Installing a Minecraft modpack used to mean downloading a pack, matching the loader version, uploading hundreds of files and hoping it boots. Not anymore. You can now install a Minecraft modpack on your server in one click from the game panel, and switch your server's software, say from Paper to Fabric, straight from your dashboard. Here's how both work and what happens to your world.
TL;DR
- Modpacks: open your server in the game panel, click Modpacks, pick a pack from Modrinth and a version, then confirm. The server switches to the right loader (Fabric, Forge, NeoForge or Quilt) by itself.
- You choose whether to keep your world or start fresh. Your op list, whitelist, bans and everyday server settings carry over.
- Software switching: on your server's page in the dashboard, click Switch next to Software and pick Paper, Purpur, Spigot, Fabric or Forge.
- Terraria, Valheim and Discord bot servers can switch too.
How do I install a modpack on my Minecraft server?
- Sign in to the game panel at game.brucenode.com, open your server and click Modpacks in the menu.
- Browse or search the Modrinth library. Filter by loader, Minecraft version or category, and sort to find the popular ones.
- Open a pack to read its description and look through its gallery, then pick the version you want.
- Choose what happens to your current server:
- Delete existing world, if you want the pack's own world generation. Most packs that add new biomes or dimensions play best on a fresh world. Deleting is permanent, so if you want a copy, download your world folder from the Files tab first.
- Wipe existing server files, for a clean install without leftovers from your old setup.
- Read the summary that shows exactly what will happen, then click Confirm & install.
- Watch the progress bar. If you're curious, the full install log is one click away. Even big packs with over a hundred mods are usually done in a few minutes.
- Start your server from the Console tab and share the pack name with your players, so everyone installs the same version in their launcher.
What happens to my world and settings?
Your server keeps everything that's yours:
- Kept: your op list, whitelist, banned players and IPs, and the everyday settings in
server.properties: port, MOTD, max players, whitelist mode, RCON and query settings.
- Your choice: the world. Keep it, or let the pack generate a fresh one.
- Left to the pack: world generation settings like the seed, level type and datapacks. A modpack ships its own, and carrying old ones over is a common cause of broken worlds.
How much RAM does a modpack need?
More than plain Minecraft. Light packs with a few dozen mods run comfortably on a few gigabytes, while big kitchen-sink packs with hundreds of mods want a lot more, especially with many players online. Our Minecraft RAM guide has the numbers. If your pack needs more room, you can upgrade your plan from the dashboard in about a minute, with the same world and address.
How do I switch my server software?
Want to move from Paper to Fabric for mods, or from Fabric back to Paper for plugins? You no longer need to open a ticket:
- In the dashboard, go to Servers and open your server.
- Find the Software row and click Switch.
- Pick the new software: Paper, Purpur, Spigot, Fabric or Forge. Then pick a Minecraft version.
- Decide about your world. Keep it, or tick Start a fresh world.
- Confirm. Your server stops, installs the new software and is ready again in a few minutes.
Two things worth knowing:
- Worlds only move forward. Minecraft can't open a world on an older version than the one it was saved on, so the version list only offers versions your world can use.
- Paper to Fabric or Forge starts fresh by default. Worlds made on Paper's newest versions don't open on Fabric or Forge, so we tick Start a fresh world for you on that move. Going the other way, from Fabric or Forge to Paper, your world converts as normal.
Remember that Paper plugins and Fabric or Forge mods don't mix. If you're switching to run mods, our Fabric install guide covers the basics, and our plugin guide does the same for Paper.
Switching on other games
- Terraria: move between vanilla, tModLoader and TShock. Each one keeps its files in its own place, so a switch is a clean install, and your old files move into a dated
before- folder in the file manager, ready if you want them back.
- Valheim: switch between vanilla, BepInEx and Valheim Plus, with your world, server name and password carried over.
- Discord bots: switch between Node.js and Python.
Bottom line
Modpacks are now a few clicks in the game panel, and switching your server software is one button in the dashboard, and your players and settings carry over either way. Pick a pack tonight and your friends can be exploring it within minutes. New here? Start a Minecraft server on any plan, and code BRUCE20 takes 20% off your first month.
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