> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.wasabihosting.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# How to Install Plugins on Your Minecraft Server

> Step-by-step guide to installing, configuring, updating, and removing plugins on your Paper or Spigot Minecraft server at Wasabi Hosting.

Plugins are the easiest way to extend your Minecraft server — permissions, economy, land protection, minigames, and thousands more features — all without your players installing anything. This guide covers installing plugins through the Wasabi Hosting Game Panel, configuring them, and fixing the most common problems.

## Requirements

Plugins only work on plugin-compatible server software:

* **Paper** (recommended — fast and actively maintained)
* **Purpur** (Paper fork with extra configuration options)
* **Spigot** (the classic plugin platform)

Vanilla, Forge, NeoForge, and Fabric servers **cannot** load Bukkit/Spigot plugins. If your server isn't running Paper, Spigot, or Purpur yet, switch in a couple of clicks with the [Version Changer](/games/minecraft/version-changer).

<Warning>
  Forge/Fabric **mods** and Bukkit **plugins** are not interchangeable. A `.jar` from CurseForge's "Mods" section will not load in your `plugins` folder — and vice versa.
</Warning>

## Where to Download Plugins

Only download plugins from trusted sources to avoid malware and broken builds:

| Source              | URL                      | Notes                       |
| ------------------- | ------------------------ | --------------------------- |
| SpigotMC            | `spigotmc.org/resources` | Largest plugin repository   |
| Hangar              | `hangar.papermc.io`      | PaperMC's official platform |
| Modrinth            | `modrinth.com/plugins`   | Modern, fast, open source   |
| Bukkit / CurseForge | `dev.bukkit.org`         | Older catalog, still useful |

<Tip>
  Always check the plugin page for supported Minecraft versions before downloading. A plugin built for 1.8 will usually fail on a modern server.
</Tip>

## Installing a Plugin

<Steps>
  <Step title="Download the plugin .jar">
    Download the plugin's `.jar` file from one of the sources above, matching your server's Minecraft version.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Open the File Manager">
    In the [Game Panel](https://panel.wasabihosting.com), select your server and open the **File Manager**. You can also connect via **SFTP** — see [File Management](/server/file-management) for both methods.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Upload to the plugins folder">
    Navigate to the `/plugins` directory and upload the `.jar` file. If the folder doesn't exist yet, start the server once on Paper/Spigot and it will be created automatically.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Restart the server">
    Restart (not just reload) the server from the panel so the plugin loads cleanly.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Verify it loaded">
    In the panel **Console**, run:

    ```
    plugins
    ```

    Loaded plugins appear in **green**; plugins that failed to load appear in **red**. If a plugin is red or missing, check the console log for the error.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Configuring Plugins

Most plugins generate their own configuration folder the first time they load:

```
/plugins/
├── EssentialsX.jar
├── EssentialsX/          <- generated config folder
│   └── config.yml
├── LuckPerms.jar
└── LuckPerms/
    └── config.yml
```

Edit the `config.yml` (or other files) inside the plugin's folder using the File Manager, then restart the server — or use the plugin's own reload command if it has one (for example `/ess reload` for EssentialsX).

<Note>
  YAML files are indentation-sensitive. Use spaces (never tabs), and keep the existing indentation when editing.
</Note>

## Updating and Removing Plugins

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Updating a plugin">
    1. Stop the server (or plan a restart).
    2. Delete the old `.jar` from `/plugins` — leave the plugin's config folder in place so your settings are kept.
    3. Upload the new `.jar` and start the server.
    4. Check the console for migration messages; some updates rewrite their config files.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Removing a plugin">
    1. Stop the server.
    2. Delete the plugin's `.jar` from `/plugins`.
    3. Optionally delete its config folder too (only if you don't plan to reinstall it).
    4. Start the server again.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Take a backup first">
    Before bulk plugin changes, create a backup from the panel's **Backups** tab so you can roll back instantly. See [Backups](/server/backups).
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

## Common Issues

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Plugin doesn't load / shows red in the plugins list">
    Usually a Minecraft version mismatch. Check the console for `UnsupportedClassVersionError` or "This version of the plugin is not compatible" messages, and download a build that matches your server version.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Missing dependency errors">
    Many plugins require libraries such as **Vault**, **PlaceholderAPI**, or **ProtocolLib**. The console will name the missing plugin — install it the same way and restart.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Uploaded a plugin but nothing happens">
    Confirm the file is directly in `/plugins` (not in a subfolder or still zipped), the file ends in `.jar`, and your server is actually running Paper/Spigot/Purpur — check with the [Version Changer](/games/minecraft/version-changer).
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Server crashes after adding a plugin">
    Remove the most recently added plugin and restart. If the server recovers, check that plugin's version compatibility or look for a known conflict on its resource page. More help in [Troubleshooting](/games/minecraft/troubleshooting).
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

Too many plugins can also affect performance — see the [Optimization guide](/games/minecraft/optimization) for tips on keeping your TPS high.

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