How to install datapacks on your Minecraft server

Datapacks add new things to Minecraft, like crafting recipes, mob heads, chopping whole trees at once, new structures or whole mini-games. They work on vanilla and Paper servers, and your friends don't need to install anything: they join with normal Minecraft.

1. Download a datapack

Find one on Modrinth or another site you trust. Download the version made for your server's Minecraft version. It comes as a .zip file.

2. Upload it to the world's datapacks folder

1. Open the Files page in your panel.
2. Open your world folder (by default world).
3. Open the datapacks folder inside it.
4. Upload the zip here. Don't unzip it. Minecraft reads the zip as it is.

3. Load it

Restart the server, or type reload in the Console to load datapacks without a restart.

4. Check that it's on

Type datapack list in the Console. Your datapack should be in the list of enabled packs. If it says "disabled", turn it on with datapack enable "file/name.zip" (use the name shown in the list).

Datapacks that change world generation

Some datapacks change how new land looks, like new biomes or structures. They only affect chunks that haven't been generated yet. For the full effect, add them before you create the world: see New world or custom seed.

Remove a datapack

Delete the zip from the datapacks folder and restart the server. Make a backup first, because blocks or items from the datapack may disappear from the world.

Datapacks, plugins or mods?

• Datapacks: small changes, vanilla friendly, nothing to install for players.
• Plugins (Paper): bigger features like homes, claims and ranks. See How to install plugins.
• Mods (Fabric, Forge, NeoForge): new blocks, mobs and machines, but every player needs them. See How to install mods.