Before you startLink to this section
You need three things:
- access to your server’s files
- a server that runs plugins, such as Paper or Spigot. Each plugin’s docs page says what it runs on.
- the plugins it depends on, at or above the version it names. They are listed under Install on its docs page.
Try it on a copy of your server first if you can. A plugin that works on a test server will not surprise your players.
Get the filesLink to this section
Free plugins download from their docs page on this site, with no sign-up and no gated link. A Pro plugin’s docs page links to where it is offered.
Add it to your serverLink to this section
Step 1: Put the jar in your plugins folder
Copy the
.jarfile straight into thepluginsfolder, not into a folder of its own inside it. There is nothing to unzip.Step 2: Add what it needs
Any plugins it depends on go in the same folder, at the version its docs page names or newer.
Step 3: Restart the server
Stop the server and start it again. Avoid
/reload: it swaps plugins in place without a clean start and is a common source of errors.Step 4: Check the console
A plugin that loads prints an
Enablingline with its name and version. Anything in red after it is worth reading before players join.Step 5: Set it up
After the first start, its settings usually sit in a folder named after it inside
plugins, often asconfig.yml. Change what you need, then restart again.
When it does not loadLink to this section
| What you see | What to do |
|---|---|
| No Enabling line at all | The jar must sit directly in plugins, as a .jar, not inside a zip or a subfolder. |
| The console names a missing dependency | Add that plugin to the same folder at the version listed, then restart. |
| The console says the plugin could not be loaded | Check that your server software and version are ones the plugin’s docs page lists. |
| Errors after using /reload | Stop the server and start it again; a clean start usually clears them. |
Still stuckLink to this section
Ask in #questions with the plugin’s name and version, your server software and version, and the console output. Getting help lists what to include so the first reply is an answer.