How to install mods on your Minetest server

Installing a Minetest mod is two steps. Uploading it makes it available, and a line in the world's own config file turns it on.

1. Upload the mod

1. Download the mod and unpack it. The folder you want contains init.lua and usually mod.conf.
2. Stop the server in the Game Panel.
3. Open the Files tab and upload the folder into the mods folder.
4. The folder name is the mod name, and it matters. Renaming it breaks anything that depends on the mod.

2. Enable it for your world

1. Open the world folder and open world.mt.
2. Add a line load_mod_<modname> = true, using the exact folder name.
3. Save and start the server.

A mod that is uploaded but has no load_mod line does nothing at all, which is the usual reason a new mod seems to be ignored.

3. Dependencies

• Read the mod's mod.conf for its dependencies and install those too.
• A missing dependency stops the server starting, and the console names the mod that is missing.
• Modpacks are a folder of mods. Upload the whole pack and enable the pack name.

4. What your players need

Minetest sends the media it needs to clients on join, so players normally do not install anything. The first join after adding a large mod takes longer while that content downloads.

5. Before you change the mod list

• Take a copy of the world folder from the Files tab.
• Removing a mod that added blocks leaves unknown nodes in the world where those blocks were.
• Add mods a few at a time and start the server in between, so a failed boot points at one of them.

Open a ticket from Support in the Client Area with the console output if a mod will not load.