Installing plugins on a Minecraft server (Paper, Spigot)
Where to download reliable plugins, how to install them in the plugins folder, configure them and update them without breaking your server.
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Plugins add features to a Java server without players having to install anything: land claims, ranks, economy, minigames… Here is how to install them properly.
1. Have a compatible server
Plugins work on Paper, Purpur or Spigot servers (Java). A Vanilla server does not load them, and a Fabric or Forge modded server uses mods, not plugins. If you are starting from scratch, choose Paper: see how to create a Minecraft server.
2. Download from the right place
- Hangar (hangar.papermc.io), the official repository of the Paper team;
- Modrinth (modrinth.com), which also lists plugins, with a platform filter;
- SpigotMC (spigotmc.org), the historical repository, with a huge catalog.
Avoid sites offering paid plugins for “free”: they are often modified files that may contain a backdoor giving access to your server. Always check that the plugin is compatible with your version of Minecraft.
3. Install the plugin
- Stop the server.
- Drop the
.jarfile into thepluginsfolder (with your host's file manager or over SFTP). - Restart the server. The plugin creates its configuration folder in
plugins/PluginName. - Check that it is loaded with the
/pluginscommand: it should appear in green.
Avoid the /reload command and plugins that hot-reload other plugins: they are a common source of bugs and memory leaks. A real restart is safer.
4. Configure
Most plugins are configured in a config.yml file. The YAML format is sensitive to spaces: keep the original indentation, do not use tabs, and put text containing special characters in quotes. After a change, restart (or use the plugin's own reload command when it has one, for example /lp reload).
5. Update safely
- Make a backup of the world and the
pluginsfolder before any update. - Read the release notes: some updates change the configuration format.
- Update one plugin at a time, so you know which one causes the problem if the server no longer starts.
- If there is an error at startup, the console (or
logs/latest.log) tells you which plugin failed and why.
What next?
Discover the essential plugins to get started, then install NuVotifier to reward your players for every vote.