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Forge server hostingThe classic for mods and large modpacks

A Forge server is the basis for most large Minecraft modpacks - from All the Mods and RLCraft to Better MC. At MainHoster.de, you set up Forge in the panel with a guided setup: choose the Minecraft and loader version, install mods from CurseForge and Modrinth right away, start. We run the official installer automatically on the first start.

Large modpacksCurseForge & ModrinthAuto installerVersion changeUnlimited slots
Minecraft software: Overview Paper Spigot Forge Fabric Bedrock Modpacks Network

What is a Forge server?

Minecraft Forge is the most established mod loader for the Java Edition. It loads server-side and client-side mods that intervene deeply in the game - new blocks, dimensions, machines, mobs and complete game mechanics. This is exactly what the well-known modpacks build on: All the Mods 9/10, RLCraft, Better MC, Vault Hunters or Pixelmon typically run on Forge.

Important: Forge servers are more compute-intensive than vanilla or Paper. A modern modpack quickly needs 8 GB of RAM or more - and the CPU's per-core performance decides whether TPS stay stable. This is why we rely on hardware with high single-core performance, the decisive factor for smooth modded Minecraft.

Forge server hosting from €2.99 / month

Prepaid without a contract, DDoS protection up to 250 Gbit/⁠s.

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Install mods and modpacks

In the panel, you select mods directly from CurseForge and Modrinth; matching dependencies and the right loader version are set automatically. You load complete modpacks the same way or upload them via SFTP into the mods/ folder - see Install a modpack. On the first server start, Forge runs its official --installServer process and generates the required libraries - that can take a few minutes.

A later version change is possible with a compatibility check. NeoForge, a modern Forge offshoot, is also available as a setup - many new packs already build on it.

If your server is already running with Vanilla, Paper or Fabric, you do not have to order it again for Forge: in the game server panel, you switch to Forge or NeoForge yourself under server type. Your world and server.properties are kept; you choose the Minecraft and Forge version anew as part of the switch. Still back up the world yourself beforehand - how is described in Create backups. If you then want to build your own modpack, you will find the process there from the first mod to passing it on to your fellow players.

Forge or NeoForge - which loader does your pack need?

NeoForge emerged from Forge and has been developed independently since. For newer Minecraft versions, the two branches diverge technically: mods then appear in separate builds, and a NeoForge mod does not belong in the mods/ folder of a Forge server. Which one you need is always stated with the pack or the individual mod on CurseForge and Modrinth - if you select a complete pack in the panel, it brings this information along automatically.

For you as a server operator, little changes day to day: both loaders are available as a guided setup, both use the same structure with mods/ and config/, and in both cases the official installer runs on the first start. All that matters is that loader, loader version and Minecraft version match each other. Fabric plays in its own league alongside - Fabric mods are compatible with neither Forge branch, and Bukkit plugins run on neither of them. If you want plugins instead of mods, a Paper server is the right place.

The three most common startup problems with Forge

  1. Wrong Java version. Newer Minecraft versions require a newer Java runtime, while older packs only start with an older one. You switch to the matching version in the panel - the process is described in Change the Java version.
  2. Missing dependency. Many mods require library mods. If the start aborts, the console usually names the missing mod - installing it and restarting is then usually enough.
  3. Too little memory. A pack that runs out of RAM aborts while building the world or stutters permanently. Guideline values per pack size are in RAM requirements.

If the server runs but players cannot get through, with Forge it is almost always the client side: client and server must run the same mod list in the same version, otherwise the connection is refused on joining. The matching messages are explained in Fix connection errors; stubborn startup aborts are covered in Server does not start. Because modpacks take much longer to start than a vanilla server, a look at the running console is always worth it before troubleshooting.

Pack update: what happens to your world

A modded world is tightly bound to its mod list. As long as the same mods are loaded in the same version, it stays readable unchanged. If a mod disappears from the pack, the blocks, items and machines it brought disappear with it - affected areas come back empty. That is not a bug but how the format works.

This is why the same order applies to every pack update: back up first, then update, then test. You take the backup yourself via SFTP or the WebFTP file manager - Create backups yourself shows the process. Bigger jumps across several Minecraft versions are better tackled with a fresh world; the clean route is described in Reset the world. All files are always accessible: mods/, config/ and the world folder can be reached directly via WebFTP and SFTP.

Your benefits with Forge at MainHoster.de

For large modpacks

ATM, RLCraft, Better MC, Vault Hunters, Pixelmon and co. run on Forge - given enough RAM.

CurseForge & Modrinth

Select mods and packs directly in the panel - loader version and dependencies set automatically.

Automatic installer

The official Forge installer runs automatically on the first start - no manual setup needed.

Strong single-core performance

Modded Minecraft is CPU-limited. Our hardware delivers the per-core performance for stable TPS.

NeoForge available

Newer packs on NeoForge? This loader is also available as a guided setup and in the server type switcher.

Full file access

Manage and back up mods/, config/ and the world at any time via WebFTP or SFTP.

Forge server hosting - from €2.99 / month

All Minecraft plans (S to XL) share the same hardware and features: unlimited slots, a fixed server address (IP:port), console, config editor, WebFTP, restart scheduler and DDoS protection up to 250 Gbit/⁠s. Forge runs on every plan - the amount of RAM depends on the number of players and the scope of your project. You will find the plans and RAM recommendations on the overview page.

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More Minecraft software

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Frequently asked questions - Forge

Most large packs: All the Mods 9/10, RLCraft, Better MC, Vault Hunters, SkyFactory, Pixelmon and many Feed The Beast packs. Whether a pack needs Forge or NeoForge is stated on CurseForge/Modrinth - we offer both loaders.

Small packs start from 4 GB (plan M), medium ones such as ATM9 run well with 8 GB (plan L), very large packs such as ATM10 benefit from 16 GB (plan XL). Details in our RAM recommendation on the overview page.

Yes. A version change is possible with a compatibility check. Note that mods have to match the respective Minecraft and Forge version - modpacks bring their versions along automatically.

Yes, yourself in the game server panel under server type - without a ticket. Forge, NeoForge and Fabric are available there alongside Vanilla, Paper, Spigot and Purpur. World and server.properties are kept; you choose the Minecraft and loader version anew when switching. Plugins from a Paper server do not keep running under Forge, however.

Forge is more extensive and the standard for large, content-rich packs. Fabric is more lightweight, starts faster and is popular for performance and tech mods. For most classic modpacks, Forge is the right choice.