Managing Your Plugins and Mods

Whether you’re just adding a simple /home command or building a massive custom modpack, addons are how you make your server unique. Fern’s Plugins and Mods tabs are your one-stop shop for finding and managing thousands of community-made additions.

Plugins vs. Mods: What's the Difference?

Plugins: These run entirely on the server (using Paper or Spigot). Your players don't need to install anything, as they just join and play.
Mods: These are more powerful but usually require both the server and the players to have the same files installed (using Fabric or Forge).

How to Install New Addons

Safety First: Stop your server before adding anything new.
Go to the Plugins or Mods tab in Mission Control (depending on your server software).
Choose where you want to search:
- Hangar: The best place for official Paper plugins.
- Modrinth: Great for modern, high-performance mods.
- Spiget: Where the SpigotMC community hangs out.

Search for what you want and hit Install.

Doing it Manually

If you have a custom .jar file from a developer, you can upload it yourself:

Open the Files tab.
Drop plugins into the /plugins folder.
Drop mods into the /mods folder.

Managing Your List

On the right side of the Plugins or Mods tab, you'll see everything you have installed. From here, you can:

Toggle on/off: Disable a plugin without deleting it (great for testing).
Quick Config: Jump straight to the settings folder to tweak values.
Uninstall: Cleanly remove the file from your server.

The "Dependency Check"

Some plugins need other "library" plugins to work. If you see a popup, don't ignore it! Always click Install all required deps so you don't run into crashes later.

Pro-Tips

The Magic Restart: Addons only load when the server starts. If you install something while the server is running, it won't work until you restart.
Watch the Console: If a plugin isn't working, check the Console. It usually tells you exactly why (like "Wrong Minecraft Version").
Snapshots are Free: Take a manual Snapshot before installing any big plugins that change your world (like WorldEdit or a new world-gen mod).

Can't find that one specific mod? Reach out to us on Discord and we'll help you hunt it down.