Minecraft

Installing Mods on a Self-Hosted Fabric Server

2026-04-27

Introduction

One of the main reasons to run a Fabric server is the ability to install mods that change or extend the game. Server-side mods can add new dimensions, creatures, gameplay mechanics, performance improvements, and much more. This tutorial explains how to find, install, and manage mods on your Fabric server.


How Fabric Mods Work on a Server

Fabric mods come as JAR files that are placed in the mods folder of your server. When the server starts it loads all JAR files in that folder.


Some mods are server-side only, meaning only the server needs them and players can join with a vanilla client. Others are required on both the server and the client, meaning every player who wants to join must also have the mod installed in their own Fabric client. The mod's page on Modrinth or CurseForge will always specify which type it is.


Prerequisites

Before installing mods, make sure the following are in place.


Your Fabric server is set up and running correctly. Fabric API is already installed in your mods folder as most mods depend on it. You know which version of Minecraft your server is running.


Step 1 — Finding Mods

The two main sources for Fabric mods are the following.


Modrinth at https://modrinth.com is the recommended modern platform. It has a clean interface, fast downloads, and excellent version filtering. Filter by Loader: Fabric and your Minecraft version to find compatible mods.


CurseForge at https://www.curseforge.com/minecraft/mc-mods is the older and larger platform with a massive library of mods. Use the filter options to select Fabric as the mod loader.


Always download mods from these official sources. Never download Minecraft mods from random websites as they may contain malware.


Step 2 — Checking Mod Compatibility

Before downloading a mod, check the following on its page.


The supported Minecraft versions list must include your server's version. The supported mod loaders list must include Fabric. The mod's dependencies section lists any other mods that must also be installed. Download and install all listed dependencies.


Step 3 — Download the Mod

On Modrinth, click the mod you want and go to the Versions tab. Find the version that matches your Minecraft version and Fabric loader. Click the download icon to download the JAR file.


Step 4 — Install the Mod

Stop your server if it is running.


stop


Copy the downloaded JAR file into the mods folder inside your server directory.


cp ~/Downloads/modname-*.jar ~/minecraft-fabric-server/mods/


On Windows simply drag and drop the JAR file into the mods folder.


Step 5 — Install Dependencies

Many mods list required dependencies on their page. Common ones include the following.


Fabric API is required by almost all mods and should already be installed. Cloth Config is a configuration library used by many mods. Download it from https://modrinth.com/mod/cloth-config. Architectury API is used by some cross-platform mods. Download it from https://modrinth.com/mod/architectury-api.


Install all required dependencies into the mods folder the same way you installed the main mod.


Step 6 — Start the Server and Check for Errors

Start your server and watch the console output carefully.


./start.sh


Look for any error messages during startup. Common issues include the following.


A message saying a mod requires a dependency you have not installed. A message saying the mod is incompatible with your Minecraft or Fabric version. A crash with a detailed error log saved to the crash-reports folder.


If the server loads successfully and you see the Done message, all mods loaded correctly.


Step 7 — Verify Mods Are Loaded

In the server console type the following command to see a list of loaded mods.


/fabric mods


This will display all currently loaded Fabric mods and their versions.


The following mods significantly improve server performance and are safe to install on any Fabric server. All of them are server-side only so players do not need to install them.


Lithium from https://modrinth.com/mod/lithium optimises many game systems including entity AI, chunk loading, and physics calculations. It is one of the most impactful performance mods available.


Starlight from https://modrinth.com/mod/starlight completely rewrites the light engine for much faster light updates.


FerriteCore from https://modrinth.com/mod/ferrite-core reduces RAM usage significantly, especially with large mod packs.


Krypton from https://modrinth.com/mod/krypton optimises the Minecraft networking stack for lower latency and better throughput.


Chunky from https://modrinth.com/mod/chunky pre-generates world chunks before players explore. This eliminates lag spikes from chunk generation during gameplay. Run it after first setup with the following command.


/chunky start


Spark from https://modrinth.com/mod/spark is a performance profiler that lets you identify what is causing lag on your server.


/spark profiler start


LuckPerms from https://modrinth.com/mod/luckperms is a powerful permissions management system that lets you create ranks and control what players can do.


Updating Mods

When a new version of a mod is released, update it by doing the following.


Stop the server. Delete the old mod JAR from the mods folder. Download the new version and place it in the mods folder. Start the server and check for any errors.


Never replace a mod JAR while the server is running as this can cause crashes or data corruption.


Removing Mods

To remove a mod, stop the server, delete its JAR file from the mods folder, and restart. Be aware that some mods add new blocks, items, or world data. Removing such mods can cause chunk errors or missing items in the world. Always back up your world before removing a mod.


Backing Up Your Server

Before installing new mods, always back up your server files especially the world folder.


cp -r ~/minecraft-fabric-server/world ~/minecraft-fabric-server/world-backup-$(date +%Y%m%d)


Conclusion

You now know how to find, install, and manage mods on your Fabric server. Start with the performance mods listed above as they make an immediate difference, then explore mods that add the content and features you and your players want.