How to Install Mods on a Minecraft Server

Complete guide to setting up Forge, Fabric, and installing your favorite modpacks. Works for both self-hosted and managed servers.

10 min read Updated Dec 2025

Forge vs Fabric: Which Should You Choose?

Forge

  • Most mods available
  • All major modpacks
  • Mature ecosystem
  • Slower startup
  • Higher RAM usage

Best for: Modpacks, technical mods

Fabric

  • Fast and lightweight
  • Quick updates
  • Better performance
  • Fewer mods
  • Newer ecosystem

Best for: Performance, optimization mods

Installing Forge (Step by Step)

Step 1: Download Forge

Go to files.minecraftforge.net and download the Installer for your Minecraft version. Always use the "Recommended" version for stability.

Step 2: Install Forge Server

  1. Create a new folder for your server
  2. Run the Forge installer and select "Install server"
  3. Point it to your new server folder
  4. Wait for the installation to complete

Step 3: First Run

Run the server once to generate config files:

java -Xmx4G -Xms4G -jar forge-*-installer.jar --installServer

Step 4: Add Mods

Download mods from CurseForge or Modrinth and place the .jar files in the mods folder.

Important

Make sure all mods match your Minecraft and Forge version. Mismatched versions are the #1 cause of crashes.

Popular Modpacks and RAM Requirements

Modpack Mod Count Min RAM Recommended
All The Mods 9 400+ 8GB 12GB+
RLCraft 169 6GB 8GB
Better Minecraft 200+ 6GB 8GB
Create: Above and Beyond 260 6GB 8GB
Pixelmon 1 (large) 4GB 6GB

The Easy Way: Managed Hosting

If you don't want to deal with manual installation, managed hosting like ModReady makes it simple. Just select your modpack and we handle the rest - no file uploads, no configuration, no version matching headaches.

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Our Server Management addon includes mod installation and configuration. We set everything up for you.

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Troubleshooting Common Issues

"OutOfMemoryError" on startup

Your server needs more RAM. Increase the -Xmx value in your startup script or upgrade your hosting plan.

"Mod X requires Mod Y"

Some mods have dependencies. Check the mod page on CurseForge for required libraries and install them too.

Server crashes on startup

Check the crash log in the crash-reports folder. Usually caused by version mismatches or incompatible mods.

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