How to Install Mods on a Minecraft Server (Fabric, Forge, NeoForge)

To install mods on a Minecraft server, you need a server running a mod loader (Fabric, Forge or NeoForge) on the same Minecraft version as your mods, then you drop the mod .jar files into the server's mods folder and restart. Every player needs the same loader and the same mods on their own game. This guide walks through choosing a loader, setting up the server, adding mods, keeping everyone in sync and fixing the crashes people hit most.

Short answer

1. Pick one loader: Fabric, Forge or NeoForge. Mods only work on the loader they were made for.
2. Set up a server with that loader on your Minecraft version.
3. Put the mod .jar files in the server's mods folder. Leave out client only mods.
4. Restart the server and check the console for errors.
5. Give every player the same mods, in the same versions, in their own mods folder.

Mods or plugins?

These are often mixed up:

If you want survival with friends plus extras like /home and claims, you want plugins, not mods. Our best Minecraft server plugins list covers that route. A Paper server cannot load mods, and a Fabric or Forge server cannot load plugins (without extra hybrid software that often causes problems).

Step 1: Pick a mod loader

• Fabric: light and quick to update after new Minecraft releases. Home of performance mods like Lithium and many smaller content mods. Most Fabric mods also need Fabric API.
• NeoForge: the main loader for big content mods and modpacks on recent versions.
• Forge: the original loader. Still used by older modpacks and some mods, especially on versions before 1.20.2.

Check the download page of every mod you want. They all need to support the same loader and the same Minecraft version. One mod that only exists for Forge 1.20.1 decides the version for the whole server.

Step 2: Set up the modded server

Fabric

1. Download the installer from fabricmc.net and run it.
2. Choose the Server tab, pick your Minecraft version and a folder, and tick Download server jar.
3. Start the server with java -Xms4G -Xmx4G -jar fabric-server-launch.jar nogui and accept the EULA in eula.txt.

You can also run the installer from a terminal:

java -jar fabric-installer.jar server -mcversion 26.3 -downloadMinecraft

Forge and NeoForge

1. Download the installer for your Minecraft version from the Forge or NeoForge site.
2. Run it, choose Install server and pick an empty folder. From the terminal the NeoForge flag is --installServer.
3. Start it with run.bat on Windows or run.sh on Linux. Set memory in user_jvm_args.txt, for example -Xmx6G.
4. Accept the EULA in eula.txt and start it again.

Minecraft 26.1 and newer need Java 25 on the server. Older versions need Java 21 or 17, depending on the release.

On GamezServers you skip all of this: pick Fabric, Forge or NeoForge as the server type in the panel and the right files are installed for you. Click Backup before switching.

Step 3: Add the mods

1. Download mods from Modrinth or CurseForge, choosing the file for your loader and Minecraft version.
2. Stop the server.
3. Upload the .jar files into the mods folder. On a hosted server, use the Files tab for a few mods, or SFTP for many.
4. Start the server and watch the console until it says Done.

Many mods also create config files in the config folder on first start. Edit those while the server is stopped.

Leave out client only mods

Some mods only change what you see and have no job on a server: Sodium, Iris and other shader mods, minimaps, zoom mods, sound and HUD mods. Fabric usually skips client only mods, but on Forge and NeoForge they often crash the server on start. The mod page normally says whether it is needed on the client, the server or both.

Step 4: Give players the same mods

Players need the same loader and every mod that adds content, in the same versions. Three ways to do it, from easiest to hardest:

1. Use a modpack. Pick a pack from CurseForge or Modrinth, install the server version of it, and tell everyone to install the same pack version in the CurseForge app or a launcher like Prism or Modrinth App. Our best Minecraft modpacks list includes RAM needs for each.
2. Make your own pack. Build a profile in the Modrinth App or Prism Launcher with your mods, export it, and send the file to your friends to import.
3. Share the mods folder. Zip your client mods folder and send it. This works but falls apart after the first update.

Players can add extra client only mods like Sodium or a minimap on their side. They do not have to match.

How much RAM modded servers need

Mods use a lot more memory than vanilla:

Too little memory shows up as lag, long world loads and OutOfMemoryError crashes. More in how much RAM a game server needs.

Common errors and fixes

• Server crashes on start with a mod name in the log: that mod is the wrong version, needs a missing library, or is client only. The crash report in crash-reports usually names it.
• "Requires fabric-api" or "Missing dependencies": download the listed mod (often Fabric API, Architectury, Cloth Config or GeckoLib) for the same version.
• "Mismatched mod channel list" or "Missing mods" when joining: the player's mods differ from the server's. Compare versions or use a modpack.
• "Incompatible FML modded server": the player launched vanilla or the wrong loader. Launch the modded profile.
• Mixing Fabric and Forge mods: they do not work together. Pick one loader.
• World broken after removing a mod: blocks and items from that mod disappear. Back up before adding or removing mods.

The easy way

Running a modded server at home means installing loaders, managing Java versions and giving your PC 8 GB of RAM it may not have. On a GamezServers server you pick Fabric, Forge, NeoForge or a CurseForge or Modrinth modpack in the panel, upload extra mods through the file manager or SFTP, and move to a bigger plan when the pack grows. See Minecraft server hosting or the quick start guide.

FAQ

Can I add mods to a Paper server?

No. Paper runs plugins, not mods. For mods you need a Fabric, Forge or NeoForge server.

Do players need mods to join a modded server?

Yes, for any mod that adds blocks, items or mobs. A few server side mods, such as some performance or admin mods, work without players installing them. The mod page says which.

Should I use Fabric or Forge?

Use whichever loader all your chosen mods support. For recent versions, Fabric suits performance and lighter mods, and NeoForge suits big content mods.

Where is the mods folder on a server?

In the main server folder, next to server.properties. If it is not there, start the server once with the loader and it is created.