Do you want to host your own private Minecraft MOD server?
This guide will walk you through installing and running a Minecraft Forge server on Linux from scratch.
You’ll be able to explore new gameplay mechanics, build your own modpack, or share a private world with friends — and this complete step-by-step guide will make it easy.
Download Forge
You can find all Forge versions here and download the one you need:
Forge:https://files.minecraftforge.net/net/minecraftforge/forge/
Create a directory and download Forge:
mkdir minecraft_forge
cd /minecraft_forge
wget https://maven.minecraftforge.net/net/minecraftforge/forge/1.21.10-60.0.12/forge-1.21.10-60.0.12-installer.jar
Install Forge
Run the Forge installer.
⚠️ Note: Java must be installed first. If you don’t know how to install it, check out this guide:"How to Install a Minecraft Server on Linux"
java -jar forge-1.21.10-60.0.12-installer.jar --installServer
Start the Minecraft Server
After a short wait, you’ll see a run.sh file appear in the directory.
Run it to start your Forge-enabled Minecraft server.
./run.sh
If you see the message
You need to agree to the EULA in order to run the server. Go to eula.txt for more info.
open the eula.txt file and change:
eula=false
to
eula=true
Then, run it again:
./run.sh
When you see
Done (5.270s)! For help, type "help"
your server is running successfully!
You can also check out the guide "How to Install a Minecraft Server on Linux"
to learn how to keep your Minecraft server running in the background.
Directory Overview
mods/ – Place your downloaded mod files here (usually end with .jar)
world/ – Stores world data (deleting this will reset your map)
logs/ – Server runtime logs
server.properties – Server configuration file (edit port, player limit, etc.)
Common Issues
Q1: Error “Unsupported Java Version”?
A: Make sure you have Java 21 or a newer version installed.
Q2: Can’t join the server after adding mods?
A: The mod versions on the client and server must match exactly.