How to Find and Fix JSON Errors on Your Minecraft Server

Trailing Commas (the #1 mistake)

JSON does not allow a comma after the last item in an object or array.

// WRONG
{
  "name": "Steve",
  "age": 25,
}

// CORRECT
{
  "name": "Steve",
  "age": 25
}

The same applies to arrays:

// WRONG
["a", "b", "c",]

// CORRECT
["a", "b", "c"]

Missing Quotes Around Keys

In JSON, all keys must be quoted with double quotes.

// WRONG
{ name: "Steve" }

// CORRECT
{ "name": "Steve" }

This is different from JavaScript, where unquoted keys are allowed. JSON is strict.

Single Quotes Instead of Double

JSON requires double quotes for both keys and string values. Single quotes are not allowed anywhere.

// WRONG
{ 'name': 'Steve' }

// CORRECT
{ "name": "Steve" }

Mismatched Brackets

Every { must have a }. Every [ must have a ]. Editors with bracket matching catch this immediately.

// WRONG (missing closing })
{
  "settings": {
    "enabled": true
}

// CORRECT
{
  "settings": {
    "enabled": true
  }
}

Comments

JSON does not support comments. No //, no /* */, no #.

// WRONG (// is not valid JSON)
{
  "name": "Steve" // the player
}

// CORRECT (no comments)
{
  "name": "Steve"
}

Workaround: Some Minecraft files (like pack.mcmeta) tolerate _comment fields as a convention: "_comment": "this is ignored by Minecraft".

Read the Console error

In the XGamingServer Panel, open Console and find the most recent JsonSyntaxException or MalformedJsonException message. Note the file path, line, and column.

Open the file in the panel editor

Click Files in the sidebar. Navigate to the file from the error and open it.

Validate the file online

Copy the entire file content. Paste it into jsonlint.com and click Validate. JSONLint highlights every error with line and column.

Fix the file

Apply the fixes from the five rules above. Most fixes are:

• Remove trailing comma
• Add missing comma between items
• Quote a key
• Replace single quotes with double quotes
• Add the missing } or ]

Save and reload

Click Save Content. Then:

• Datapack: run /reload in-game
• Resource pack: players need to reload the pack (F3+T or rejoin)
• Mod config: restart the server