How to Install a Custom Minecraft Server Jar File (Like Paper, Spigot, and Forge)

Nexus Hosting offers a comprehensive catalog of all major Minecraft server JARs – complete with all their releases and builds – so you can quickly pick what you need and get it running on your server. In this guide, you’ll learn about popular JAR files and see just how simple it is to install them through Nexus Hosting.

Why Use a Custom Minecraft Server JAR?

Minecraft Marketplace mods are paid add-ons for the Bedrock Edition that only work on official servers like Realms. These mods are also, to a certain degree, restricted in what they can do by Mojang. If you're running a Java Edition server, installing a custom JAR file allows you to unlock much deeper customizations.

Popular custom JARs like Forge and Fabric let you add entirely new biomes, mobs, and game mechanics—way beyond what Marketplace mods can do. The only catch is that the default Minecraft server software can’t run these mods, so you’ll need a compatible server JAR to make it all work.

A Quick Look: Minecraft Server JARs offered by Nexus Hosting

Vanilla – The official, unmodified Minecraft experience

Spigot – A lightweight, plugin-friendly alternative to Vanilla with improved performance and bug fixes.

Paper – A high-performance fork of Spigot that reduces lag and improves plugin support.

Pufferfish – An even more optimized version of Paper for high-player-count servers.

Folia – An experimental Paper fork with true multi-threading for better server scaling

Purpur – A feature-rich Paper fork that adds customization options for gameplay mechanics and player experience.

Leaves – A newer Paper fork with smoother performance and plugin compatibility.

BungeeCord – The original proxy server for linking multiple Minecraft worlds.

Waterfall – An optimized fork of BungeeCord that improves proxy performance and cross-server player movement.

Velocity – A modern proxy server that is faster and more secure than Waterfall/BungeeCord. Great for linking multiple servers.

Fabric – A lightweight modding framework for custom content and mods without the bulk of Forge.

Canvas – A Fabric-based rendering engine for better visuals and shaders.

Quilt – A Fabric fork focused on stability, modularity, and better community-driven modding.

Forge – The most widely used modding framework, supporting large-scale mod packs and extensive game modifications.

NeoForge – A modernized version of Forge, aiming for better performance and mod compatibility.

Mohist – Supports both Forge mods and Spigot plugins on one server.

Arclight – A hybrid server that runs Forge mods and Paper plugins together.

Sponge – Adds plugin support to Vanilla and Forge servers.

If you're new to server hosting, stick with widely used and well-supported JARs like Paper (for plugins) or Forge (for mods). These have large communities, frequent updates, and extensive documentation. Avoid less-tested or nice JARs unless you have specific needs.

Step 1:

Log in to your Nexus Hosting Account.

Step 2:

Once on the dashboard, find and select your intended Minecraft server.

Step 3:

Select the More icon from the sidebar (the three ellipses).

Step 4:

Then select Versions from the pop-up menu.

Step 5:

Browse through the available versions and choose the one you want to install.

Important! A Skull icon indicates that version is deprecated. It is no longer supported or has reached its end of life. Use with caution.

Important! A Warning icon iondicates that version is experimental and may be unstable. You may encounter some unexpected behavior or crashes. Use with caution.

Step 6:

Now select the Release you are interested in.

Step 7:

Finally, use the drop-down to select the Build you wish to install. Toggle WIPE SERVER FILES if you want to start with a fresh server. You will lose any and all progress on your existing Minecraft world. Then click Install.



You'll need to return to the Terminal page to restart your server. The server will then download and install the JAR file, which you'll see unfold in the console. That’s it! You can now start exploring your new and improved MInecraft server!

Updated on: 29/03/2025