# How to Install Plugins on Your Minecraft Server (/docs/minecraft/plugin-setup)



import { Step, Steps } from 'fumadocs-ui/components/steps';
import { Files, Folder, File } from 'fumadocs-ui/components/files';

Plugins extend a Minecraft server with new features — homes, economy, permissions, world protection, mini-games. They're written in Java and load at startup from the `plugins/` folder.

Server Type Requirement [#server-type-requirement]

Plugins **require** a plugin-compatible server type. Vanilla Minecraft cannot run plugins.

| Server Type                   | Supports Plugins | Notes                                            |
| ----------------------------- | ---------------- | ------------------------------------------------ |
| **Paper**                     | ✅ Yes            | Recommended — fastest, most features, modern API |
| **Purpur**                    | ✅ Yes            | Paper fork with extra features                   |
| **Pufferfish**                | ✅ Yes            | Paper fork focused on performance                |
| **Spigot**                    | ✅ Yes            | Older but still widely supported                 |
| **Bukkit**                    | ✅ Yes            | Original API, mostly superseded by Paper         |
| **Vanilla**                   | ❌ No             | Use Paper instead                                |
| **Forge / NeoForge / Fabric** | ❌ No (use mods)  | Use [mod-setup](/docs/minecraft/mod-setup)       |

To switch your server type, see [Switch Version](/docs/minecraft/switch-version) or [Install Custom JAR](/docs/minecraft/install-custom-jar).

Plugin File Structure [#plugin-file-structure]

<Files>
  <Folder name="(server root)" defaultOpen>
    <Folder name="plugins" defaultOpen>
      <File name="EssentialsX.jar" />

      <File name="LuckPerms.jar" />

      <File name="WorldGuard.jar" />

      <File name="WorldEdit.jar" />

      <Folder name="EssentialsX">
        <File name="config.yml" />

        <File name="userdata/" />
      </Folder>

      <Folder name="LuckPerms">
        <File name="config.yml" />
      </Folder>
    </Folder>
  </Folder>
</Files>

After first run, most plugins create a config folder inside `plugins/` named after themselves with their settings.

Install a Plugin [#install-a-plugin]

<Steps>
  <Step>
    Download the plugin [#download-the-plugin]

    Get the `.jar` from a trusted source:

    | Source               | URL                                                           |
    | -------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------- |
    | **SpigotMC**         | [spigotmc.org/resources](https://www.spigotmc.org/resources/) |
    | **Modrinth**         | [modrinth.com/plugins](https://modrinth.com/plugins)          |
    | **Hangar** (PaperMC) | [hangar.papermc.io](https://hangar.papermc.io/)               |
    | **Bukkit**           | [dev.bukkit.org](https://dev.bukkit.org/)                     |
    | **GitHub Releases**  | Many plugins are published directly on GitHub                 |

    > **Check version compatibility** — make sure the plugin supports your Minecraft version. Plugins built for 1.16 won't always work on 1.21.
  </Step>

  <Step>
    Stop the server [#stop-the-server]

    In the [XGamingServer Panel](https://panel.xgamingserver.com), go to **Console** and stop your server.
  </Step>

  <Step>
    Open the plugins folder [#open-the-plugins-folder]

    Click **Files** in the sidebar and navigate to the `plugins/` folder.
  </Step>

  <Step>
    Upload the .jar [#upload-the-jar]

    Upload the plugin's `.jar` file. If the plugin has dependencies (e.g., Vault, ProtocolLib), upload those too.
  </Step>

  <Step>
    Start the server [#start-the-server]

    Start from **Console**. Watch the startup log for plugin load messages — you should see something like:

    ```
    [Server] [INFO] [EssentialsX] Loading EssentialsX v2.20.1
    [Server] [INFO] [LuckPerms] Enabling LuckPerms v5.4.123
    ```
  </Step>

  <Step>
    Configure the plugin [#configure-the-plugin]

    After first start, edit the plugin's config files in `plugins/<PluginName>/`. Most plugins generate a `config.yml` you can customize.
  </Step>
</Steps>

Essential Plugins for Most Servers [#essential-plugins-for-most-servers]

| Plugin          | Purpose                                                     | Link                                                               |
| --------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| **EssentialsX** | Homes, warps, kits, economy, chat, kick/ban/mute            | [essentialsx.net](https://essentialsx.net/)                        |
| **LuckPerms**   | Permissions, ranks, groups, prefixes                        | [luckperms.net](https://luckperms.net/)                            |
| **WorldGuard**  | Region protection, PvP zones, build control                 | [worldguard.enginehub.org](https://worldguard.enginehub.org/)      |
| **WorldEdit**   | In-game terrain editing and building tools                  | [worldedit.enginehub.org](https://worldedit.enginehub.org/)        |
| **Vault**       | Economy & permissions API bridge (required by many plugins) | [vault on Spigot](https://www.spigotmc.org/resources/vault.34315/) |

Remove a Plugin [#remove-a-plugin]

<Steps>
  <Step>
    Stop the server [#stop-the-server-1]
  </Step>

  <Step>
    Delete the .jar [#delete-the-jar]

    In **Files**, navigate to `plugins/` and delete the plugin's `.jar` file.
  </Step>

  <Step>
    Optionally delete the config folder [#optionally-delete-the-config-folder]

    Delete `plugins/PluginName/` if you don't want to keep its config and data.
  </Step>

  <Step>
    Start the server [#start-the-server-1]
  </Step>
</Steps>

Plugin Not Loading? [#plugin-not-loading]

| Problem                                        | Fix                                                                                                     |
| ---------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Server crashes on startup**                  | A plugin crashed. Check **Console** for the stack trace and remove the failing plugin                   |
| **"Plugin requires X but it's not installed"** | Install the missing dependency (e.g., Vault, ProtocolLib)                                               |
| **Plugin not in /plugins list**                | Check that the `.jar` is in `plugins/` (not a subfolder), and confirm your server type supports plugins |
| **Wrong Minecraft version**                    | The plugin doesn't support your version. Check Spigot/Modrinth for a compatible build                   |
| **Wrong Java version**                         | Some modern plugins require Java 17 or 21. See [Java Version](/docs/minecraft/java-version)             |

Related Guides [#related-guides]

* [EssentialsX Setup](/docs/minecraft/setup-essentialsx)
* [LuckPerms Setup](/docs/minecraft/setup-luckperms)
* [WorldGuard Setup](/docs/minecraft/setup-worldguard)
* [WorldEdit Setup](/docs/minecraft/setup-worldedit)
* [Switch Server Version](/docs/minecraft/switch-version)