How to Install Plugins on a Spigot or Paper Server
Upload and activate plugins on your Paper or Spigot Minecraft server using the WISP file manager or SFTP — and avoid the common mistakes that keep plugins from loading.
First: Make Sure You're on Paper or Spigot
Plugins only work on Paper or Spigot (and forks of them like Purpur). They do not work on Vanilla, Forge, or Fabric servers.
If you're currently on a different server type, switch it first — see How to Switch Your Server Type.
Finding Plugins
The main sources for Minecraft plugins are:
- Hangar — Paper's official plugin repository
- SpigotMC — Large library of Spigot/Paper plugins
- Modrinth — Newer platform with both plugins and mods
- Bukkit/CurseForge — Older but still active
Download the .jar file for the plugin. Always download the version that matches your server's Minecraft version.
Installing via WISP File Manager
- In the WISP panel, go to the Files tab.
- Navigate to the
plugins/folder. If it doesn't exist yet, start your server once and let it generate, then stop it. - Click Upload and select your plugin
.jarfile. - Once uploaded, go back to the panel and Start (or Restart) your server.
- Watch the Console tab for the plugin's startup messages. You should see something like:
[INFO] [PluginName] Enabling PluginName v1.0.0
Installing via SFTP
For large plugins or batch installs, SFTP is faster than the browser uploader.
- In the WISP panel, find your SFTP credentials (usually under Settings or SFTP Details).
- Connect with an SFTP client like FileZilla or WinSCP.
- Navigate to the
plugins/directory and drag your.jarfiles in. - Restart the server.
Common Gotchas
Wrong Minecraft version: Most plugins state which MC versions they support. A plugin built for 1.20 often won't load on 1.21. Check the plugin's download page carefully.
Missing dependency plugins: Some plugins require other plugins to be installed first. For example, LuckPerms is a common dependency. The console error will usually say something like:
[ERROR] Could not load 'plugins/SomePlugin.jar': dependency DepPlugin not found
Install the listed dependency and restart.
Plugin didn't load silently: Check the console carefully — look for [ERROR] or [WARN] lines from the plugin. Also check plugins/PluginName/ for any auto-generated config files (their presence confirms the plugin did load).
API version mismatch: Very old plugins may log a warning about an unsupported or legacy API. They might still work, but consider finding a maintained alternative.
Verifying Plugins Are Loaded
From the console (no /), run:
plugins
Or in-game with OP:
/plugins
This lists all loaded plugins. Green = active, red = failed to load.