Forge Server Download & Install Guide

Q: Is the Forge installer the server jar?

No. Run it with java -jar forge-…-installer.jar --installServer; it creates the server files and start scripts.

Q: Where do I set the RAM for a Forge server?

Since Minecraft 1.17: in user_jvm_args.txt, e.g. -Xmx6G. Older versions: in the java start command.

The original and biggest Minecraft modding platform.

Also searched as MinecraftForge.

Latest stable Forge 26.3 Java 25 · 15 Sep 2026

What Forge is and who it's for

Minecraft Forge is the oldest and largest mod loader, with a huge mod library for long-lived versions such as 1.7.10, 1.12.2, 1.16.5 and 1.20.1 — the versions many modpacks still use. Forge servers are set up with the official installer: you run it with --installServer and it downloads the Minecraft server and libraries.

MCJarHub links the recommended Forge build (or the latest if none is recommended) for each Minecraft version, straight from Forge's official maven. Since Minecraft 1.17 Forge servers start with run.sh/run.bat and read memory settings from user_jvm_args.txt. For new modpacks on 1.20.2 and later, also look at NeoForge.

All Forge versions

Minecraft 26.x (5)

Version	MC release	Build	Java	Status
26.3 latest	15 Sep 2026	66.1.0	25	—
26.2	16 Jun 2026	65.1.5	25	—
26.1.2	9 Apr 2026	64.1.5	25	—
26.1.1	1 Apr 2026	63.0.2	25	—
26.1	24 Mar 2026	62.0.9	25	—

Minecraft 1.21 (11)

Version	MC release	Build	Java	Status
1.21.11	9 Dec 2025	61.2.4	21	—
1.21.10	7 Oct 2025	60.1.18	21	—
1.21.9	30 Sep 2025	59.0.5	21	—
1.21.8	17 Jul 2025	58.1.26	21	—
1.21.7	30 Jun 2025	57.0.3	21	—
1.21.6	17 Jun 2025	56.0.9	21	—
1.21.5	25 Mar 2025	55.1.18	21	—
1.21.4	3 Dec 2024	54.1.22	21	—
1.21.3	23 Oct 2024	53.1.16	21	—
1.21.1	8 Aug 2024	52.1.20	21	—
1.21	13 Jun 2024	51.0.33	21	—

Minecraft 1.20 (6)

Version	MC release	Build	Java	Status
1.20.6	29 Apr 2024	50.2.14	21	—
1.20.4	7 Dec 2023	49.2.13	17	—
1.20.3	4 Dec 2023	49.0.2	17	—
1.20.2	20 Sep 2023	48.1.0	17	—
1.20.1	12 Jun 2023	47.4.28	17	—
1.20	2 Jun 2023	46.0.14	17	—

Minecraft 1.19 (5)

Version	MC release	Build	Java	Status
1.19.4	14 Mar 2023	45.4.0	17	—
1.19.3	7 Dec 2022	44.1.0	17	—
1.19.2	5 Aug 2022	43.5.0	17	—
1.19.1	27 Jul 2022	42.0.9	17	—
1.19	7 Jun 2022	41.1.0	17	—

Minecraft 1.18 (3)

Version	MC release	Build	Java	Status
1.18.2	28 Feb 2022	40.3.0	17	—
1.18.1	10 Dec 2021	39.1.0	17	—
1.18	30 Nov 2021	38.0.17	17	—

Minecraft 1.17 (1)

Version	MC release	Build	Java	Status
1.17.1	6 Jul 2021	37.1.1	16	—

Minecraft 1.16 (5)

Version	MC release	Build	Java	Status
1.16.5	14 Jan 2021	36.2.34	8	—
1.16.4	29 Oct 2020	35.1.4	8	—
1.16.3	10 Sep 2020	34.1.0	8	—
1.16.2	11 Aug 2020	33.0.61	8	—
1.16.1	24 Jun 2020	32.0.108	8	—

Minecraft 1.15 (3)

Version	MC release	Build	Java	Status
1.15.2	17 Jan 2020	31.2.57	8	—
1.15.1	16 Dec 2019	30.0.51	8	—
1.15	9 Dec 2019	29.0.4	8	—

Minecraft 1.14 (3)

Version	MC release	Build	Java	Status
1.14.4	19 Jul 2019	28.2.26	8	—
1.14.3	24 Jun 2019	27.0.60	8	—
1.14.2	27 May 2019	26.0.63	8	—

Minecraft 1.13 (1)

Version	MC release	Build	Java	Status
1.13.2	22 Oct 2018	25.0.223	8	—

Minecraft 1.12 (3)

Version	MC release	Build	Java	Status
1.12.2	18 Sep 2017	14.23.5.2859	8	—
1.12.1	3 Aug 2017	14.22.1.2478	8	—
1.12	2 Jun 2017	14.21.1.2387	8	—

Minecraft 1.11 (2)

Version	MC release	Build	Java	Status
1.11.2	21 Dec 2016	13.20.1.2588	8	—
1.11	14 Nov 2016	13.19.1.2189	8	—

Minecraft 1.10 (2)

Version	MC release	Build	Java	Status
1.10.2	23 Jun 2016	12.18.3.2511	8	—
1.10	8 Jun 2016	12.18.0.2000	8	—

Minecraft 1.9 (2)

Version	MC release	Build	Java	Status
1.9.4	10 May 2016	12.17.0.2317	8	—
1.9	29 Feb 2016	12.16.1.1887	8	—

Minecraft 1.8 (3)

Version	MC release	Build	Java	Status
1.8.9	3 Dec 2015	11.15.1.2318	8	—
1.8.8	27 Jul 2015	11.15.0.1655	8	—
1.8	2 Sep 2014	11.14.4.1563	8	—

Minecraft 1.7 (2)

Version	MC release	Build	Java	Status
1.7.10	14 May 2014	10.13.4.1614	8	—
1.7.2	25 Oct 2013	10.12.2.1161	8	—

Minecraft 1.6 (3)

Version	MC release	Build	Java	Status
1.6.4	19 Sep 2013	9.11.1.1345	8	—
1.6.2	5 Jul 2013	9.10.1.871	8	—
1.6.1	28 Jun 2013	8.9.0.775	8	—

Minecraft 1.5 (1)

Version	MC release	Build	Java	Status
1.5.2	25 Apr 2013	7.8.1.738	8	—

Previews & experimental builds (2)

Version	MC release	Build	Java	Status
1.7.10 Pre-Release 4	14 May 2014	10.12.2.1149	8	—
1.6.3	13 Sep 2013	9.11.0.878	8	—

How to set up a Forge server

Steps for the latest version (26.3); every version page has its own exact commands.

Install Java 25 or newer (e.g. Eclipse Temurin) and check it with java -version.
Download the official installer forge-26.3-66.1.0-installer.jar into an empty folder.
Run java -jar forge-26.3-66.1.0-installer.jar --installServer. It downloads the Minecraft server and libraries into the folder.
Start the server with the generated run.sh (Linux/macOS) or run.bat (Windows). Set memory in user_jvm_args.txt, e.g. -Xmx6G.
Accept Mojang's EULA in eula.txt (eula=true), start again, and put mods into mods/.
You can delete the installer and installer.log afterwards.

Forge FAQ

What is the latest Forge version?

The newest Forge release on MCJarHub is 26.3, published 21 Oct 2026.

Is the Forge installer the server jar?

No. Run it with java -jar forge-…-installer.jar --installServer; it creates the server files and start scripts.

Forge or NeoForge?

For 1.20.1 most modpacks use Forge. From 1.20.2 onward many popular mods moved to NeoForge. Use whatever your mods or modpack require.

Where do I set the RAM for a Forge server?

Since Minecraft 1.17: in user_jvm_args.txt, e.g. -Xmx6G. Older versions: in the java start command.

Recent Forge builds

28 Oct 2026 12:46 — Forge 1.20.3: Version added
28 Oct 2026 12:46 — Forge 1.5.2: Version added

Forge Java requirements

Minecraft	Java
26.1 – 26.3	Java 25+
1.20.6 – 1.21.11	Java 21+
1.18 – 1.20.4	Java 17+
1.17.1	Java 16+
1.5.2 – 1.16.5	Java 8+

Full Minecraft → Java table

Forge vs alternatives

NeoForge Fabric Mohist Arclight

Detailed comparison →

Official links

Grab it via API

curl https://mcjarhub.com/api/v1/latest/forge Full API documentation →