How to Update a Plugin on Your Minecraft Server Safely

By regularly updating your Minecraft plugins, you benefit from the latest bug fixes, security updates, performance improvements, and features. An update may also be necessary after changing the Minecraft version or server software. In this guide, we explain how to easily update plugins on your Minecraft server at ConsulHosting through the game panel or manually.

Updating Minecraft plugins easily

For many installed plugins, the game panel can automatically check whether a newer compatible version is available.

1. Log in to the game panel and go to your Minecraft server.
2. Open the Plugins page.
3. Click Installed Plugins in the top right corner.

Tip If the Installed Plugins page does not load, restart your Minecraft server using the grey restart button and wait until the server has fully started. It may take some time for the game panel to load all installed plugins.

4. If a compatible update is available, click the update icon with the upward arrow next to the relevant plugin.
5. Check which plugin version will be installed and click Update Plugin.
6. Repeat these steps for any other plugins you want to update.
7. Restart the Minecraft server using the grey restart button and wait until the server has fully restarted.

Tip Is there no update icon displayed for a plugin? The game panel has either not found a compatible newer version or does not recognise the plugin. In that case, you can update the plugin manually.

Updating Minecraft plugins manually

Do you want to install a specific plugin version, or is the game panel unable to update the plugin automatically? Manually replace the old .jar file.

1. Open the plugin’s official download page. Commonly used websites include Modrinth, SpigotMC, Bukkit, and Hangar.
2. Download a plugin version that is compatible with the Minecraft version and server software you use.

Tip Not sure which software and Minecraft version your server uses? Go to Software under Management in the game panel.

3. Log in to the game panel and go to your Minecraft server.
4. Stop the Minecraft server using the red stop button.
5. Open the Files page and go to the plugins folder.
6. Click the three dots next to the plugin’s old .jar file and delete the file.

Note Only delete the old .jar file. Do not delete the folder named after the plugin. This folder usually contains the plugin’s configuration and locally stored data.

7. Click Upload, choose Upload Files, and upload the new .jar file.
8. Start the Minecraft server using the green start button and wait until it has fully started.