How to make a modded Minecraft server (2026)

1Pick a loader

Mods are built for one loader. Pick the one your pack or mods use, then the Minecraft version they ask for.

Loader	Pick it for	Packs you may know
Fabric	Light and quick to update. Most performance mods.	Cobblemon, Better MC
Quilt	Runs most Fabric mods too.	Most Fabric packs
NeoForge	Big tech and magic packs.	All the Mods 10, Create packs
Forge	The original loader, with the longest list of mods.	Packs that haven't moved to NeoForge

Playkeeper runs Minecraft 1.21 and newer, so older packs, like RLCraft on 1.12.2, need another way.

2The manual way, in brief

On a Linux VPS, by hand. It works; it just takes a while, and every update means doing parts of it again.

1. 1

   Install Java

   Java 21 for Minecraft 1.21, Java 25 for 26.1 and newer.

2. 2

   Run the loader's server installer

   It fetches Minecraft's server and the loader.

3. 3

   Accept the EULA

   Set eula=true in eula.txt.

4. 4

   Add the mods

   The pack's server files, or your own mods, go in the mods folder.

5. 5

   Give it memory and open the port

   About 8 GB for a big pack, and TCP 25565 in your firewall.

6. 6

   Start it

   Every player needs the same loader, version and mods.

# NeoForge, for a pack on Minecraft 1.21
sudo apt install openjdk-21-jre-headless
java -jar neoforge-<version>-installer.jar --installServer
echo "eula=true" > eula.txt
echo "-Xmx8G" >> user_jvm_args.txt
sudo ufw allow 25565/tcp
./run.sh nogui

# Fabric, for a pack on Minecraft 1.21.1
sudo apt install openjdk-21-jre-headless
java -jar fabric-installer.jar server -mcversion 1.21.1 -downloadMinecraft
echo "eula=true" > eula.txt
sudo ufw allow 25565/tcp
java -Xmx8G -jar fabric-server-launch.jar nogui

# Forge, for a pack on Minecraft 1.21
sudo apt install openjdk-21-jre-headless
java -jar forge-<version>-installer.jar --installServer
echo "eula=true" > eula.txt
echo "-Xmx8G" >> user_jvm_args.txt
sudo ufw allow 25565/tcp
./run.sh nogui

For a whole user_jvm_args.txt, with Aikar's flags and a heap that leaves Java room, use the JVM arguments generator.

3The one-click way

Playkeeper runs those steps for you, on a VPS you rent. Install it with one command:

1. 1

   Start a server from a modpack

   New server › A modpack, from Modrinth or CurseForge. Each shows the memory it needs.

2. 2

   See what's inside first

   The loader, the version, the mods and the memory it needs, before anything installs.

3. 3

   Or add mods one at a time

   Start a Fabric, Quilt, NeoForge or Forge server, then browse mods. What a mod needs comes with it. Already running one? See how to add mods to a Minecraft server.

4Give friends the same mods

Everyone needs the same loader, version and mods. Playkeeper makes one link: friends download a file, import it in the Modrinth App or Prism Launcher, and join.

5How much memory modpacks need

A few mods run on a 6 to 8 GB VPS. A big pack like All the Mods 10 wants 12 GB for a few friends, and 24 GB for more.

Memory for the whole VPS, from the sizing guide.Work out your size

6Common errors

Most modded crashes come from three mistakes. The log names the mod.