If you are tired of playing the vanilla version and want to try something new, consider installing some mods. Doing so will enhance the Minecraft gaming experience and bring something completely new to it.
This tutorial will show you how to install the Forge plugin and upload mods to an existing Minecraft server on Windows, macOS, or Linux. We’ll also cover the differences between Forge and mod launchers to help you decide.
What are Minecraft mods?
Mods are user-made modifications to an original game. Typically, Minecraft mods include new items, blocks, resource packs, interface changes, and general quality of life improvements for players.
The main charm of mods is the possibility of changing almost everything to make the Minecraft experience unique. However, it is worth mentioning that each mod needs to be downloaded and installed on both the server and the client to work.
Important! Please note that mods are not the same as plugins. Unlike mods, Minecraft plugins only need to be installed on the server.
What do you need before installing Minecraft mods?
Before continuing, make sure you have and you have installed the Java Development Kit (JDK). Here are some other points to keep in mind before installing Forge and loading mods:
- Most Minecraft servers run the Java edition of the game. Unfortunately, the Bedrock Edition does not support mods and only works with plugins from the Mojang Studios Minecraft Marketplace.
- Every new mod will increase your RAM usage, so make sure your server is powerful enough.
- Backup the server before installing mods to have a restore point if something goes wrong.
- You will have to stop the server when you install the mods. The installation may be successful if the server is running, but the changes will only appear after a reboot.
Expert Type
Try to install mods one at a time to ensure they all work properly and save time if troubleshooting is required.
How to install mods in Minecraft manually
Now that your Minecraft server is up and running and the JDK has been configured, we can proceed with the Minecraft mod installation process.
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If you have Minecraft on Linux and want to install mods, be sure to follow your hosting provider’s specific guidelines.
Step 1. Install Minecraft Forge
The most popular modding plugin is Minecraft Forge. It allows users to install and manage mods in the Java edition of Minecraft. Please check the following steps to install Minecraft Forge on a Windows Minecraft server. The installation process will be similar for Linux and macOS users.
- Go to the official website of and download the recommended version.
- Wait 5 seconds and click SKIP:
- Once downloaded, open the installer Forged. Choose Install client and press okay.
- The client version will allow players to join the Forge server. If you get an error message about a missing Minecraft profile, make sure the default is installed and working.
- Rerun the installer and select Install server. Specifies the directory used by your vanilla Minecraft server. Ignore the warning message and proceed with the installation.
- Open the newly created folder and double click on the file run. The Minecraft server with Forge will start. You will get an error about the EULA – find the file eula.txt and open it. change the line eula=false by eula=true. Once done, open the file execution again.
Step 2. Download the mods you want
The next step is to download Minecraft mods. We recommend using popular sites like or .
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If you are looking for a specific mod and the websites mentioned do not have it, be very careful. Mods from unreliable sites may contain hidden malware or viruses.
In this tutorial, we’ll set up , a great first mod. Open the website and check the Minecraft version listed on the mod page – your game should match it. Once done, click Download:
Please note that some mods come in .zip files, so you will need to extract them before installation.
Step 3. Copy the mod to the /mods folder
Time to install some Minecraft mods. No matter what your operating system is, the process will be very similar:
- Open the folder of mods of your Minecraft installation. Its location will be different depending on your operating system – we’ll talk about how to find it below.
- If the folder is not there, create a new one and name it mods.
- Copy and paste the downloaded mod in mods. Do the same with the folder mods located in the installation directory of your Minecraft server.
Locating the mods folder in Windows
the folder of mods of your Minecraft client is usually located in the folder .Minecraft. The full path is Users/{Windows-Name}/Appdata/Roaming/.minecraft .
You can also find it by pressing Control +Rwriting %appdata%and pressing Enter. Find the folder .Minecraft, once you have found it, open the mods directory and paste your mod files there.
How to locate the Mods folder on macOS
The default directory for the Minecraft client is ~/Library/ApplicationSupport/minecraft.
You can easily access it by pressing Command+Shift+G to open Finder and entering ~Library -> Application support -> Minecraft.
Locating the Mods folder in Linux
To find the Minecraft client directory on Linux systems, open the Terminal and run the following command:
xdg-open ~/minecraft
Step 4. Check the mod installation
Once you’ve installed a mod, it’s important to check if it’s working properly. Do it by running Forge following these steps:
- Open the Minecraft launcher, select forge in the drop-down menu in the lower left corner and click Play.
- Once the Minecraft main menu has loaded, click mods.
- All installed mods will show up in the left sidebar, including Just Enough Items (JEI) that we installed earlier.
- If you want to check if the mods work on your server, select multiplayer and add your address. In this example, we are running the client and game server on the same machine, so the server address will be localhost.
- Once connected, we can confirm that the JEI mod is active.
What to do if the mods do not work?
In case your mods aren’t working, take a look at the following troubleshooting tips:
- Make sure you have Forge installed.
- Check if you have selected Forged in the Minecraft launcher.
- Make sure the mods are installed on both the instance of the server as in the client of Minecraft.
- Double check if the mod version matches the Forge version and that there are no duplicate mods.
- Make sure that the downloaded mods come from a reliable source and that you are running the official version of Minecraft.
- Double check the mods directory.
- Some mods have plugins that need to be installed.
How to install mods in Minecraft with a mod launcher
Mod launchers allow users to install mod packs with just a few clicks. They usually contain hundreds of mods curated by members of the Minecraft community. This allows players to play the modified Minecraft without having to manually install the mods.
Step 1. Choose a Mod Launcher and Modpack
Please note that mod launchers are separate from the default Minecraft launcher and will need to be downloaded and installed separately. Some of the best launchers are , , and .
In this tutorial, we are going to use the Technic launcher to install the .
Step 2. Install a Modpack
- Download, install and run the .
- Look for a modpack on Technic e install itthis will allow you to configure it for the Minecraft client.
- Look for the same modpack in the and click on the server download.
- Create a new folder for your modpack and extract all the files there.
- Double click on the file minecraft_server to start your server. When the EULA error appears, locate the file eula.txtopen it and change the line eula=false by eula=true. Once done, run the server again.
- Once the server starts, players will be able to connect to it through the Technic Launcher.
Important! The mod server installation process varies depending on the mod you have chosen. For instructions, always refer to the website you downloaded the modpack from.
conclusion
If you’ve been running a standard Minecraft server for a long time, you may be tired of the vanilla version of the game. We recommend you to try the mods as they will introduce new features in Minecraft, making the gaming experience fresh and exciting.
In this guide, we have covered the Forge addon setup process along with how to install and test a Minecraft mod. We’ve also covered how to use mod launchers to streamline the game customization process. We hope that this tutorial has helped you to know how to install a Minecraft mod on your server. If you have any questions or ideas, feel free to leave them in the comments section below.
Diana is a translator with extensive experience in different types of documents, including tutorials and specialized articles on website creation. In addition, she has experience in the area of digital marketing. In her spare time, she likes to exercise and watch a good movie.
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