How do I install a mod manually or from CurseForge when it's not in the list? — Minecraft

Q: Where do manually-uploaded mods go?

Into the mods folder, via the Files manager or SFTP, with the server stopped.

How do I install a mod manually or from CurseForge when it's not in the list?

When a mod isn't in the Mods tab's list, you can add it manually from CurseForge or Modrinth. The key is matching your loader and version — and remembering dependencies.

Manual mod install

Download the mod .jar from CurseForge/Modrinth, matching your loader and MC version.
Stop the server.
Open Files → mods folder (or use SFTP) and upload the .jar.
Start the server and check the Console loaded it without errors.

Don't forget dependencies

Many mods rely on a library mod to work — install those too.

Warning: Check the mod's dependencies (some need a library mod like Fabric API or a Forge lib) — install those too, or it'll crash on boot.

Frequently asked questions

Where do manually-uploaded mods go? Into the mods folder, via the Files manager or SFTP, with the server stopped.

Why does my manually-added mod crash the server? Usually a missing dependency or a mismatched loader/MC version — check the mod's page and match everything.