MinecraftUpdated 1 min read

How to Run Plugins on Fabric With Cardboard

Cardboard lets a Fabric server load some Bukkit plugins. Here's how to install it, and its limits.

Mods and plugins normally need different server software: Fabric for mods, Paper for plugins. Cardboard is a Fabric mod that loads some Bukkit and Paper plugins on a Fabric server.

Warning

Cardboard only supports a limited set of plugins and Minecraft versions, and is experimental. If you mainly need plugins, run Paper instead.

Install it

  1. Make sure your server runs Fabric (install it from Package Manager if not), on a Minecraft version Cardboard supports. Check Cardboard's page for the versions.
  2. In Package Manager, click Browse packages and search for Cardboard. Click Install. It adds the mods it needs.
  3. Package changes are queued and applied the next time the server starts, so restart it from Console when you're done.
  4. Stop the server, upload your plugin .jar files to the plugins folder in Files, and start it again.

If a plugin won't load

Check Console for errors naming the plugin. Many plugins use parts of Paper that Cardboard doesn't provide. Look for a Fabric mod that does the same job instead.