Installation

1. Download SkinEngine

Download the plugin from the download page.

2. Upload the jar

Put the SkinEngine jar into your server's plugins folder. If you already have an older SkinEngine jar there, remove it or replace it first.

3. Start or restart the server

Fully restart the server so SkinEngine can generate its files.

After the first startup, SkinEngine will create:

4. Add your license key

Open config.yml and add your SkinEngine license key.

To generate your license key, you will have to join our Discord server and head to the 🔓〡how-to-verify channel.

Please restart your server after you add the license key.

If you can't restart your server for any reason, you can use the /se license check command instead. Try not to use it too often, or you may hit our rate limit. A full restart is still the better option.

5. Check the console

Make sure SkinEngine loads correctly and does not report missing libraries, storage errors, or license issues. If everything is set up properly, there should be no serious warnings or errors.

6. Add some content to SkinEngine!

SkinEngine does not come with any skins on first install. All skins are bundled into packs that you can just drag and drop onto your server.

Some of them are paid, but we also have solid free SkinEngine packs available.

You can browse all SkinEngine Packs on this page.

7. Build the resource pack

Once the plugin is loaded, run:

/se zip

This builds the resource pack SkinEngine uses for skins. What happens next depends on your setup:

self-hosting through resource-pack.host.self-host
merging into another plugin's resource pack setup through resource-pack.merge.paths

ItemsAdder, Nexo, and Oraxen are common examples, but resource-pack.merge.paths is not limited to any plugin.

8. Continue with setup

Next step: Usage

Requirements

a Paper-based server: Paper, Purpur and forks only. Spigot and Bukkit are not supported
a supported server version from 1.21.8 up to the latest stable version
Java version required by your server version (Java 21+ for MC 1.21.11 or older, Java 25+ for MC 26.0 or newer)
internet access for license and metadata checks

Optional integrations

SkinEngine doesn't require any other plugin. However, it can integrate with:

More config info: