How to add addons to your Bedrock Server
In this article, we'll be going over how to add addons to your Vanilla Bedrock (BDS) server. This guide may also be applied to any other server software that supports addons
We'll be using a backpack addon from mcpedl.com for this tutorial.
Download addons only from trusted sites like mcpedl. Make sure to skip the ads and not to download anything other than the pack itself (most likely a mediafire link).
Note: Addons can be found in 3 different types
.mcaddon = This means it contains both the resource pack file and behavior pack file which could directly be imported to Minecraft
.mcpack = This could either be a resource pack file or behavior pack which could directly be imported to Minecraft
.zip = This means the resource pack/behavior pack folder is compressed and needs to be extracted manually to games/resourcepack or games/behaviorpack
By simply double clicking on the file, it will open in Minecraft and add itself to the game's files
The files we will need for this guide will then 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. In order to easily get to this location, simply run windows + R, and paste this directory into the dialog, ensuring you modify the PC username to your own
Right-click the ZIP file
Click "extract all"
The files we will need for this guide will then most likely be located at C:\Users\(your pc username)\Downloads
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 (by default named Bedrock level) in the worlds folder and click the new file button and name it world_resource_packs.json. Additionally, create a file named world_behavior_packs.json. Do not do this if the files already exist. Only create the files necessary for your addon (only create a resource/behavior pack file if your addon has a resource/behavior pack).
In each of these files, copy this text:
Open back your addon's resource pack folder (if applicable). In it, you should find a file named manifest.json.
Open this file and copy the UUID and version from the header section. Paste these into your server's world_resource_packs.json file pack_id and version.
Do the same thing with your addon's behavior pack (if applicable). Paste the UUID and version from the manifest.json in the behavior pack folder of the addon to your server's world_behavior_packs.json file pack_id and version.
Save the files. Now restart the server and you should see your addon working!
You must import the addon first to a new world on your Minecraft Bedrock Client, and then export the world to your server.
Create a new world and enable Creative Mode, Show Coordinates, Holiday Creator Features, Enable Gametest Framework, Experimental Mojang Features .
Now add the resource pack and behaviour pack of the addon and create the world.
Note: if your addon was in ZIP form, you will need to 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.
Almost there, now follow this guide to export your world : How to Upload a Custom World to your Server and sftp to transfer the file.
Having problems? Make sure your addon is made for the version that your server is running and that your addon is in the form of a folder among your server files (and not a folder inside a folder).
IMPORTANT - When updating your server, make sure to also update your addons. Failure to do so may lead to corruption of your world!
If you face any other issues, do not hesitate to open a live chat for assistance!
⬇️ Downloading the addon ⬇️
We'll be using a backpack addon from mcpedl.com for this tutorial.
Download addons only from trusted sites like mcpedl. Make sure to skip the ads and not to download anything other than the pack itself (most likely a mediafire link).
Note: Addons can be found in 3 different types
.mcaddon = This means it contains both the resource pack file and behavior pack file which could directly be imported to Minecraft
.mcpack = This could either be a resource pack file or behavior pack which could directly be imported to Minecraft
.zip = This means the resource pack/behavior pack folder is compressed and needs to be extracted manually to games/resourcepack or games/behaviorpack
➕ Adding it to your server ➕
.mcaddon and .mcpack
By simply double clicking on the file, it will open in Minecraft and add itself to the game's files
The files we will need for this guide will then 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. In order to easily get to this location, simply run windows + R, and paste this directory into the dialog, ensuring you modify the PC username to your own
.zip file type
Right-click the ZIP file
Click "extract all"
The files we will need for this guide will then most likely be located at C:\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 (by default named Bedrock level) in the worlds folder and click the new file button and name it world_resource_packs.json. Additionally, create a file named world_behavior_packs.json. Do not do this if the files already exist. Only create the files necessary for your addon (only create a resource/behavior pack file if your addon has a resource/behavior pack).
In each of these files, copy this text:
[
{
"pack_id" : "UUID HERE",
"version" : [version,number,here]
}
]Open back your addon's resource pack folder (if applicable). In it, you should find a file named manifest.json.
Open this file and copy the UUID and version from the header section. Paste these into your server's world_resource_packs.json file pack_id and version.
Do the same thing with your addon's behavior pack (if applicable). Paste the UUID and version from the manifest.json in the behavior pack folder of the addon to your server's world_behavior_packs.json file pack_id and version.
Save the files. Now restart the server and you should see your addon working!
🗺️ Method 2: uploading it via a world 🗺️
You must import the addon first to a new world on your Minecraft Bedrock Client, and 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 .
Now add the resource pack and behaviour pack of the addon and create the world.
Note: if your addon was in ZIP form, you will need to 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
Almost there, now follow this guide to export your world : How to Upload a Custom World to your Server and sftp to transfer the file.
Having problems? Make sure your addon is made for the version that your server is running and that your addon is in the form of a folder among your server files (and not a folder inside a folder).
IMPORTANT - When updating your server, make sure to also update your addons. Failure to do so may lead to corruption of your world!
If you face any other issues, do not hesitate to open a live chat for assistance!
Updated on: 27/02/2023
Thank you!