Enshrouded 1.0 is out−25%
MinecraftMinecraft·Mods & Plugins

Installing Plugins on Your Minecraft Server

Adding plugins to your Minecraft server can enhance gameplay and add new features. This guide will show you how to install plugins properly.

Noah
2 min read
January 8, 2024
Last updated: September 28, 2026
Table of Contents

Installing Plugins on Your Minecraft Server

Plugins add commands, protection, economies, minigames and much more to your server, without players having to install anything. This guide shows the quick way through the panel and the manual way.

Before you start: plugins need Paper or Spigot

Plugins only load on plugin software such as Paper, Spigot or Purpur. Vanilla cannot load plugins, and Forge, NeoForge and Fabric load mods instead. If your server runs one of those, switch to Paper in the Version tab first. Your worlds are kept.

Take a backup in the Backups tab before you add new plugins.

Option 1: the Plugins tab (easiest)

  1. Open your server in the game panel and go to the Plugins tab
  2. Search for the plugin you want under Browse
  3. Click it and pick a version. The latest version that fits your Minecraft version is selected for you
  4. Click Install
  5. Restart the server so the plugin loads

Under Installed you can see what is on the server, update plugins when a newer version is out, and remove them with Uninstall.

Option 2: upload the plugin yourself

  1. Download the plugin's .jar file from a trusted source, such as SpigotMC, Hangar or Modrinth
  2. In the panel, open the Files tab and go into the plugins folder
  3. Click Upload and choose the .jar file
  4. Restart the server

Configuring a plugin

Most plugins create their own folder inside plugins the first time the server starts with them, usually with a config.yml inside.

  1. Open the Files tab and go to plugins
  2. Open the folder named after your plugin
  3. Edit the config file and save it
  4. Restart the server, or use the plugin's own reload command if it has one

Important notes

  • Only download plugins from trusted sources
  • Check that the plugin supports your Minecraft version
  • Some plugins need other plugins (dependencies) to work. The plugin's page lists them
  • Some plugins conflict with each other. If the server fails to start, check the Console for the plugin named in the error
  • Restart the server rather than using /reload, which many plugins do not handle well

Need help finding the right plugins? Open a support ticket and we will help.

Minecraft

Ready to play Minecraft?

Get your own server running in minutes.

View plans

More Minecraft guides

Mods & Plugins

How to Install Datapacks on a Minecraft Server

Install Minecraft datapacks from the Datapacks tab or upload a .zip to world/datapacks, then reload. Covers datapack list, enable and existing worlds.

Read article
Server Administration

Backing Up Your Minecraft World

Learn how to back up your Minecraft world by hand or on a schedule, lock the backups you want to keep, and restore one safely.

Read article
Configuration

How to Force a Custom Resource Pack on Your Minecraft Server

Push your own texture pack to every player who joins: host the zip with a direct link, add the URL and SHA-1 to server.properties, and require it.

Read article
Troubleshooting

Fix Connection Timed Out When Joining a Minecraft Server

Fix Connection timed out and forcibly closed by the remote host in Minecraft: server status, the right address and port, versions, Bedrock, firewalls and logs.

Read article