Why Choose Fabric?

Fast updates - Usually available within days of new Minecraft versions
Lightweight - Minimal performance overhead
Modern - Built with current best practices
Growing ecosystem - Many popular mods now available

Download Fabric

Requirements

Java 17 or newer (Java 21 for Minecraft 1.20.5+)
At least 4GB of RAM (8GB+ recommended for modpacks)
A computer or VPS to run the server

Step 1: Install Java

Fabric requires Java 17 or newer. For Minecraft 1.20.5+, use Java 21.

Download from Adoptium:

Go to adoptium.net
Download Eclipse Temurin for your operating system
Run the installer

Verify installation:

java -version

You should see output indicating Java 17 or higher.

Step 2: Download Fabric Server

Download the Fabric server launcher:

Download Fabric Server

The launcher will download the necessary Fabric files when first run.

Step 3: Create Server Directory

Create a dedicated folder for your server:

minecraft-fabric-server/
├── server.jar (your downloaded Fabric jar)
└── (other files will be generated)

Step 4: Create Start Script

Create a start script for your server.

Windows (start.bat):

@echo off
java -Xmx4G -Xms4G -jar fabric-server-launcher.jar nogui
pause

Linux/Mac (start.sh):

#!/bin/bash
java -Xmx4G -Xms4G -jar fabric-server-launcher.jar nogui

Make it executable on Linux/Mac:

chmod +x start.sh

Tip

Use our Startup Flags Generator for optimized Java flags.

Step 5: First Run

Run your start script. The server will:

Download Minecraft server files
Download Fabric libraries
Generate configuration files
Stop with an EULA error

This is expected! Continue to the next step.

Step 6: Accept EULA

Open eula.txt and change:

eula=false

to:

eula=true

Save the file.

Step 7: Install Fabric API

Most Fabric mods require Fabric API. Download it from:

Place the downloaded .jar file in the mods folder:

minecraft-fabric-server/
├── mods/
│   └── fabric-api-x.x.x.jar
├── fabric-server-launcher.jar
├── eula.txt
└── ...

Step 8: Add Mods

Download mods compatible with your Minecraft and Fabric version:

Recommended sources:

Modrinth - Modern, curated
CurseForge - Large library

Popular server-side mods:

Lithium - General optimization
Starlight - Lighting engine optimization
FerriteCore - Memory optimization
Krypton - Network optimization

Version Compatibility

Make sure all mods match your Minecraft version AND Fabric loader version. Mismatched versions cause crashes.

Step 9: Configure Your Server

Edit server.properties to customize your server:

server-port=25565
max-players=20
motd=My Fabric Server
view-distance=10
simulation-distance=8

Step 10: Start Your Server

Run your start script again. This time the server will fully start with your mods loaded.

You'll see messages like:

[Server thread/INFO]: Loading X mods
[Server thread/INFO]: Done! For help, type "help"

Connecting to Your Server

Open Minecraft with matching Fabric version
Install the same mods on your client (for client-side mods)
Click "Multiplayer" → "Add Server"
Enter localhost (same computer) or your server IP

Troubleshooting

Server Won't Start?

Check the logs folder for error messages. Common issues:

Wrong Java version
Incompatible mod versions
Missing dependencies (like Fabric API)

Mods Not Working?

Ensure mods are in the correct mods folder and match your Minecraft/Fabric versions. Some mods are client-only and won't show on server.

Updating Fabric

To update Fabric:

Download the new Fabric server launcher
Replace your existing launcher jar
Restart the server

Fabric will automatically update its libraries.

Fabric vs Forge

Feature	Fabric	Forge
Updates	Very fast	Slower
Performance	Excellent	Good
Mod selection	Growing	Largest
Modpack support	Good	Best

See our Fabric vs Forge Comparison for more details.

How to Install a Fabric Minecraft Server