Spigot: How to Add Plugins to Minecraft Server

Spigot is one of the most popular Minecraft servers, known for its stability and flexibility. It’s also a fork of Bukkit, containing the original Bukkit code along with some new additions. One of its features is the use of plugins to enhance the game.

If you want to learn more about adding plugins to your Spigot server, you’re in the right place. Here, you’ll learn all about the process and then some. We’ll also answer some questions regarding Spigot and related topics.

How To Add Plugins to Spigot

Plugins are add-ons to your Minecraft server, changing how you play the game. Minecraft servers are often shared with friends and others so they can join. With some plugins, you can add new features such as altered NPCs, in-game economy, and making everything in a part of the world indestructible.

Think of plugins as browser extensions, but for Minecraft servers instead of Google Chrome. Plugins don’t modify the game at all, as that is what mods do (hence the name). As such, plugins tend not to cause changes as radical as mods can.

Despite this, plugins are attractive due to their convenience. Installing mods will require you to change your copy of Minecraft in some way. Plugins instead only get installed on the server, so there’s no risk of altering your game files in a harmful way.

How to Add Plugins

To add plugins, you’ll need to access the server’s files. This will allow you to upload the plugins and add them. After this, a server restart will get the plugins up and running.

You can enter your server to check if your plugins are working. If not, you may have to download a new copy or try the installation process again. Occasionally, you also might have accidentally download the plugin for the wrong version of Minecraft.

The process is simple and only takes a few clicks. Here are the steps:

1. Download a plugin or multiple plugins of your choice.
   
2. Open a window that contains the plugins.
   
3. Locate your Minecraft server directory.
4. Go to the file named “plugins.”
   
5. Switch to the window with the plugins.
   • Plugins are in .jar format, making them easy to identify.
6. Drag the plugins into the “plugins” folder.
   
7. Close the windows.
   
8. Restart your server.

After restarting, your plugins should be working as you enter the server.

This is the manual installation process. If you use ApexHosting or Multicraft, they will let you search for specific plugins in the program. The software will also handle the installation, and you only need to search for the correct version.

We won’t list all of these steps here, as many server clients are out there to use for your world.

Adding Your Own Plugins

If you managed to code your own plugins, then you can install them to test them out. The process is the same as all plugins. Here’s how you’ll install them:

1. Create a plugin.
2. Open a window that contains the plugin.
   
3. Locate your Minecraft server directory.
4. Go to the file named “plugins.”
   
5. Switch to the window with the plugins.
   • Plugins are in .jar format, making them easy to identify.
6. Drag the plugin into the “plugins” folder.
   
7. Close the windows.
   
8. Restart your server.
9. After restarting, your personal plugin should be working as you enter the server.

As long as you code everything right and for the particular Minecraft version your server is running, there shouldn’t be a problem.

Bukkit Plugins

You can use almost all Bukkit plugins, as long as they’re compatible with your Minecraft version. Let’s look at some important ones we think you should have, or at least consider installing.

• Vault

Vault doesn’t add any new gameplay features on its own, but many other plugins won’t work unless you have it installed. This is why you should have Vault on your server, as it also manages other plugins. It should be among the first plugins you download and install.

• bPermissions

This plugin is essential, especially if the nature of the server is to use a lot of commands. With it, you can delegate permissions to players and restrict who can use what commands. As a bonus, you don’t even have to touch the game’s files at all.

As the owner of your server, having some order and method to delegating power is essential. This is why we recommend it. It requires Vault to function, so make sure that’s installed too.

• EssentialsX

This plugin provides you with more than 100 practical commands. It also makes the game easier for new players to orient themselves via starter kits. However, the original plugin, Essentials, had ceased development before Minecraft 1.8 was released.

EssentialsX runs on newer versions, so you need to get it instead if you plan to update your game. It also needs Vault to be completely functional. At its core, it’s very much like the original Essentials.

• WorldGuard

If you enjoy creating giant pieces of artwork on your server, nothing can make you sadder than griefers and trolls. This is where WorldGuard comes in. The plugin makes sections of your Minecraft world indestructible.

You can work as hard as you want and relax. Griefers can spend all night hacking at blocks, but they will remain unharmed. WorldGuard requires another plugin called WorldEdit, so you have to get it first.

• DiscordSRV

Have you dreamed of integrating Discord with Minecraft? With DiscordSRV, this dream is now a reality. When installed, you get Discord messages from a bot notifying you of server activity.

Players with Discord communities will find this plugin a gift from heaven. They can use it to maintain order and track players.

Common Issues

Here are the solutions to several common issues. Anyone can fix them quickly for the most part, but we recommend heading to the official Spigot forum to seek help if nothing works.

• Wrong plugin version

You can easily rectify this by downloading the corresponding plugin to your Minecraft server. If you’re running Minecraft 1.8.1, your plugin has to be made for Version 1.8.1 as well. If this doesn’t work, it may be a problem in the code itself.

• Using a Vanilla Minecraft server

Vanilla Minecraft, or unmodified Minecraft, does not support plugins whatsoever. Your server has to run one of these server types:

• Spigot
• Bukkit
• Paper
• CraftBukkit (out of date)

With these servers, you can run plugins. You need to change your server type to install and run plugins.

• You didn’t install prerequisite plugins

Some plugins require others to functions. This may not go both ways, such as Vault being operational on its own, but bPermissions can’t run without Vault. By looking up the plugin’s requirements, you can find out what to install.

• Some plugins aren’t compatible with each other

If this happens, you’ll have to uninstall one of them. Conflicts in the code can cause crashes and errors to occur. Check the plugin’s documentation and look for any other plugins it’s incompatible with, just in case.

Additional FAQs

Where can I find Spigot plugins?

There are a few websites that offer free downloads of plugins. Some developers lock their plugins behind a paywall. The good news is that you don’t necessarily need these plugins.

Here’s a list of websites to get plugins:

· The Resources section of the Spigot website

· The Projects page of the Bukkit website

· GitHub, where some developers work and offer downloads

Can Spigot run Bukkit plugins?

Yes, it can. Most of the plugins made for Bukkit work with Spigot. In contrast, some Spigot plugins may not work with Bukkit.

Make sure you check a plugin’s documentation and see if there’s anything warning you not to use it on Spigot. Alternatively, you can consider sending a message to the developer to ask directly.

Is Paper Better Than Spigot?

Paper offers extra customization compared to Spigot, as it’s a fork of the latter. It also has more users, but Spigot remains popular today. For the average Minecraft player, Paper is the better choice.

No Griefing in This Server

With the help of plugins, your Spigot server can become a fun place to play. Your world will gain features not found in the base game. The best part is that you can change the plugins as you wish.

What’s your favorite plugin? Do you find installing plugins difficult for Spigot? Let us know in the comments section below.