How to Add Plugins to Your Terraria tShock Server

tShock has no mod system for the client. A tShock server is extended through plugins: .dll files that live on the server only and add new commands, rules or automations there.

Download a plugin

1. Find a suitable plugin
   A curated overview of available plugins can be found in the official tShock wiki and on GitHub under the topic tshock-plugin.

2. Check the version
   A plugin has to match the tShock version running on your server. Which version gets installed is controlled by the tShock Version field in the dashboard.

3. Extract the file
   Download the plugin and extract it if it comes as an archive. What you need is the .dll file inside. If a plugin ships additional libraries, those .dll files belong on the server as well.

Upload the plugin

1. Stop the server
   Stop your server via the dashboard. Plugins are only loaded on server start.

2. Connect via SFTP
   Connect to your server via SFTP.

3. Open the plugin folder
   Navigate to the following directory:

   /ServerPlugins/
   

4. Upload the file
   Upload the .dll file of the plugin into this folder.

5. Start the server
   Start your server and watch the server console. Loaded plugins are listed there on startup with their name and version.

Configure a plugin

Most plugins create their configuration file automatically in the /tshock/ folder on first start. So proceed like this:

1. Start the server once
   After uploading, start the server once so the plugin can create its files.

2. Stop the server
   Stop the server again before editing the configuration.

3. Adjust the configuration
   Open the plugin's configuration file in the /tshock/ folder and adjust the values.

4. Start the server
   Save the file and start your server.

Remove a plugin

1. Stop the server
   Stop your server via the dashboard.

2. Delete the file
   Delete the plugin's .dll file from the /ServerPlugins/ folder.

3. Start the server
   Start your server. The plugin is now disabled.