How to install plugins on a Paper server

To install a plugin on a Paper server, upload the plugin's .jar file into the plugins folder with the file manager, then restart the server. Paper loads every plugin in that folder on startup.

Before you start#

• Your server must be running Paper (or another Bukkit-based server). Plugins do not work on Vanilla or Forge servers. Forge uses mods instead.
• Know your Minecraft version. It is printed near the top of the console when the server starts, and the /version command shows it too.
• Download plugins only from trusted sources. See where to find safe Minecraft plugins.

Step by step#

1. Download the plugin's .jar file to your computer. Pick the build that lists your Minecraft version as supported.
2. Open your server in the Schokr console and go to the file manager.
3. Open the plugins folder. If it does not exist yet, start the server once with Paper and it will be created.
4. Upload the .jar file directly into plugins. Do not put it in a subfolder and do not upload a .zip of it. If the download came as a zip, extract it first and upload only the .jar inside.
5. Restart the server from the console.
6. Watch the console during startup. You should see a line like [PluginName] Enabling PluginName v1.2.3.

Check that the plugin loaded#

Run this in the console (no slash needed there) or in game as an operator:

plugins

Paper lists every plugin it found. Enabled plugins show in green, plugins that failed to load show in red. If yours is red or missing, scroll up in the console to find the error, or read why a plugin won't load.

Plugins that need other plugins#

Many plugins depend on another plugin to work. Common examples:

The plugin page normally lists its dependencies. If one is missing, the console prints something like Unknown/missing dependency plugins: [Vault]. Install the dependency the same way and restart again.

Configuring the plugin#

After the first start, most plugins create their own folder inside plugins (for example plugins/Essentials) containing a config.yml. Edit it in the file manager, then restart. See how to configure plugins for YAML tips.

Do not use /reload#

Avoid /reload or plugin managers that hot-load jars. They can leave plugins half-loaded, leak memory and corrupt data. A full restart is the safe way to load new plugins.

Removing a plugin#

1. Stop the server.
2. Delete the plugin's .jar from plugins.
3. Optionally delete its config folder too, if you will not reinstall it.
4. Start the server.

Still stuck?#

If a plugin refuses to load and the error does not make sense, paste the console output in the Schokr Discord and someone can help.