On Bedrock, add-ons consist of two parts: a behavior pack (new creatures, recipes, rules) and often a resource pack (textures, models, sounds). Both belong on the server; players download the resource pack automatically when joining.
1. Unpack the add-on
.mcaddon and .mcpack files are ZIP files with a different extension. Rename the file to .zip on your PC and unpack it. An .mcaddon usually contains two folders – one for the behavior pack and one for the resource pack. Each folder contains a manifest.json file.
Which folder is which is stated in manifest.json under modules → type: data (or script) is a behavior pack, resources is a resource pack.
2. Upload the folders
Open the Files tab on the server page:
- behavior packs go into the
behavior_packsfolder - resource packs go into the
resource_packsfolder
The easiest way is to pack each folder as a ZIP and use Upload ZIP and extract. Important: manifest.json must be directly inside the pack folder, e.g. behavior_packs/MyAddon_BP/manifest.json – not one level deeper.
3. Enable the packs for the world
Uploading alone is not enough – the server needs to know which packs your world should use. Open your world's folder under worlds (default: worlds/Bedrock level) and create two files there:
world_behavior_packs.jsonwith the content[{ "pack_id": "UUID-FROM-THE-BEHAVIOR-PACK", "version": [1, 0, 0] }]world_resource_packs.jsonwith the content[{ "pack_id": "UUID-FROM-THE-RESOURCE-PACK", "version": [1, 0, 0] }]
You'll find the values in the respective pack's manifest.json under header: uuid goes into pack_id, version into version. Note: there is a second UUID under modules – that one is not the one you need. Separate several packs with commas inside the square brackets.
4. Restart
Restart the server. In the console, at startup you'll see a line Pack Stack - … (id: …, version: …) for every loaded pack. If your pack is missing there, the UUID or the folder is usually wrong. Players download the resource pack when joining.
Good to know
- Force the resource pack: With
texturepack-required=trueinserver.properties, all players have to accept the resource pack. Otherwise they can decline it and see the normal textures. - Experimental features: Some add-ons need "Experimental Gameplay". These can only be switched on when creating a world. In that case, create the world in the game with the required toggles and upload it – using your own worlds.
- Worlds with add-ons from your PC: If you already created the world with add-ons in the game, the world folder already contains the packs – uploading the world is enough.
- Back up first: Create a backup before installing. Add-ons you remove later can leave blocks and creatures behind in the world.
- At startup the console shows a "TRANSPORT TYPE ERROR" message. This is normal on our servers and can be ignored – your players can still connect.
- The add-on version must match the server's Bedrock version. See also Connecting and setting up a Bedrock server.