How to install a Minecraft plugin on Paper or Spigot
To install a Minecraft plugin, stop the server, copy the plugin JAR into the plugins folder which is in the same folder as the server jar ( usually called paper.jar / purpur.jar / spigot.jar ), start the server, then stop it again to edit the config file the plugin generates. Plugins only work on Bukkit based software such as Paper, Purpur and Spigot, Leaf, and sometimes Folia if directly supported, never on vanilla, Forge or Fabric.
How do I install a plugin on a Paper or Spigot server? #
- Stop the server completely from your host panel or with the
stopconsole command. Hot-dropping a JAR into a running server is the single most common cause of "plugin not loading". - Open the server files and go to the
pluginsfolder that sits in the same folder as thepaper.jar/spigot.jar/purpur.jar/ whatever the server jar is called for you. - Upload the plugin
.jarfile into that folder. Do not unzip it and do not rename it. - Start the server and watch the console. A working plugin prints a line such as
[PluginName] Enabled PluginName. - Stop the server again, open
plugins/PluginName/config.yml, change what you need, and start it once more. - Run
/pluginsin game orpluginswithout / in the console. Green means loaded, red means it failed.
Which server software supports plugins? #
| Server software | Plugins (Bukkit API) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Paper | Yes | Recommended |
| Purpur | Yes | Recommended |
| Spigot | Yes | Works |
| Folia | Partly | Only plugins which support it |
| Velocity / BungeeCord | Proxy plugins only | Server plugins do not load here |
| Vanilla / Forge / Fabric | No | Use mods instead |
Why is my plugin not showing up in /plugins? #
Check these in order:
- The file is a
.jar, not a.zipor a folder. - It landed in
plugins/, not another folder. - The server was fully restarted, not reloaded.
- The console shows no
Unsupported class file major versionerror. That error means the plugin needs a newer Java than your host runs. - The plugin supports your Minecraft version. A plugin built for 1.21 usually will not load on 1.16.
Do I need to restart or can I use /reload? #
Restart. Never use /reload. It harms your server more than it saves you time.
Can I use a plugin manager such as PlugMan? #
Yes, and no. Some plugins can be loaded by PlugMan but it is highly recommended not to use these on the first plugin load.
How many plugins is too many? #
There is no hard limit, but every plugin adds startup time and memory. Servers with 100 or more plugins usually have several overlapping ones. Replacing five overlapping plugins with one purpose-built plugin is normally faster than tuning all five.
Frequently asked questions
Can I install a plugin without restarting the server?
No. Copying a JAR into a running server is the most common reason a plugin does not appear in /plugins. The server needs to map it first, so stop your server and start it up.
Do plugins work on vanilla Minecraft?
No. Plugins need Bukkit based software such as Paper, Purpur or Spigot.
Where is the plugins folder?
In the same directory as server.jar. If it does not exist yet, start the server once and it will be created. Make sure to open the eula.txt and set the eula=false to eula=true if you haven't already!