The LightAPI addon makes portals emit block light into the surrounding area, just like a torch or glowstone. The light level is fully configurable, so you can create anything from a subtle ambient glow to a bright beacon that illuminates the surrounding terrain. This addon requires the LightAPI plugin (version 5.3.0 or later) to be installed on your server.
Requirements
Configuration
Add the following block to your portal’s .yml file:
Addon:
LightAPI:
Level: <0-15>
| Field | Type | Description |
|---|
Level | Integer (0–15) | The light level emitted by the portal. 0 emits no light; 15 is the maximum brightness (equivalent to full sunlight or a beacon beam). |
10, which produces a warm, visible glow without overwhelming nearby blocks.
Light Level Reference
| Level | Equivalent Source |
|---|
| 0 | No light |
| 7 | Redstone torch |
| 10 | Recommended portal glow |
| 14 | Sea lantern |
| 15 | Beacon / full sunlight |
Paper Compatibility Mode
After a recent Paper server update, LightAPI requires two additional settings in its own configuration file to function correctly. Open ./plugins/LightAPI/config.yml and set:
enable-compatibility-mode: true
force-enable-legacy: true
Enabling enable-compatibility-mode and force-enable-legacy in LightAPI’s config may impact server performance, particularly on servers with a large number of active portals or frequent light updates. Monitor your server’s TPS after enabling these settings and adjust the number of light-emitting portals accordingly.
Example
The following configuration makes a portal glow at light level 10:
Addon:
LightAPI:
Level: 10
Combine the LightAPI addon with the Particles addon to create portals that both glow and emit visual effects — an atmospheric combination for dungeon entrances or magical gateway builds.
