Issues with Minecraft Datapacks

This guide outlines common issues that can occur when using datapacks on your Minecraft server, along with steps to resolve them. Hopefully you won’t run into these problems—but if you do, the tips below may help.

Datapack Load Order Conflicts

Datapacks are loaded in a specific order, and that order can affect how they function. A datapack loaded later can overwrite the behavior of ones loaded earlier.

• Higher priority is given to datapacks that are loaded last.

• If multiple datapacks modify similar elements (like loot tables or advancements), later-loaded packs can override earlier ones.

• Some datapack authors specify a required load order—make sure to follow their recommendations.

Controlling Load Order

You can manage load order using Minecraft's built-in /datapack commands. These can be run either:

• In the in-game chat (with operator permissions)

• Or via the Console tab in your Nodecraft control panel

For more details on these commands, see our related article: How to Change Datapack Load Order

Missing or Required Resource Packs

Some datapacks require a specific resource pack to function properly. Check the installation instructions provided by the datapack author.

How to Use a Resource Pack:

1. Download the required resource pack (usually linked by the datapack author).

2. Upload and host it on a file-sharing service.

3. Add the resource pack to your server using the proper URL.

See our full guide on How to Host a Resource Pack for detailed instructions.

Incorrect pack.mcmeta File Location

If a datapack doesn’t load correctly, the issue might be with how the .zip file is structured—specifically where the pack.mcmeta file is located.

What to Check:

• The .zip file should contain:

  • A data folder

  • A pack.mcmeta file

• These two items must be at the root level of the .zip file—not inside a subfolder.

Fixing the Structure:

1. Right-click the .zip file on your computer and view its contents.

2. If you see a single folder inside (e.g. /MyDatapackFolder/pack.mcmeta), that’s incorrect.

3. Extract the contents, move data and pack.mcmeta to the root level.

4. Re-zip the corrected files.

5. Re-upload the fixed .zip to your server.

6. Restart the server.

Previewing .zip File Contents

You typically don’t need to extract a .zip file to check it:

• On most systems, simply double-click or preview the file.

• You should immediately see the pack.mcmeta and data folder.

• If not, drill down into subfolders to locate pack.mcmeta. If it’s buried inside, repack the datapack correctly as described above.

Conclusion

Datapacks are powerful tools to customize your Minecraft server, but they can be picky about structure and load order. If you follow the best practices above, most issues should be easy to fix.

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