Installing mods on a Minecraft server is different from installing them on your client. The server needs its own mod files, the right mod loader (Forge or Fabric), and the correct version for everything to work together. This guide covers all three scenarios: individual Forge mods, individual Fabric mods, and full modpacks like RLCraft and Better Minecraft.
All of the steps below work on a free FreeGameHost server — you manage everything from the Pterodactyl control panel without needing to touch the command line.
This is the most common source of confusion for new server owners. Mods and plugins are not the same thing and they do not work on the same server type.
| Mods | Plugins | |
|---|---|---|
| What they do | Add new content — creatures, biomes, items, dimensions, mechanics | Add server management tools — economy, permissions, land protection, chat |
| Server type needed | Forge or Fabric | Paper, Spigot, or Purpur |
| Where to download | CurseForge, Modrinth | SpigotMC, Modrinth, dev.bukkit.org |
| Upload folder | /mods |
/plugins |
| Players need to install? | Yes (for content mods) | No — server-side only |
| Examples | Create, Biomes O' Plenty, RLCraft, Origins, Tinkers' Construct | EssentialsX, WorldGuard, LuckPerms, CoreProtect |
Before uploading any mods, confirm these three things in your FreeGameHost panel:
/mods folder appear in your File Manager after the first boot..jar file. Make sure the MC version and loader (Forge) match..jar files./mods folder./mods first./mods.Installing a full modpack is slightly different from adding individual mods — you upload a pre-assembled collection of mods and config files. The key step most people miss: you need the server pack, not the client pack.
/mods, /config, /scripts, and a forge-installer.jar or similar file.forge-1.20.1-47.2.0.jar).All of these work on a free FreeGameHost server without needing to upgrade:
Hardcore survival with dangerous mobs, thirst, temperature, and RPG skills. One of the most popular modpacks ever made.
Curated improvements to vanilla — new biomes, structures, mobs, and quality-of-life changes. Great first modpack for a friend group.
Automation and engineering built around the Create mod. Great for groups who enjoy building contraptions and factories.
Skill-based progression through procedurally generated vaults. The server pack is well-optimised and runs cleanly on 4 GB.
A kitchen-sink modpack with hundreds of tech, magic, and exploration mods. Heavier — may benefit from the premium 6 GB tier.
Choose a species (merling, avian, blazeborn, etc.) with unique abilities and drawbacks. Works on Fabric with a small mod count.
Whether players need to install mods depends on what type of mods you're running:
If your server crashes or mods aren't appearing after a restart, these are the most common causes:
Open the console in your panel and scroll up to find the first ERROR line. It usually names the specific mod causing the crash. Remove that mod, restart, and check again. Common culprit: a client-only mod that was included in the server pack.
Confirm you uploaded to the /mods folder, not the server root. Also confirm your server type is Forge or Fabric — mods will be silently ignored on a Paper or Vanilla server.
The mod was built for a different Minecraft version or a different Forge/Fabric version. Go back to CurseForge, open the mod's Files tab, and download the version that matches your exact server version (e.g. 1.20.1 Forge 47.x).
The console will say something like Mod X requires mod Y to be installed. Go to CurseForge and download the listed dependency, upload it to /mods, and restart.
Your modpack may be pushing close to 4 GB RAM. In the panel, check Memory usage in the Resources tab. If you're consistently above 3.5 GB, trim client-side mods from the server pack first (shaders, minimap mods, particle effects) — these add overhead without benefiting the server. If you still need more headroom, our premium plans start at €1/GB RAM.
Yes for most mods — adding new mods to an existing world is fine. The new content won't appear in already-generated chunks (you'll need to explore new areas), but your existing builds and items will be unaffected. Always back up your world before adding or removing mods.
Not with standard Forge or Paper. Hybrid loaders like Mohist and Arclight attempt to bridge both, but they can be unstable and aren't officially supported. For most servers the recommendation is: use Paper if you want plugins, use Forge if you want mods.
Download the updated .jar from CurseForge, delete the old version from /mods in your File Manager, upload the new one, and restart. Don't leave both versions in the folder — it'll cause a conflict.
Your friends don't have the same mods installed client-side. Share the CurseForge modpack link with them (or export your instance from the CurseForge app and send it to them). They need to install and launch from the exact same mod version before connecting.
On CurseForge, open the mod page and look for the Environment label — it will say Client, Server, or Both. Server-only mods (like Chunky, Dynmap, or CoreProtect) don't need to be installed by players.
Ready to build your modded server? Get 4 GB RAM, FTP access, and full mod support — completely free.
Create Free Modded Server →Related guides: How to make a free Minecraft server • Best Minecraft server plugins 2026 • How to make a server for friends • Free Minecraft Java Hosting