How to Install Sponge Plugins on Your Minecraft Server
Learn how to use SpongeForge to run Sponge plugins alongside Forge mods.
Sponge is a plugin API that works with Forge modded servers. SpongeForge lets you run server-side plugins (permissions, economy, protection) alongside your Forge mods — something Bukkit plugins can't do on Forge.
Understanding Sponge vs Bukkit
| Feature | Bukkit/Spigot Plugins | Sponge Plugins |
|---|---|---|
| Works with Forge mods | No | Yes (SpongeForge) |
| Plugin ecosystem | Very large | Smaller |
| Standalone server | Paper/Spigot | SpongeVanilla |
| With mods | Not compatible | SpongeForge |
Use Sponge when you need both mods and plugins on the same server.
Installing SpongeForge
Verify your server runs Forge
SpongeForge requires a Forge modded server. Check your server type in Startup on the XGamingServer panel.
Download SpongeForge
Get the correct SpongeForge version from SpongePowered.org that matches your Forge and Minecraft version exactly.
Upload to the mods folder
Upload the SpongeForge .jar to your /mods/ folder via Files.
⚠️ Warning: The SpongeForge version must match your exact Forge version. Mismatched versions will crash the server.
Restart the server
Restart from Console. SpongeForge will create a /config/sponge/ directory.
Installing Sponge Plugins
Download Sponge plugins
Find Sponge plugins on Ore (SpongePowered plugin repository). Popular plugins include:
- LuckPerms (Sponge version) — Permissions
- Nucleus — Essentials-like commands
- GriefDefender (Sponge version) — Land protection
- EconomyLite — Economy system
Upload plugins to the mods folder
Sponge plugins go in the /mods/ folder — the same folder as your Forge mods. Upload via Files.
Restart and verify
Restart the server and check Console for plugin load messages. Run /sponge plugins to list loaded plugins.
Configuration
Sponge plugin configs are stored in /config/ rather than /plugins/. Each plugin creates its own subfolder:
/config/
├── sponge/ # SpongeForge core config
├── luckperms/ # LuckPerms config
├── nucleus/ # Nucleus config
└── griefdefender/ # GriefDefender config💡 Tip: If a plugin exists for both Bukkit and Sponge (like LuckPerms), make sure you download the Sponge version, not the Bukkit one. They're not interchangeable.
📝 Note: SpongeForge only works with Forge. If you're using Fabric, look into server-side Fabric mods instead — Fabric has its own ecosystem of server management mods.
See also: Installing Mods | LuckPerms
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