Name Tag Upgrade Wiki › Guides › Recover a Name Tag from a Named Mob
Recover a Name Tag from a Named Mob
Using Shears to Strip Names
If you want to remove a custom name from a mob and reclaim the name tag, use shears:
1. Hold shears in your hand
2. Right-click on any named mob
3. The mob's custom name will be removed
4. A name tag will drop as an item
5. Pick up the tag and use it again on another mob
This works on any mob that has been given a custom name, regardless of type.
When Mobs Die
You don't need shears if the mob dies naturally—the mod handles this automatically:
- When a named mob is killed, it drops its specific name tag along with normal loot
- You can immediately pick up the tag and reuse it
- This prevents losing custom names when your pets or farm animals perish
Renaming Already-Named Mobs
If you use a name tag on a mob that already has a custom name, you'll receive the old name tag back in your inventory. This lets you swap names between mobs without wasting tags.