it pairs naturally with other Fabric mods and performance tools.

As a performance mod, Iris Shaders is meant to improve how the game runs rather than change gameplay, so it is generally safe to combine with other optimisation mods.

If you are comparing options, similar mods include OptiFine (built-in shaders) and Oculus (on Forge). They cover comparable ground, so the right choice usually comes down to your loader, version, and the rest of your pack.