Install Addons on a Minecraft Bedrock Server

Minecraft Bedrock addons let you change how a world behaves without using Java mods or traditional plugins. Most addons include a behavior pack, and many also include a resource pack for textures, models, sounds, or UI changes. When installed correctly, everyone joining the server can use the same content instead of each player having to guess what goes where.

This guide explains two common methods: adding packs to an existing Bedrock server world, or activating the addons in singleplayer first and then uploading that world to your server.

Before You Start

Download the addon you want to use from a trusted source such as CurseForge, MCPEDL, or the creator's own website. Bedrock addons usually come as `.mcpack` or `.mcaddon` files. Save them somewhere easy to find, such as your desktop, because hunting for one tiny file in Downloads is a hobby nobody asked for.

Avoid encrypted Marketplace content for Bedrock Dedicated Servers. Marketplace packs are normally licensed to the purchasing account and often do not work properly when uploaded to a public server. Addons from third-party sites are usually the better option for server use.

Before changing anything, create a backup of the current world. Addon installation changes files inside the active world folder, and a backup gives you a clean rollback point if the pack is incompatible or the JSON is entered incorrectly. Also confirm the addon supports your server's Bedrock version. A pack made for an older release may import successfully but still fail once entities, items, or scripts try to load.

Method 1: Add Packs to an Existing Server World

Recent Bedrock server changes make this more hands-on than simply uploading one file. You will need to extract the addon, upload its folders, then register the pack IDs in your world files.

Prepare the Addon Files

1. Download the behavior addon pack from a safe source.
2. Move the `.mcpack` or `.mcaddon` file to your desktop.
3. Rename the file extension to `.zip`.
4. Open the zip with WinRAR, 7-Zip, or another archive tool.
5. Drag the `behaviors` and `resources` folders to your desktop.

Next, open the `manifest.json` file inside the behavior folder with a text editor.

Copy the UUID and version values near the top of the file. Keep them in a note for later, since they are required when activating the pack in the world configuration.

After that, compress the extracted `behaviors` folder into `behaviors.zip`, and compress the `resources` folder into `resources.zip`. Keep both zip files ready for upload.

If the addon contains only a behavior pack or only a resource pack, upload and register only the part that exists. Some packs split these folders into separate downloads, so read the creator's instructions before assuming something is missing.

Upload the Behavior Pack and Resource Pack

1. Stop your Bedrock server from your control panel.
2. Open your file manager or FTP and log in with your panel password.

1. Open the `behavior_packs` directory.
2. Select Upload, then upload `behaviors.zip`.

1. Wait until the upload reaches 100%. If the browser upload fails, use an external FTP client such as FileZilla or Cyberduck.
2. Select the uploaded zip file, then choose Unzip.

1. Confirm the unzip action, then open the `resource_packs` directory.

1. Repeat the same upload and unzip process for `resources.zip`.

Once both folders are extracted, rename them to something recognizable, such as the addon name. This is optional, but it helps when you later manage several packs on the same server.

Register the Packs in the World

Open your active world folder inside the `worlds` directory. In that world folder, create a new file named `world_behavior_packs.json`.

Add the following structure, replacing `UUID` and `version` with the values copied from the behavior pack manifest:

```json [ { "pack_id": "UUID", "version": [version] } ] ```

Save the file, then create another file named `world_resource_packs.json` for the resource pack. Use the UUID and version from the resource pack manifest if it has separate values.

When both JSON files are saved, return to the main panel and start the server. Join from Minecraft Bedrock to confirm the addon loads correctly.

Method 2: Upload a Singleplayer World With Addons Enabled

If you already have a Bedrock world where the addon works in singleplayer, you can export that world and upload it to the server. This is often easier because the world already contains the addon references.

Activate the Addon in Minecraft Bedrock

If the pack is not enabled in the singleplayer world yet, import it first.

1. Open Minecraft Bedrock, then double-click the downloaded `.mcpack` or `.mcaddon` file.
2. Wait for the import to finish.
3. Select Play from the main menu.

1. Find the world you want to use and click the Edit icon.

1. Open Behavior Packs from the left menu.
2. Choose Available, select the addon, then click Activate.

1. If Minecraft warns that achievements will be disabled, continue if that is acceptable.
2. Confirm the pack appears under Active.

If the addon also has a resource pack, check the Resource Packs section and activate it there too.

Export the World

1. In the Worlds list, click the Edit icon for the prepared world.
2. Scroll to File Management, then choose Export World.

1. Save the `.mcworld` file somewhere easy to access.
2. Rename the `.mcworld` extension to `.zip`.

You can also use your operating system's file properties menu to change the extension. If you rename the world itself, use standard letters, numbers, spaces, hyphens, or underscores. Special characters can create avoidable server path issues.

Upload the Exported World

For larger worlds, an external FTP program is usually more reliable than a browser upload.

1. In your server panel, open the file manager or FTP.
2. Copy the FTP address, host, port, and username.

1. Open FileZilla, Cyberduck, or a similar FTP client.
2. Enter the FTP details and connect.
3. Open the `worlds` directory on the server.
4. Upload the zipped world file into that folder.

1. Return to the file manager in your server panel.
2. Open `worlds`, select the uploaded zip file, then choose Unzip.

1. Confirm the action and wait for extraction to finish. The result should be a normal world folder, not a `.zip` or `.mcworld` file.

Set the Uploaded World as Active

1. Go back to the main server panel.
2. Find the World section.

1. Change the active world setting and enter the exact folder name of the uploaded world.

1. Confirm the change.
2. Restart the server when prompted.

After the restart, join the server from Minecraft Bedrock and check whether the addon content appears in game.

Using Multiple Addons

To load more than one behavior pack or resource pack, add another object to the matching world JSON file. The format should look like this:

```json [ { "pack_id": "first-uuid", "version": [1, 0, 0] }, { "pack_id": "second-uuid", "version": [1, 0, 0] } ] ```

Each entry needs a comma between it and the next one. Missing commas, extra brackets, or a version written in the wrong format can stop the pack from loading. JSON is strict, and it will not politely guess what was meant.

Troubleshooting

If uploads fail in the browser file manager, switch to FileZilla, Cyberduck, or another full FTP client. Large worlds and addon folders are more stable that way.

If FTP will not connect, compare the host, port, username, and password with the values shown in your panel. A copied space at the start or end of a field is enough to cause a login failure. If the details are correct, reset the password and try again.

If a world does not appear after upload, make sure the server has an extracted folder inside `worlds`. The server cannot load the world directly from `.zip` or `.mcworld` format.

If the uploaded singleplayer world is missing from Minecraft Bedrock on Windows, restart the game and confirm it was placed in the correct local folder:

```text ...\AppData\Local\Packages\Microsoft.MinecraftUWP_8wekyb3d8bbwe\LocalState\games\com.mojang\minecraftWorlds ```

If the server starts but players cannot join, temporarily remove the newest addon and restart. This helps confirm whether the pack itself is blocking connections. Also check whether the pack uses experimental features, scripts, or beta APIs, since those may require matching world settings or may not be supported on every server build.

If an addon works in singleplayer but not on the server, check that the behavior pack and resource pack were both activated before export, or that the UUID and version values were copied correctly for manual installation. If the addon fails everywhere, it may be outdated or broken for your current Bedrock version.

Useful Related Guides

• Downloading a Minecraft world
• Uploading a Bedrock world
• Connecting to a server through FTP
• Setting up crossplay on Minecraft servers