How to install plugins on a Minecraft server

Plugins add features like homes, ranks, shops and protection. They work on Paper, Spigot and Purpur servers, not on vanilla, Fabric or Forge.

Before you start

• Check that your server is Paper, Spigot or Purpur
• Download plugins only from trusted pages such as SpigotMC, Modrinth or Hangar
• Make sure each plugin supports your Minecraft version

Install a plugin

1. Download the plugin's .jar file.
2. Stop your server.
3. Upload the .jar into the plugins folder using the Files tab.
4. Start the server and watch the console to confirm it loads.
5. Edit the plugin's settings in its folder under plugins, then restart.

Tip: restart the server after changes instead of using /reload, which can cause bugs and memory leaks.

Common errors

• "Could not load plugin" or "Unsupported API version": the plugin is for a different Minecraft version. Download the right version.
• "Missing dependency" or "Unknown dependency": the plugin needs another plugin first, such as Vault or ProtocolLib. Install it too.
• "UnsupportedClassVersionError": your Java version is too old for that plugin. Ask us to switch your server's Java version.
• Plugin does not show in /plugins: check the file is a real .jar, not a .zip, and that it is directly in the plugins folder.