How to Install Fabric on Your Minecraft Server

What Is Fabric?

Fabric is a modern, lightweight mod loader for Minecraft that allows you to install mods to customize your server. Unlike Forge, Fabric is:

Ultra-fast: Available within hours of each Minecraft update
Performant: Consumes fewer server resources
Simple: One-click installation on LordHosting
Flexible: Compatible with thousands of mods (Sodium, Lithium, etc.)

Perfect for: Fabric is ideal if you want optimization mods, lightweight gameplay additions, or if you play on the latest Minecraft versions!

Before You Start

Make sure you have:

An active Minecraft server at LordHosting
Access to your Pterodactyl panel
5 minutes of your time!

Important: Fabric is not compatible with Forge mods. If you're already using Forge, your mods won't work with Fabric.

Installing Fabric (Simple Method)

Step 1: Access Your Panel

Log in to game.lordhosting.fr
Select your Minecraft server
Click the "Version" tab in the left menu

Step 2: Change the Server Version

In the "Version" section, find the "Fabric" field
Click the Fabric button

Fabric Selection

Step 3: Choose Your Minecraft Version

A new field appears: "Minecraft Version"
Select your desired Minecraft version (e.g., 1.20.4)
Accept the EULA
Click "Change Version" to apply changes

Which version to choose?

Stable Version: For most players (recommended)
Latest Version: To test new features (may have bugs)

Step 4: Restart the Server

The server will restart automatically
Wait 30 seconds to 1 minute
Check the startup logs

In the console, you should see:

[12:34:56] [Server thread/INFO]: Loading Minecraft 1.20.4 with Fabric Loader 0.15.0
[12:34:57] [Server thread/INFO]: Done! Server is ready

Success! If you see these lines, Fabric is installed successfully!

Installing Fabric Mods

Step 1: Download Fabric API (Required)

Fabric API is required by most mods. Without it, your mods won't work!

Go to Modrinth - Fabric API
Click "Versions"
Download the version matching your Minecraft version (e.g., 1.20.4)

Step 2: Upload Fabric API to Your Server

Via the File Manager (Recommended):

In your panel, go to the "Files" tab
Open the "mods" folder (created automatically on first startup)
Click "Upload" in the top right
Select the downloaded fabric-api-x.x.x.jar file
Wait for upload to complete

Via FTP (Alternative):

Connect via FTP with your LordHosting credentials
Navigate to the mods/ folder
Drag and drop the fabric-api-x.x.x.jar file

Tip: The mods/ folder is created automatically on first startup after installing Fabric. If you don't see it, restart the server once!

Step 3: Add Other Mods

Now that Fabric API is installed, you can add any Fabric mod:

Find a mod on Modrinth or CurseForge
Verify it's compatible with your Minecraft version
Download the .jar file
Upload it to the mods/ folder (like Fabric API)
Restart the server

Warning: Always verify the mod is compatible with both your Minecraft version AND Fabric Loader version!

Recommended Fabric Mods

Server Optimization Mods

These mods improve your server's performance:

Mod	Description	Link
Lithium	Optimizes the game engine	Download
Phosphor	Improves lighting system	Download
Starlight	Complete lighting engine rewrite	Download

Gameplay Mods

Mod	Description	Link
Carpet	Tools for administrators	Download
ViaVersion	Allows multiple Minecraft versions	Download
Voice Chat	In-game voice communication	Download

Client vs Server Mods:

Server-only: Players don't need to install them (e.g., Lithium)
Client and Server: Everyone must have the mod (e.g., new blocks, items)

Managing Your Mods

Enable/Disable a Mod

To temporarily disable a mod without deleting it:

Go to "Files" > "mods"
Click the 3 dots next to the mod
Click "Rename"
Add .disabled at the end: my-mod.jar.disabled
Restart the server

To re-enable, remove .disabled from the name.

Update a Mod

Download the new mod version
In your panel, delete the old version
Upload the new version
Restart the server

Tip: Always backup before updating important mods!

View Installed Mods

In-game, type the command:

/fabric mods

This displays the complete list of active mods on the server.

Common Problems and Solutions

Server Won't Start

Symptoms: Server crashes at startup, stuck on "Starting"

Solutions:

Check the logs in your panel's "Console" tab
Look for lines with [ERROR] or [FATAL]
Common causes:
- Incompatible Java version (use Java 17+ for Minecraft 1.18+)
- Mod incompatible with Minecraft version
- Conflict between two mods

Quick fix:

Remove the last mod added
Restart the server
Add mods one by one to identify the problem

"Mod requires fabric-api" Error

Error message:

net.fabricmc.loader.impl.FormattedException: Mod 'example-mod' requires version X.X.X of fabric-api

Solution:

You haven't installed Fabric API, or the version is too old
Download the latest Fabric API version compatible with your Minecraft
Replace the old file in mods/

Players Can't Connect

Error: "Incompatible mod set" or "Mod rejections"

Cause: Players must have exactly the same mods as the server (for client-side mods).

Solution:

Create a list of all your mods
Share it with your players
They must install Fabric + the same mods in their Minecraft launcher

Tip: Create a modpack with Modrinth App or Prism Launcher and share it with your players!

Performance Issues

Symptoms: Lag, low TPS, saturated RAM

Solutions:

Install optimization mods:
- Lithium
- Starlight
- FerriteCore
Limit the number of mods:
- Start with 5-10 mods maximum
- Test performance before adding more
Increase RAM:
- Upgrade your LordHosting plan if needed
- Contact support for an upgrade
Check the logs:
- Identify mods causing warnings
- Remove resource-heavy mods

Fabric vs Forge: Which Should You Choose?

Criteria	Fabric	Forge
Update Speed	Hours after Minecraft release	Days/weeks
Performance	Excellent	Good
Installation Ease	1 click on LordHosting	More complex
Number of Mods	~15,000 mods	~40,000 mods
Latest Versions	Always up-to-date	Sometimes delayed
Technical Mods	Sodium, Lithium, Iris	OptiFine, JEI, Tinkers

Our Recommendation:

Fabric - If you play Minecraft 1.18+, want optimal performance, or use mods like Sodium
Forge - If you need large modpacks (FTB, ATM) or Forge-specific mods

Tips for a Successful Fabric Server

Security

Only download from official sources:

Modrinth - Recommended (verified and secure)
CurseForge - Reliable

Avoid:

Shady reupload sites
"Cracked" or pirated mods
Unmoderated forums

Check reviews:

Download count
Last update date
User comments

Optimization

For a smooth server:

Start light: 3-5 mods maximum initially
Test after each addition: Restart and verify everything works
Install optimization mods: Lithium as priority
Monitor RAM: At least 2 GB for a Fabric server with mods
Regular backups: Before every major modification

Communication with Players

Create clear documentation:

Required mods list
Installation instructions
Link to your Discord

Prepare your players:

Warn them before adding/removing mods
Explain planned restarts
Create a Discord channel for technical support

Make access easy:

Share a ready-to-use modpack
Offer a video tutorial
Help beginners

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Can I switch from Forge to Fabric without losing my world?

Yes, your Minecraft world (.mca files) is compatible with both. However:

Blocks/items added by Forge mods will disappear
Make a complete backup before switching
Players will need to reinstall their Fabric mods

How many mods can I install?

It depends on your LordHosting plan:

4 GB RAM: 5-10 light mods
8 GB RAM: 15-25 mods
16 GB+ RAM: 30-50 mods or more

Optimization mods (Lithium) count little, large mods (dimensions, mobs) count a lot (in RAM & CPU resources).

Do players need to install Fabric too?

It depends on the mods:

Server-only mods: No (e.g., Lithium, Phosphor)
Shared mods: Yes, server AND client (e.g., new blocks, items, dimensions)

Check the mod's page to see if it's "server-side", "client-side", or "both".

How do I create a modpack for my players?

Quick solution with Modrinth App:

Install Modrinth App
Create a profile with your mods
Export as .mrpack
Share the file with your players
They import it into Modrinth App - Ready!

Does Fabric work with Bukkit/Spigot plugins?

Not directly. Fabric is a mod loader, not a Bukkit server.

If you want Fabric mods + Bukkit plugins, use:

Cardboard (experimental): Allows using plugins on Fabric
Or choose between mods (Fabric) or plugins (Paper/Spigot)

Pre-Launch Checklist

Before opening your server to players:

Fabric is installed and server starts correctly
Fabric API is in the mods/ folder
All mods are compatible with your Minecraft version
You tested the server for 10-15 minutes
You made a complete backup
You created a mod list for your players
You prepared a modpack or installation tutorial
You tested connection from a Fabric client
You configured mod permissions (if needed)

Conclusion

Congratulations! You now know how to install and manage Fabric on your LordHosting server. In just a few clicks from your Pterodactyl panel, you can: