- Plugins need Paper, Purpur or Spigot. They do nothing on Vanilla, Fabric or Forge.
- Download the
.jarfor your Minecraft version, put it in thepluginsfolder, then restart the server. - Check with
/plugins. Green names loaded, red names failed: the console says why. - Never use
/reloadto load plugins on a live server.
Plugins vs mods: make sure you need plugins
Plugins run on the server only and use the Bukkit/Spigot/Paper API, so players join with a normal Minecraft client. They can add commands, permissions, land claims, economy and minigames, but they can't add new blocks or items with new textures. Mods (Fabric or Forge) can, but usually every player has to install them too. If you want new content, read how to make a modded server instead.
To use plugins, run Paper (recommended) or Purpur. If you're on Vanilla, switch to Paper first: it loads Vanilla worlds as they are. On NS5 that's a change in the Settings tab.
Where to download plugins safely
- Modrinth (modrinth.com/plugins) and Hangar (hangar.papermc.io) review uploads and show which versions each file supports.
- SpigotMC resources and CurseForge / dev.bukkit.org host most older and premium plugins.
- The plugin's own GitHub releases page, linked from one of the above.
Avoid re-uploads on random sites and "leaked" premium plugins. Plugins run with full access to your server, and backdoored jars are a common way servers get taken over.
Installing a plugin step by step
- Check compatibility. On the download page, confirm the plugin supports your Minecraft version and Paper/Spigot. Check whether it needs another plugin (a "dependency"), such as ProtocolLib or Vault.
- Back up first if the server already has a world you care about.
- Upload the jar into the
pluginsfolder in your server's root. Upload the.jaritself, not a zip containing it. - Restart the server (a full stop and start). Plugins load at startup.
- Check it loaded. Run
/pluginsin game orpluginsin the console. - Configure it. Most plugins create a folder in
plugins/with aconfig.ymlon first start. Edit it, then restart again or use the plugin's own reload command if it has one.
On NS5: one-click install
Open the Plugins tab on your server and search. We search Modrinth and only show versions built for your server's Minecraft version and software, and required dependencies are installed with the plugin. From the same tab you can check for updates, turn plugins off without deleting them, or remove them. Plugins that aren't on Modrinth can still be uploaded to /plugins with the Files tab or SFTP.
Plugins most servers should have
| Plugin | What it does |
|---|---|
| LuckPerms | Permissions and ranks. Decide exactly who can use which commands. |
| EssentialsX | Homes, warps, /tpa, kits, nicknames, moderation commands. |
| CoreProtect | Logs every block change so you can see who griefed what and roll it back. |
| GriefPrevention or Lands | Lets players claim land so others can't break their builds. |
| Chunky | Pre-generates the world so exploring doesn't lag the server. |
| spark | Profiler for finding what's causing lag. |
| WorldEdit | Fast building and editing for admins. |
| DiscordSRV | Links in-game chat with a Discord channel. |
Start with a few and add more as you need them. Each plugin is one more thing to update when Minecraft updates.
When a plugin won't load
- Red in /plugins, or not listed: scroll up in the console to the first error mentioning the plugin.
UnknownDependencyException: it needs another plugin. Install the one named in the error.Unsupported API versionorNoSuchMethodError: the plugin was built for a different Minecraft version. Get the matching build.UnsupportedClassVersionError: the plugin needs a newer Java than your server runs.- Two plugins fighting: remove recently added plugins one at a time until the problem stops.
Why not to use /reload
/reload unloads and reloads every plugin without restarting Java. Many plugins don't clean up after themselves, so it leaks memory and causes strange bugs that only go away after a restart. Paper warns about it for a reason. Restart instead; on a host it takes seconds.
Common questions
Can I use plugins and mods together?
Not on Paper, Fabric or Forge alone. Hybrid servers such as Mohist or Arclight try to run both, but they're often unstable and lag behind updates. Most servers pick one: plugins on Paper, or mods on Fabric or Forge.
Do players need to install plugins?
No. Plugins run only on the server, so players join with a normal Minecraft client.
Do Spigot plugins work on Paper?
Yes. Paper is built on Spigot and runs almost every Bukkit and Spigot plugin, as well as plugins written for Paper.
How many plugins can a server run?
There's no fixed limit. Well-written plugins are light, so 30–60 plugins on 4–6 GB is normal. What matters is which plugins, not how many.
Minecraft Java servers from $3.70/month on AMD EPYC with dedicated RAM. One-click Paper, Fabric, Forge and Modrinth modpacks, backups and SFTP included. Try one free for 48 hours, no card needed.