How to Install Forge on Your Minecraft Server

Updated on July 18, 2026

Minecraft Forge software allows you to use mods on your Minecraft server, enabling you to add new features and enhance your Minecraft experience. At ConsulHosting, we’ve made the process of installing Forge software very straightforward. You can install it on your Minecraft server in just a few steps.

Installing Forge Easily

Log in to the game panel and go to your Minecraft server.
Stop the Minecraft server if it is still running.
Open the Software page under Management.
Click Forge under the recommended software.
Select the Minecraft version you want to use.
Select the required Forge build. The latest available build is selected by default.

Tip Check which Minecraft version and Forge build are supported by your mods or modpack before continuing. Some mods require a specific Forge build.

Note Only enable Wipe Server Files if you want to perform a completely fresh installation and all existing server files may be removed. These files cannot be restored without a backup.

Enable Accept EULA.
Click the Install button and wait until the installation has been completed.
Finally, start the Minecraft server using the green start button to complete the installation.

Tip Is your Minecraft server not starting? Check whether the server is using the correct Java version.

Tip Has Forge started successfully? You can install mods through the Mods page or manually upload them to the mods folder. See our guide on installing mods for detailed instructions. Always make sure the mods support the same Minecraft version and mod loader.

Installing Forge Manually

Would you like to install a specific Forge build or prepare the server files yourself? Download the official Forge installer from files.minecraftforge.net. This installer creates all the files required to start the Forge server on your own computer.

Downloading Forge

Open the official Forge download page.
Select the Minecraft version you want to use on the left.
Under Download Recommended, click Installer to download the recommended build.
Do you need a specific or newer build? Under All Versions, click Show all Versions and select Installer next to the required build.
Wait until the Forge installer .jar file has finished downloading.

Creating the Forge Server Files

Create a new, empty folder on your computer for the Forge server files.
Open the Forge installer you downloaded.
Select Install server, choose the empty folder you created in the previous step and click OK.
Wait until the installation has been completed.

Are you using Minecraft 1.17 or newer? In the generated server files, open the libraries/net/minecraftforge/forge/ folder. Then open the folder for the installed Forge version and copy unix_args.txt to the main folder containing the other server files.

Are you using Minecraft 1.16.5 or older? In the main folder, find the file whose name starts with forge and ends in .jar, such as forge-1.16.5-36.2.42.jar. Rename this file to server.jar.

Select the entire contents of the folder and compress these files into a single ZIP archive.

Note Compress the contents of the folder rather than the folder itself. This ensures that the Forge files are placed directly in the Minecraft server’s main directory after extraction.

Uploading and Installing Forge

Log in to the game panel and go to your Minecraft server.
Stop the Minecraft server if it is still running.
Back up your world, mods, configuration files and any other files you want to keep.
Open the Files page.
Do you want to perform a clean installation? Select all existing server files and click Delete.
Click Upload, select Upload Files and upload the ZIP archive containing the Forge server files.
Click the three dots next to the ZIP archive and select Unarchive.
Make sure the Forge files are located directly in the main directory. For Minecraft 1.17 and newer, this should include unix_args.txt. For Minecraft 1.16.5 and older, this should include server.jar.
You can remove the uploaded ZIP archive afterwards to free up storage space.
Start the Minecraft server using the green start button.

During the first startup, the server may stop because the Minecraft EULA has not yet been accepted. Accept the EULA when prompted by the game panel.

Tip Is the Minecraft server not starting? Check the console for error messages. Also make sure the server is using the correct Java version under Settings and that SERVER JAR FILE is set to server.jar.