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Your Minecraft server can find and install plugins, mods and whole modpacks for you. This guide shows how each page works, which free plugins are worth having and how to give a plugin its own database.

Difficulty

Beginner

Time

10 minutes

Plugins or mods?

The sidebar shows the page that fits your server type: Modpacks is always there. To switch between plugins and mods, change your server type in Version Changer. See server configuration.
Plugins and mods only load when the server starts. After you install, update, enable, disable or remove one, restart the server. Avoid /reload: it can break plugins.

Install a plugin

1

Open Plugins

Open your server and click Plugins in the sidebar. The Browse tab is open.
2

Search and filter

Type in Search plugins. Use the filters if you need to:
  • Source: Modrinth (default), Hangar, SpigotMC or CurseForge.
  • Minecraft version: set to your server’s version for you.
  • Loaders: Paper, Spigot and Bukkit are selected by default.
  • Sort by and results per page.
Plugins page on the Browse tab with an info banner about restarting, filters for Source, Minecraft version, Loaders and Sort, a search box and a grid of plugin cards

Browsing plugins

3

Pick a version

Click a plugin. Under Versions for this server you see versions that match your server. Switch on Show all versions to see the rest. Click Install next to the version you want.
Plugin dialog with the author, summary, a View on Modrinth link and a Versions for this server list, each version showing its number, Release tag, Minecraft versions, loaders, age, downloads, size and an Install button

Choosing a plugin version

4

Restart the server

A message confirms the install, for example Installed — Chunky 1.5.3 — Restart the server to load it. Restart the server.
Green Installed message showing the plugin name, version and jar file, with the note Restart the server to load it, and an Installed badge on the version row

The plugin is installed

Read the plugin’s description before you install. Some projects in search results are client mods rather than server plugins. Those do nothing on your server.

Update, disable or remove a plugin

Click the Installed tab.
Installed tab showing 1 plugin and 0 updates available, a Check for updates button and a row for Chunky with its version, jar file, size, an enable toggle and a delete icon

The Installed tab

  • Check for updates looks for newer versions. To update, open the plugin on Browse and install the newer version. Installing another version replaces the old one.
  • The toggle disables or enables a plugin without deleting it.
  • The bin icon removes the plugin.
Restart the server after any change. A plugin’s settings stay in its folder inside plugins/ until you delete that folder in Files.

A plugin isn’t listed

Some authors don’t allow downloads from other sites. Download the .jar from the plugin’s official page, then upload it to the plugins folder in Files or over SFTP, and restart.

Install a mod

The Mods page works like Plugins. The header tells you which loader and version it shows mods for, for example Showing mods for Fabric 26.3. It only installs versions that match your server.
Mods page header saying which loader and Minecraft version it shows mods for, with the Before you install mods section open

Before you install mods

Open Before you install mods for the rules. In short: The Installed tab lists your mods with a toggle and a delete icon, plus Check for updates. Mods you didn’t install through this page, such as those from a modpack, show Not installed here. You can still disable or delete them.
Mods Installed tab showing 32 mods and 0 updates available, with rows for each jar file, a Not installed here badge, file size, an enable toggle and a delete icon

Installed mods


Install a modpack

Modpacks installs a complete pack, including the right loader and Minecraft version, in one go.
1

Find a pack

Click Modpacks. Pick a Source: CurseForge, Modrinth or Feed The Beast. Search, or filter by Minecraft version and Loaders.
Modpacks page with Source, results per page, Minecraft version, Loaders and Sort filters, a search box and modpack cards showing name, author, summary, downloads, likes and last update

Browsing modpacks

2

Pick a version

Click the pack and click Install next to a version. Versions without a server pack can’t be installed and say so.
Modpack dialog with the author, summary, a View on CurseForge link, a description and a Versions list with file names, Release or Beta tags, Minecraft versions, size, age, downloads and Install buttons

Modpack versions

3

Check the summary

The summary shows the Minecraft version, the loader, how many mods and files are downloaded, and how many client-only files are skipped.
Install dialog table listing the pack, Minecraft version, loader installed through the Version Changer, number of mods and files to download, configuration files, client-only files not installed on a server and the server state

Install summary

4

Choose your options

Modpack install options with toggles for Delete Server Files, Back up the server first, Accept EULA and Start the server afterwards, and Back and Install modpack buttons

Install options

5

Click Install modpack

The panel backs up the server, downloads and checks every mod, installs Minecraft and the loader through Version Changer, and puts the files in place. You can click Continue in background and come back later.
Modpack installed message saying a backup was created first, the loader and Minecraft version were installed through the Version Changer, how many files were installed and how many client-only files were skipped

Modpack installed

Every player needs the same modpack and version on their own game. Tell them to install it with the CurseForge app, the Modrinth app, the FTB app or a launcher such as Prism Launcher.
Client-only files (for example minimaps or shader mods) are not installed on the server. That’s normal.
These plugins are free, widely used and available on Modrinth, Hangar or SpigotMC. Check the version supports your Minecraft version.

Give a plugin a MySQL database

Plugins such as LuckPerms, CoreProtect and economy plugins can store data in MySQL. This is faster on big servers and lets several servers share data.
1

Create a database

Click Databases in the sidebar, then Create database. Give it a name, such as luckperms. See how to manage databases.
2

Copy the connection details

On the database card, choose a format under connection snippets, such as Plugin config, LuckPerms or CoreProtect, click Show on the password and click Copy.
3

Paste into the plugin's config

Open the plugin’s config in Files (for example plugins/LuckPerms/config.yml), set the storage type to MySQL and paste the details.
4

Restart

Restart the server and check the console for connection errors.
If several plugins share one database, give each its own table prefix in its config so their tables don’t clash.

Popular setups

Recipes for SMP, economy, voting and more.

Server configuration

Change server type and version.

Troubleshooting

Fix crashes after installing something.

Performance

RAM and lag tips for modded servers.

Need Extra Help?

If you encounter any issues, our support team is ready to assist:

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Last Updated: October 2026