How to add a server resource pack and datapacks
Put a direct download link in resource-pack (plus its SHA-1) in Properties to send a resource pack. Put datapack zips in world/datapacks and reload or restart.
- Difficulty:
- Intermediate
- Time:
- 10 minutes
On this page
A resource pack changes how the game looks and sounds for players (textures, models, music). A datapack changes how the game works on the server (recipes, loot, functions, world generation). They are installed in different ways.
Server resource pack
The server does not host the pack. It sends players a download link, and their game downloads the pack when they join.
1. Upload the pack somewhere with a direct link
The link must download the
.zipfile straight away, not open a web page. Test it in a private browser window: the file should download immediately.Dropbox works if you change the end of the share link to
dl=1. GitHub releases also work well. Google Drive and Mega share pages usually do not work.The zip must have
pack.mcmetaat the top level (not inside another folder) and be under 250 MB.
2. Get the SHA-1 hash (recommended)
The hash lets the game check the file and notice when you update it. Run one of these on the zip:
Windows: certutil -hashfile pack.zip SHA1
macOS: shasum -a 1 pack.zip
Linux: sha1sum pack.zipCopy the 40-character code in lowercase, without spaces.
3. Set it in Properties
Setting | What to enter |
|---|---|
| The direct download link. |
| The SHA-1 hash from step 2. |
|
|
| Optional message on the download screen, as a text component, for example |
Click SAVE and restart the server. Players see a download prompt the next time they join.
Updated your pack? Upload the new file and update resource-pack-sha1 too. If the hash stays the same, players keep using the old cached copy.
Players who see nothing should check that Server Resource Packs is set to Enabled or Prompt in their saved server entry (Multiplayer → Edit).
Datapacks
Datapacks work on Vanilla, Paper, Purpur, Spigot and Fabric, and on Forge/NeoForge too. They live inside the world folder.
Download the datapack as a
.zip(do not extract it). Make sure it matches your Minecraft version.Open Files and go to
world/datapacks(replaceworldwith yourlevel-nameif different). Create thedatapacksfolder if it is missing.Upload the zip there.
Restart the server, or run
reloadin the console. On Paper, Purpur and Spigot useminecraft:reload, because their ownreloadcommand reloads plugins and can cause problems.Check it loaded with
datapack list.
Datapacks that change world generation (new biomes, structures or terrain) only affect chunks generated after you add them. For the best result, add them before creating the world, or reset the world. See How to reset your world.
To turn a datapack off without deleting it, run datapack disable "file/name.zip" (use the exact name shown in datapack list).
Bedrock servers
Bedrock does not use these settings. Bedrock resource and behaviour packs (add-ons) are installed inside the world folder instead. See the Bedrock server guide.
Frequently asked questions
Players get "Failed to download resource pack"
The link is not a direct download, the file is too big, or the SHA-1 is wrong. Test the link in a private window, and recompute the hash from the exact file you uploaded.
Can I upload the resource pack to my Endercloud server and link it from there?
Not by default: a Minecraft server cannot serve web downloads by itself. Some plugins can host the pack on an extra port (added with Create Allocation in the Network tab), but a file host with direct links is simpler and more reliable.
My datapack isn't in datapack list
It is probably in the wrong folder, extracted one level too deep, or made for a different Minecraft version. Check the console after a restart for errors that mention the pack.
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