Installing mods on a Minecraft server
Pick the right loader, tell server mods from client mods, and install mods from Modrinth or CurseForge in a few clicks.
Mods need a mod loader on the server, and every player needs the same loader and the same mods in the same versions. If you want a ready set of mods, a modpack is easier: see Installing modpacks.
Choose the loader first
A mod is made for one loader and one Minecraft version. Set both in the Version and engine tab before you add anything. Changing the loader later means mods for the old one stop working.
| Loader | When to pick it |
|---|---|
| Fabric | Fast and light, updated quickly for new Minecraft versions. Good for performance and small add-ons. |
| NeoForge | The successor of Forge for newer versions (1.20.2 and up). Most big new mods move here. |
| Forge | The classic loader. Pick it for older versions and packs built on Forge. |
Server, client or both
Not every mod belongs on the server. Mods that add blocks, items or mobs must be on both sides. Optimisation mods for the server go only on the server, and graphics or map mods only on the player's computer. A client-only mod on the server often stops it from starting.
| Examples | Where to install |
|---|---|
| Create, Farmer's Delight, Biomes O' Plenty, Applied Energistics 2 | Server and every player |
| Lithium, FerriteCore, Chunky, spark | Server only |
| Sodium, Iris, Xaero's Minimap, JourneyMap | Player only, never on the server |
Installing from the panel
- Stop the server.
- Open the Mods tab. It searches Modrinth and CurseForge and shows only mods that match your loader and version.
- Pick a mod and click install. The panel downloads the right file into the
modsfolder. - Start the server and wait for
Donein the console.
Uploading a mod by hand
If a mod is not in the search, download its .jar file for your loader and version and upload it to the mods folder in Files. For many files at once, use SFTP. Many mods need a library mod as well (Fabric API, Architectury, Cloth Config): the mod page lists them under dependencies.
When the server stops after adding a mod
Remove the last mod you added and start again. The Log analysis tab points out the mod that caused the crash and the usual reason: a missing dependency, a wrong Minecraft version, or a client-only mod. Mods also use memory, so after adding many of them check that the plan still has enough RAM.