Minecraft Switch your server between Paper, Forge, Fabric, Vanilla, proxies, and more, right from the Game Panel. No downloads, no uploads.
Install or switch an edition
- Stop your server, then open Advanced > Server Actions > Install a Different Edition in the Game Panel.
- Choose your Edition and Version. If your version isn’t listed, click Check for New Editions & Versions.
- Click Install Different Edition, wait for the confirmation, and start your server.
Available editions
For what each one does, see Server Software Types. Most also have a (Snapshots) build for pre-release testing (unstable).
- Plugins: Paper ✓, Purpur, Spigot, CraftBukkit
- Mod loaders: NeoForge (1.20+), Forge, Fabric, Quilt
- Vanilla: Vanilla
- Proxies: Velocity ✓, BungeeCord, Waterfall (proxy setup)
- Hybrid (mods + plugins): MohistMC, Banner, Sponge
Server won’t start after installing?
Contact support with your Server UUID, the edition and version you installed, and the last 50 lines of console output.
Frequently Asked Questions
No, not unless you enable the FORMAT toggle. Without Format enabled, the installer replaces the server JAR but leaves all existing files (world, configs, plugins, mods) in place. Some editions may not work properly with files left over from a different type, so check the notes for your specific edition.
Format deletes all files on your server before installing the new edition. This gives you a completely clean slate. It cannot be undone, so always take a backup before enabling it.
Technically yes, but mods from one loader are not compatible with the other, and leftover mod files can cause startup errors. Using Format for a clean install is strongly recommended when switching between mod loaders.
The edition is the server software (e.g. Paper, Forge, Vanilla). The version is the Minecraft version that edition runs on (e.g. 1.21.4). You select both separately in the installer.
The installer includes all stable releases for most editions. For Fabric, only the latest loader version is offered per Minecraft version. If you need a specific older loader build, install it manually via SFTP and update the Server JAR filename in Startup Parameters.
Set Edition to Forge (or NeoForge), set the Minecraft version and Forge build your modpack needs, leave FORMAT off, and click Install Different Edition. The installer sets the Server JAR for you, so you don't need to touch Startup Parameters. NeoForge is the successor for Minecraft 1.20+; pick it if your mods require it.
Set Edition to Fabric, choose your Minecraft version, leave FORMAT off, and install. Only the latest Fabric loader build is offered per Minecraft version; if a pack needs an older loader build, download the server jar from fabricmc.net and update the Server JAR filename in Startup Parameters.
Your Server JAR File (Startup Parameters) is pointing at the vanilla jar instead of the modloader jar. Set it to the modloader jar's exact name and restart. The Edition Installer normally sets this automatically, so this usually means the jar was changed by hand or left over from a manual install.