How to Install and Manage Plugins on Your Minecraft Bedrock Server

Plugins let you extend your Minecraft Bedrock server with new gameplay features, commands, economy systems, and much more. The RiverHosting panel makes it straightforward to add and manage plugins without needing to dig into folders or edit files manually.

This guide walks you through installing and managing plugins on a Minecraft Bedrock server that supports them.

Before you start

• Make sure you have an active Minecraft Bedrock server with RiverHosting. Log in at panel.riverhosting.com to access it.
• Check that your server is running a plugin-capable platform. You will know this is the case if you see a Plugins page in the left-hand menu when you open your server.
• Download the plugin file you want to install from a trusted source. Minecraft Bedrock plugins usually come as .phar files for PocketMine-MP or .jar files for PowerNukkitX.
• Make a backup of your server before making changes, especially if you are installing plugins for the first time.

1. How to install a plugin using the Plugins page

If your Minecraft Bedrock server supports plugins, the Plugins page is the quickest place to manage them.

1. Log in to the RiverHosting panel.
2. Click on your Minecraft Bedrock server from the server list.
3. In the left-hand menu, click Plugins.
4. Click Upload Plugin. There is no plugin browser, so download the plugin file to your computer first.
5. Choose the file under Plugin File (.phar on PocketMine-MP, .jar on PowerNukkitX) and enter a Plugin Name. The wrong file type is rejected. The panel places the file in the correct folder for you.
6. Once the plugin is installed, restart your server using the Restart button on the Console page so the changes take effect.

2. How to install a plugin manually using the File Manager

You can also upload a plugin file directly using the File Manager.

1. Log in to the RiverHosting panel and open your Minecraft Bedrock server.
2. In the left-hand menu, click Files to open the File Manager.
3. Navigate to the plugins folder. This is usually found in the root of your server directory.
4. Click the Upload button and select your plugin file from your computer. For PocketMine-MP servers this will be a .phar file. For PowerNukkitX servers this will be a .jar file.
5. Wait for the upload to complete, then go to the Console page and click Restart to reload the server with the new plugin active.

3. How to remove or disable a plugin

If a plugin is causing problems or you no longer need it, you can disable or remove it from the Plugins page.

1. Open your server in the RiverHosting panel.
2. Click Plugins in the left-hand menu.
3. To switch a plugin off without removing it, turn off its Enabled toggle.
4. To remove it completely, click Delete Plugin next to it.
5. Restart your server so the change takes effect.

4. How to configure a plugin after installation

Most plugins create a configuration file the first time the server starts with them installed. You can edit these settings from the File Manager.

1. Start your server and let it fully load after installing the plugin. This generates the plugin's configuration files.
2. Stop the server before making changes to any configuration files to avoid conflicts.
3. Click Files in the left-hand menu to open the File Manager.
4. Navigate to the plugins folder, then open the subfolder that matches the plugin name.
5. Look for a file such as config.yml or config.json and click on it to edit it.
6. Make your changes, then save the file.
7. Start the server again. The plugin will load with your updated settings.

Troubleshooting

• I do not see a Plugins page in the menu. Your server is running Vanilla Bedrock, which does not support plugins. Switch to PocketMine-MP or PowerNukkitX on the Versions page. The server reinstalls; worlds carry over, but add-ons and plugins do not.
• The plugin is not loading after a restart. Check the server console for error messages. Common causes include uploading the wrong file type for your platform, an outdated plugin version, or a missing dependency plugin.
• The server crashed after installing a plugin. Turn off the plugin's Enabled toggle or click Delete Plugin on the Plugins page, then restart. If the server comes back up normally, the plugin is likely incompatible with your server version or platform.
• The plugin config file is not appearing. Make sure the server fully started and loaded after the plugin was installed. The config file is usually created on first load, not at install time.
• I uploaded the file but it disappeared. Make sure you uploaded to the correct plugins folder. Double-check the File Manager path and try uploading again.

Need help?

If you run into an issue that is not covered here, the RiverHosting support team is happy to assist.