How to add addons to your Bedrock Server
Introduction
In this article, we'll guide you through adding addons to your Vanilla Bedrock (BDS) server. This guide can also be applied to any other server software that supports addons.
⬇️ Downloading the Addon ⬇️
We'll use a backpack addon from mcpedl.com for this tutorial.
Note: Addons come in three different formats:
- .mcaddon: Contains both the resource pack and behavior pack files, which can be directly imported into Minecraft.
- .mcpack: Can be either a resource pack or behavior pack file, directly importable into Minecraft.
- .zip: Contains the resource pack/behavior pack folder compressed and needs to be extracted manually to
games/resource_packs
orgames/behavior_packs
.
➕ Adding the Addon to Your Server ➕
.mcaddon and .mcpack
Simply double-click the file to open it in Minecraft and add it to the game's files.
The files we need will be located at: C:\Users\(your_pc_username)\AppData\Local\Packages\Microsoft.MinecraftUWP_8wekyb3d8bbwe\LocalState\games\com.mojang\` in the **behavior_packs** and **resource_packs** folders. To easily navigate to this location, press Windows + R, paste this directory into the dialog, and replace `your_pc_username
with your actual username.
.zip File Type
- Right-click the ZIP file.
- Click "Extract All."
The files we need will most likely be located atC:\Users\(your_pc_username)\Downloads
.
⚙️ Method 1: Configuring It Directly for Your Server (Recommended) ⚙️
- From your addon's files, upload the resource pack folder (if applicable) to your server's
resource_packs
folder using SFTP.
- From your addon's files, upload the behavior pack folder (if applicable) to your server's
behavior_packs
folder using SFTP.
- Open your server world folder (default named
Bedrock level
) in theworlds
folder and create two new files named world_resource_packs.json and world_behavior_packs.json. Only create these files if they don't already exist. Create the necessary files based on whether your addon has a resource/behavior pack.
- In each of these files, add the following text:
[
{
"pack_id" : "UUID HERE",
"version" : [version, number, here]
}
]
- Open the
manifest.json
file in your addon's resource pack folder (if applicable).
- Copy the UUID and version from the header section and paste them into your server's
world_resource_packs.json
file underpack_id
andversion
.
- Repeat the process for the behavior pack (if applicable). Copy the UUID and version from the
manifest.json
in the behavior pack folder to your server'sworld_behavior_packs.json
file underpack_id
andversion
.
Save the files. Restart the server, and your addon should be working!
🗺️ Method 2: Uploading via a World 🗺️
First, import the addon to a new world on your Minecraft Bedrock client, then export the world to your server.
Creating a World with the Imported Addons
- Create a new world and enable Creative Mode, Show Coordinates, Holiday Creator Features, Enable Gametest Framework, Experimental Mojang Features.
- Add the resource pack and behavior pack of the addon and create the world.
Note: If your addon was in ZIP form, move the folders inside (there should be a behavior pack and/or a resource pack folder) from your downloads folder to
`C:\Users\(your_pc_username)\AppData\Local\Packages\Microsoft.MinecraftUWP_8wekyb3d8bbwe\LocalState\games\com.mojang\` in the behavior_packs and resource_packs folders.
Exporting the World to Your Server
Follow this guide to export your world: How to Upload a Custom World to your Server and use SFTP to transfer the file.
Having problems? Ensure your addon is compatible with your server's version and that the addon is in the form of a folder within your server files (not a folder inside a folder).
Updated on: 30/05/2024
Thank you!