Plugins let you bolt extra features onto your server, from land claims to economy systems, without touching the game's own code. There are two ways to install them on GuavaHost: through a plugin manager if your server has one, or by uploading the file yourself. This guide covers both.
First, one hard requirement. Plugins only load on a plugin-capable server type like Paper, Spigot or Purpur. Vanilla Minecraft just ignores anything you drop in: no error, no message, nothing. You can check and change your server type in the Startup tab, so if you are not sure what you are running, look there first.
Method 1: using a plugin manager
Some setups include an in-game plugin manager. That is itself a plugin that can search for and install other plugins for you. If yours has one, this is the quickest route.
- Open the Console tab in the panel.
- Use the manager's search command to find the plugin you want. The exact command depends on which manager is installed, so check its documentation.
- Run the install command for your chosen plugin.
- Restart the server when it tells you to, so the new plugin loads.
If your server has no plugin manager, or you cannot find what you want through it, use the manual method below. It always works.
Method 2: uploading the .jar manually
Every plugin is a single .jar file. You download it, put it in the plugins folder, and restart. That is the whole idea.
- Download the plugin .jar from a trusted source. Make sure the version matches your Minecraft version, or it may fail to load.
- In the panel, open the Files tab and go into the plugins folder.
- Click Upload and pick the .jar, or drag it straight into the file list. You can also drop it in over SFTP using the connection details in the Settings tab if you prefer.
- Once the upload finishes, open the Console tab and restart the server.
- Watch the console as it starts. You should see a line confirming the plugin loaded.
Many plugins create their own folder inside plugins on first start, holding a config file you can edit later in the Files tab.
Troubleshooting
The plugin does nothing and the console never mentions it. Almost always this means your server type is vanilla. Switch to Paper, Spigot or Purpur in the Startup tab, then restart.
The console shows an error about the plugin on startup. Usually a version mismatch. Check that the plugin supports your exact Minecraft version and grab the matching build.
It says a dependency is missing. Some plugins need another plugin to run first, often an economy or permissions plugin. The error names what it wants. Upload that one too, then restart.
Uploaded but not showing. Confirm the file sits directly inside plugins and not in a subfolder, and that it is a .jar and not a .zip. Then restart, not just reload.
Still stuck? Jump into our Discord at discord.gg/GuavaHost and the team will help you out.