How to Install Hytale Server Mods, Assets, & Plugins

This guide shows how to install mods, asset packs, and server plugins on a Hytale dedicated server.

Hytale is in Early Access and the modding ecosystem is moving fast. Always back up your server before making changes, and expect mods/plugins to break after game updates.

What’s the difference?

Mods / Packs: Usually a .zip (sometimes .jar) you drop into your server’s mods/ folder. These can include data changes, custom assets, gameplay tweaks, etc.
Assets (Asset Packs): Custom items/models/textures/data. In practice they’re commonly distributed as a pack/mod file and installed the same way (uploaded into mods/).
Plugins: Server-side Java .jar files that add commands, logic, metrics exporters, web APIs, etc. In Early Access these are often considered “early plugins” and may require a startup acknowledgement flag.

Before you install anything

Stop your server (or shut it down if self-hosting).
Back up at minimum:
- universe/ (worlds + player data)
- config.json, permissions.json, whitelist.json
Confirm the mod/plugin supports your current Hytale version.

Where to get mods/plugins

Most server mods are distributed as downloadable .zip or .jar files. Always prefer the mod author’s official download page and read their install notes.

Install on a hosted server (LOW.MS or other)

Method A: “Mod Manager” (if your host provides one)

If your panel has a Mod Manager:

Stop the server.
Click on "Curse Mods"
Search and install the mod!
Start the server and watch the console for load messages or errors.

Method B: File Manager / SFTP (works everywhere)

Stop the server.
Open File Manager (or connect via SFTP).
Navigate to the server’s mod folder:
- Common layouts:
  - mods/
  - hytale/Server/mods/ (some hosts)
Upload the mod file as-is (.zip or .jar). Don’t unzip it unless the mod author explicitly says to.
Start the server.

Installing plugins (hosted)

Plugins are usually .jar files.

Many hosts load plugin jars from the same mods/ folder.
Some hosts separate “early plugins” into a dedicated folder (for example earlyplugins/). If your host says to use earlyplugins/, follow that.

If your plugin is an early plugin, your server may also need a startup flag:

Add this to your server startup arguments (or toggle the equivalent panel setting):

--accept-early-plugins

If you don’t have direct access to startup arguments in your panel, look for a setting like “Accept Early Plugins” or contact support.

Install on a self-hosted server (Windows / Linux)

Stop the server.
In your server root (where HytaleServer.jar is), locate or create the folder:

mods/

Copy your downloaded mod/plugin file into mods/.
If you’re installing an early plugin, add the early plugin acknowledgement flag when starting the server:

java -jar HytaleServer.jar --assets PathToAssets.zip --accept-early-plugins

Start the server and watch the console/logs.

Example (Linux)

mkdir -p mods
cp MyModPack.zip mods/
# restart server

Example (Windows PowerShell)

New-Item -ItemType Directory -Force -Path .\mods | Out-Null
Copy-Item .\Downloads\MyModPack.zip .\mods\
# restart server

How to confirm it worked

Restarting is required — Hytale reads mods/plugins on startup.
Check logs/ and the live console for:
- load confirmations
- dependency/version errors
- crash stack traces (remove the most recent mod/plugin first)

Updating or removing mods/plugins

Update

Stop the server.
Replace the mod file in mods/ with the new version.
Start the server.

Remove

Stop the server.
Delete the mod/plugin file from mods/.
Start the server.

If a world was created with a mod/plugin that adds required content, removing it may break that save. Keep backups.

Troubleshooting

Server won’t start after adding a mod

Remove the last mod/plugin you uploaded and try again.
Confirm the file is in the correct folder (mods/ or host-specific path).
Confirm you didn’t upload an extracted folder when the mod expects a single .zip.
Verify the mod supports your server version.

Plugin isn’t loading

Make sure it’s a .jar file.
If it’s an early plugin, ensure you’re launching with:
- --accept-early-plugins
If your host uses a separate folder (like earlyplugins/), place it there.

Changes keep “reverting”

Hytale writes some config files when in-game actions occur. Do file edits while the server is stopped, then restart.

Early Plugins Explained

Early plugins are a special category of Hytale server plugins that run outside the standard plugin system. They perform low-level class modifications by injecting or altering bytecode during server startup.

Why do early plugins exist?

Early plugins can:

Modify core server behavior that normal plugins can't access
Add features before the standard plugin system loads
Patch or extend internal server classes

Because of their power, Hytale requires you to explicitly acknowledge you want to run them.

How to enable early plugins

Add the --accept-early-plugins flag to your server startup command:

java -jar HytaleServer.jar --assets Assets.zip --accept-early-plugins

On hosted servers:

Look for an "Accept Early Plugins" toggle in your server settings
Or add the flag to your startup arguments if your panel allows it

Where to install early plugins

Some servers use different folders:

Plugin Type	Folder
Regular mods/plugins	`mods/`
Early plugins	`earlyplugins/` (some hosts) or `mods/`

Check your hosting provider's documentation — some separate early plugins into their own folder.

Should I use early plugins?

Use early plugins if:

You need functionality that regular plugins can't provide
The plugin author specifically says it's an early plugin
You trust the plugin source (early plugins have deep system access)

Avoid early plugins if:

A regular plugin can do what you need
You're unsure about the plugin's source
You want maximum stability (early plugins can cause harder-to-diagnose issues)

Common early plugins

LuckPerms — advanced permissions management
Performance mods — server optimization plugins
API extensions — plugins that expose new APIs for other plugins

Plugin Development Resources

If you're interested in creating your own Hytale plugins:

Official template: Darkhax & Jared's plugin template for IntelliJ IDEA
Requirements: Java 25, IntelliJ IDEA (Community edition works)
Documentation: Hypixel Studios is working on public creator documentation

The Hytale modding ecosystem is still developing. Expect APIs and best practices to evolve during Early Access.

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