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How to Host a BigChadGuys Plus Modpack Server on Minecraft 1.20.1

A complete BigChadGuys Plus server guide covering the correct Server Files archive, Java 17, memory planning, self-hosting, remote access, managed hosting and troubleshooting.
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To host BigChadGuys Plus, use the pack’s dedicated Server Files download for Minecraft 1.20.1, run it with Java 17 or newer, assign enough memory in the supplied startup script, accept the Minecraft EULA on the first launch, and expose the server with port forwarding or a tunnel if friends are outside your home network. The normal BigChadGuys Plus ZIP is a client download and is not the correct server package.

The current CurseForge files listing shows release 2.16.6 and a matching server-pack entry as of October 14, 2026. Release numbers can change, so select the server archive attached to the exact release your players install.

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Before you begin: match the exact Minecraft, Fabric and modpack versions

BigChadGuys Plus is a Fabric modpack targeting Minecraft 1.20.1. Every connecting player and the server should use Minecraft 1.20.1, Fabric, and the same BigChadGuys Plus release. A client on a different pack version can fail during the handshake, disconnect after joining, or load a world with missing content.

The project page has rounded its cumulative download count to about 2.2 million in 2026; the files page showed 2,294,438 downloads at the time it was captured. Popularity does not change the installation requirement: version matching is still mandatory.

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Client launcher considerations

The project FAQ recommends ATLauncher or Prism Launcher for client instances. It warns that the CurseForge launcher can corrupt an instance during updates and that the FTB Launcher may omit resources that are not hosted on CurseForge. Those are client-installation issues, but they often look like server problems because the player reaches the server with an incomplete mod set.

Download the correct BigChadGuys Plus server pack

Use the BigChadGuys Plus Files page on CurseForge. Open the release’s additional files and choose the archive labeled Server Files, not the main modpack ZIP.

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  1. Open the Files listing and select the release that all players intend to use.
  2. Open that release’s additional-file list.
  3. Download the dedicated Server Files archive and save it locally.
  4. Create a new, empty folder for the server. Do not mix the archive with an existing vanilla or unrelated Fabric installation.
  5. Extract the archive into that folder, preserving its directory structure.

A complete server archive should include these folders and files:

  • config, mods, libraries and resourcepacks directories.
  • fabric-server-launch.jar and server.jar.
  • start.bat for Windows and start.sh for macOS or Linux.

If you see only a launcher profile or a client-oriented instance layout, you downloaded the client ZIP. Delete that copy and obtain the Server Files archive attached to the release instead.

Java and hardware requirements

Install Java 17 or newer

Install a 64-bit Java runtime before launching the scripts. The FAQ recommends Java 17; on macOS it specifically cites Java 17.0.1. Newer Java releases may work, but Java 17 is the project’s stated baseline and the safest starting point for this 1.20.1 pack.

After installing Java, verify that the command is available in a terminal or Command Prompt with java -version. If the command is not found, install Java again or correct the operating system’s PATH before troubleshooting the modpack.

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  • ULTIMATE COLLECTION — Includes Minecraft: Java & Bedrock Edition, five Bedrock add-ons, five exclusive Character Creator items, and 1000 Minecoins.
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  • EXPLORE AND CRAFT — Discover biomes, resources, and mobs, then craft your way through a sandbox world filled with surprises.
  • SURVIVE THE ADVENTURE — Face mysterious foes, travel across exciting landscapes, and venture into perilous dimensions.
  • PLAY TOGETHER — Play cross-platform with friends in Bedrock Edition on console, mobile, and PC, or join community servers in Java Edition on PC, Mac, and Linux. Online console multiplayer requires a platform-specific subscription (sold separately).

Plan memory from the project’s guidance

The FAQ gives a minimum of 4 GB for a dedicated server and adds 1 GB for every player after the first two. The project’s CurseForge description separately describes 6–8 GB as the range for “sublime performance.” These are project recommendations, not controlled benchmark guarantees; world size, view distance, chunk generation and the rest of the machine’s workload all affect results.

Concurrent players FAQ starting allocation How to interpret it
2 4 GB Minimum guidance for a small dedicated server
4 6 GB Formula result: 4 GB plus 1 GB for each of the two players beyond the first two
6 8 GB Formula result and within the project’s 6–8 GB performance range

Leave memory for the operating system and other services. Giving Java every gigabyte in the computer can make the host itself unresponsive and does not automatically improve tick rate.

Self-hosting on Windows, macOS or Linux

1. Prepare and inspect the server folder

Extract the Server Files archive into its own folder on a local drive. Avoid a path with unusual permissions or a cloud-sync folder that can lock files while the server is running. Confirm the folders, JARs and startup scripts listed above are visible before proceeding.

2. Set the Java memory limit

Open start.bat in a text editor on Windows, or start.sh on macOS or Linux. Find the Java command and its -Xmx option. Set -Xmx to the allocation you selected for your player count, using the script’s gigabyte format such as -Xmx4G, -Xmx6G or -Xmx8G. Do not remove the rest of the command, because the supplied script also points Java at the Fabric server launcher and its libraries.

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On Linux or macOS, make the shell script executable if necessary with chmod +x start.sh, then run it from the server directory with ./start.sh. On Windows, double-click start.bat or run it from Command Prompt after changing to the server folder.

3. Start the server once

Launch the platform-appropriate script and watch the console. The first run creates configuration files and may stop before the server accepts connections. Keep the console window open long enough to see the reason for any shutdown rather than assuming a failed launch.

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  • PLAY TOGETHER — Play solo or join friends in local split-screen and cross-platform play across console, mobile, and PC. Online multiplayer supports up to 8 players.
  • COMMUNITY PLAY — Connect with players on community servers, or subscribe to Realms Plus (sold separately) to play with up to 10 friends on a private server.

4. Accept the Minecraft EULA when prompted

If the first run stops because the EULA has not been accepted, close the server window, open the generated eula.txt, read the terms, and change the acceptance entry as instructed. Save the file and run the same startup script again. The server must be restarted after this change.

5. Wait for the ready message

On a successful launch, the console finishes loading the Fabric environment and reports that the server is ready for commands. Test locally first, using the host computer’s local address, before configuring Internet access. A local test separates mod, Java and world-loading problems from router problems.

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6. Stop it cleanly

Use the server console’s stop command when shutting down. Force-closing the window can interrupt world saves and increase the chance of file or chunk corruption. Keep a copy of the world and configuration files before changing mods or updating the pack.

Let players connect from outside your home

Players on the same network

Friends on the same Wi-Fi or wired LAN can connect to the host computer’s local address. Port forwarding is not required for this case. Give them the host’s LAN IP address and the server port shown in the server configuration.

Port forwarding for Internet players

For players outside the home network, create a forwarding rule in the router that sends the Minecraft server port to the host computer’s local IP address. Reserve that local IP in the router or operating system so the rule does not point to a different device after a reboot. Check the host firewall as well: it must allow Java or the server port for the network profile you are using.

Port forwarding exposes the local server directly. Use a strong account password, keep the operating system and Java patched, and only open the port you actually need. If your Internet provider uses carrier-grade NAT, or you cannot administer the router, forwarding may not work even when the rule is entered correctly.

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Tunneling when router access is unavailable

The project FAQ names ngrok and Cloudflare Zero Trust as alternatives. A tunnel runs software on the host and gives players a public endpoint that forwards traffic to the local server. Account, client-software and configuration requirements differ between the services, so follow the selected tunnel’s current documentation.

A tunnel and port forwarding solve the same reachability problem; neither is a performance upgrade. Latency and reliability depend on the tunnel service and your Internet connection, and the local computer still has to keep the server process running.

Use a managed Minecraft host instead

A managed provider is useful when you do not want a home computer, router or residential connection to be responsible for the server. You still need the correct BigChadGuys Plus Server Files archive and Java-compatible Fabric configuration; the provider supplies the continuously available machine and a control panel.

Upload the files

  1. Create a server instance with a provider that allows custom Fabric or custom Java JAR launches.
  2. Use the provider’s FTP tool to upload the extracted config, mods, libraries and resourcepacks folders, both JAR files, the startup-related files and any other files from the Server Files archive.
  3. Preserve the folder structure. Uploading only the mods directory is insufficient because Fabric, libraries and configuration files are also required.

Choose the custom Fabric JAR

The FAQ’s BisectHosting example renames fabric-server-launch.jar to customjava17.jar, then selects that file in the host’s custom-JAR menu. This is an example of one provider’s controls, not a universal filename requirement. Other hosts may offer a Fabric selector, a startup-command field or a different custom-JAR workflow. Use the provider’s current labels and select Java 17 when that option is available.

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Start, accept the EULA and test

Start the instance from the provider panel. If the first launch creates eula.txt and stops, edit the file through the panel’s file manager or FTP tool, accept the terms, and start again. Connect locally through the provider’s assigned address before inviting other players, then confirm that every player has the same pack release.

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Self-hosting versus managed hosting

Decision factor Self-hosting Managed provider
Upfront cost Uses hardware and Internet service you already have; no hosting account is required. Requires a paid provider plan; promotional terms can change.
Router and Internet access Requires port forwarding for outside players, or a tunnel when forwarding is unavailable. The provider supplies a public endpoint, so your home router is not part of the connection path.
Maintenance You handle Java, operating-system updates, backups, firewall rules, modpack updates and failures. The provider maintains the underlying machine, while you still manage the pack, files and server settings.
File transfer Files are already on the host computer after extraction. You upload the complete archive contents through FTP or a panel file manager.
Java and mod control Direct control over the Java installation, scripts, mods and configuration. Control depends on the provider’s custom-JAR and file-management features.
Availability The server stops when the host computer or home connection is off. The instance can remain online while your personal computer is off, subject to the provider’s service status and plan.

Choose self-hosting when you have a reliable always-on computer and are comfortable with router and Java administration. Choose managed hosting when continuous availability and less infrastructure work matter more than having complete control of the machine.

Troubleshooting common launch and connection failures

The script closes immediately

Run the script from an open terminal so the error remains visible. Check java -version, confirm Java 17 or newer is installed, verify that the script is being run from the folder containing fabric-server-launch.jar, and make sure the archive was fully extracted rather than opened inside a compressed-file viewer.

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Players get a mod-mismatch or missing-content error

Compare the Minecraft version, Fabric loader environment and BigChadGuys Plus release on the client and server. Re-download the Server Files archive for the selected release if the server’s mods or config folders were replaced with files from another version. On the client, use a launcher that retrieves all required resources and inspect the instance log for the first missing or incompatible mod.

The server runs out of memory or lags during exploration

Confirm that the script’s -Xmx value matches the allocation you planned and that the operating system has headroom. Stop unnecessary applications on a self-hosted machine, avoid starting several world-generation tasks at once, and increase the allocation only when the computer has spare physical memory. The project’s figures are starting guidance rather than a promise of a fixed tick rate.

Local players can join but remote players cannot

Test in this order: confirm the server is listening, verify the remote player is using the correct public address, check the router forwarding rule and its destination IP, then check the host firewall. If the provider is using carrier-grade NAT or the router cannot be configured, use a documented tunnel instead of repeatedly changing the server files.

The server stops at the first launch

Look for the EULA message and complete the eula.txt step before changing Java or networking settings. If it stops for another reason, keep the full console error and identify whether it names Java, a missing file, a Fabric loader issue or a particular mod.

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Updates, backups and a safe operating routine

Before changing releases, copy the world, config, mods and server properties files to a separate location. Download the matching Server Files archive for the new release into a new folder rather than overwriting a working installation. Move the saved world only after confirming that the new pack starts cleanly; a world created with newer mods may not be safely reversible.

Schedule backups while the server is stopped or use a backup method that is known to handle active-world files safely. Record the release number, Java version and memory setting with each backup so you can identify the last known-good combination. Keep the server console available to read warnings after updates, especially when a mod changes configuration keys.

Pre-launch checklist

  • All players and the server use Minecraft 1.20.1, Fabric and the same BigChadGuys Plus release.
  • The downloaded archive is labeled Server Files and contains the expected folders, JARs and scripts.
  • Java 17 or newer is installed and visible to the startup script.
  • The script’s -Xmx value is appropriate for the group and leaves memory for the host operating system.
  • The first launch has completed the eula.txt acceptance step.
  • LAN connectivity has been tested before inviting remote players.
  • Remote access uses either a correctly configured forwarding rule or a documented tunnel, not both by assumption.
  • The world and configuration files are backed up before pack updates or major configuration changes.

Bottom line

The reliable setup is the project’s dedicated Server Files archive, Java 17, a correctly edited startup script, and a version-matched client. Self-hosting offers the most control but places hardware, networking and uptime on you. A managed provider removes much of that infrastructure work, while still requiring careful file upload and custom Fabric-JAR configuration.

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