How to install plugins on a Paper server

Before you download

Identify the Minecraft, Paper and Java versions your server uses. Read the listing and author documentation: a Paper or Bukkit plugin is not a Fabric or Forge mod, and a proxy plugin may belong on a different process.

Check what the plugin does, which permissions it needs and whether it requires other plugins or libraries. Use the author’s release or an authorized distribution. Do not run a file solely because its name matches your search.

Installation steps

1. Back up your world and server configuration. If the plugin changes data, also back up the data its author documents.
2. Stop the server normally. Confirm that the process has exited before changing files.
3. Download the compatible JAR and place it in Paper’s plugins folder. For ZIP releases, follow the author’s instructions and locate the JAR for your platform.
4. Install required dependencies and avoid keeping two versions of the same plugin.
5. Start your server and read the console. Confirm that the plugin loaded; a working command does not replace checking for errors.
6. Configure files, permissions and commands using the documentation. Restart when required and test with a player account as well as an administrator account.

If the plugin fails to load

Start with the first relevant startup error. Look for a missing dependency, unsupported version, damaged file or conflicting copy. Record versions and keep the full log before requesting help.

A missing feature may be caused by permissions or configuration even when the plugin loaded. Check the documentation before changing another component. Do not use improvised reloads instead of a restart when the plugin does not support them.

Choose the next resource

Resources lets you browse by game and category and inspect a listing’s compatibility before downloading. Choose by the function you need, not only downloads or popularity. If a version is not documented, ask the author instead of assuming support.