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How to Upload a Plugin to a Minecraft Server

Plugins add new features to your server, from protection and economy to minigames. You can upload them through the control panel or with an FTP client.

What you need before you start

  • A Minecraft server on Redfox Cloud running a platform that supports plugins, e.g. Paper or Spigot.
  • The plugin file in .jar format.
  • An FTP client (WinSCP or FileZilla) if you upload via FTP.

Uploading the plugin

  1. Download the plugin

    You can find plugins on Modrinth, Hangar or SpigotMC. Choose a plugin that supports your server’s Minecraft version and platform.

    A plugin file always ends with .jar.

    Common mistake

    Some plugins require other plugins, e.g. Vault or ProtocolLib. They’re listed in the plugin description under “Dependencies”. Without them the plugin won’t start.

  2. Upload the plugin to the server

    Choose how you want to upload the plugin:

    1. Open the service control panel.
    2. Go to the “Plugins” section.
    3. Drag the .jar file from your computer into the browser window.
    File size limit

    Large plugins may fail to upload through the control panel. In that case, use an FTP client.

    plugins/ ├── PluginName.jar └── ...

  3. Restart the server

    Restart the server in the control panel. Plugins are only loaded when the server starts.

    Don’t use /reload

    The /reload command reloads plugins without restarting the server, but it often causes errors and memory leaks. Paper itself advises against it. Always restart the server.

  4. Configure the plugin

    After the first start, many plugins create their own folder with a settings file inside plugins:

    plugins/ ├── PluginName.jar └── PluginName/ └── config.yml

    Change the settings in config.yml with your FTP client and restart the server again.

Video tutorial

Prefer video? This video shows how to upload a plugin to the server.

Did it work?

Join the server and enter this command:

/plugins

Plugins shown in green are working. If your plugin is red or missing from the list, check the FAQ below.

FAQ

The plugin is red or missing from the list

The plugin failed to start. Usually it doesn’t support your server version or another required plugin is missing. You’ll find the exact cause in the server console, in the error messages shown during startup.

How do I update a plugin?

Stop the server, delete the old .jar file from the plugins folder, upload the new version and start the server. You don’t need to delete the plugin’s settings folder.

How do I remove a plugin?

Stop the server and delete the plugin’s .jar file. If you don’t want to keep its settings, also delete the folder with the same name.

What’s the difference between a plugin and a mod?

Plugins run only on the server, so players don’t need to install anything. Mods require the Forge or Fabric platform and often need to be installed on players’ computers too. More: How to install a modpack on the server.

What’s next

If you run into trouble, contact us via live chat or email.

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