When you install a CurseForge modpack, the panel downloads every mod in it for you. A few mod authors only allow downloads from CurseForge's own website, so the panel can't fetch those. When a pack has any, the install popup asks for them before anything changes on your server, and you can add them in the same few minutes the install takes.
How you know a pack needs this
After you press Install on a CurseForge pack, the popup checks the pack's mods for a moment. If some can only come from CurseForge's site, it says how many need you to download them first and lists them, one row per mod.
Most packs never show this: every mod comes from CurseForge, or from an identical copy of the file on Modrinth.
Add the mods in the install popup
- Open your server in the dashboard and go to Modpacks, under Content in the left rail.
- Press CurseForge above the search, find your pack and press Install.
- In the popup, press Download from CurseForge on the first listed mod. CurseForge opens on the exact file the pack uses.
- Press Download on that page and save the
.jarfile. - Back in the popup, drop the file onto Drop the downloaded .jar files here, or click it to browse. The row changes to Added.
- Repeat for each mod in the list, then hold the install button as usual.
The panel checks each file against the one the pack names, so a download your browser renamed still counts, and a different file is refused before it reaches your server.
Tick Start the server when it's ready in the same popup and you don't need to come back: the server starts by itself once the install finishes, even if you close the page.
Install now, add them later
If you'd rather not wait, tick Install without them in the popup. The server installs and runs without those mods, and the Modpacks tab lists them under your installed pack with the same buttons and drop zone. When the last one is in, press Restart now on the message that appears.
Players who have the full pack can be disconnected as soon as they join a server that's missing some of its mods, so add them before your friends connect.
Only download these mods from the CurseForge page the button opens. Copies on other download sites can be out of date, or carry malware.
Why can't the panel add them for me?
Each mod's author decides where it can be downloaded. Most allow other apps to fetch their files, and some don't: they want every download to go through CurseForge, so it counts towards their page and their earnings. The panel respects that choice, and it only adds a file automatically when CurseForge allows it or when Modrinth hosts the identical file. Downloading the file yourself from CurseForge is what the author asks of everyone, whichever host or launcher they use.
Can't upload the files?
Installing a pack needs the Startup & software permission, and uploading the mods also needs File manager. If someone gave you access to their server and the upload is refused, ask them to add the mods, or to give you File manager. Give friends access to your server panel covers permissions.
If the install stops with an error
- A download failed, and the console says nothing was changed: CurseForge or Modrinth didn't answer. Your server is as it was before, so press Install on the pack again.
- The console says no server engine could be set up: the pack uses a mod loader the panel can't set up yet, such as Quilt. Contact support with the pack's name, and we'll get it running.
For the rest of the install, see Install a Minecraft modpack on your server.
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