How To Add Bedrock Behavior Packs

How to Add Behavior Packs to Your Bedrock Server

Behavior packs are a fantastic way to customize your Minecraft Bedrock server. They can change mob behaviors, add new items, modify loot tables, and much more, similar to plugins or data packs in Java Edition. This guide will walk you through the process of installing them on your server.

Step 1: Get Your Behavior Pack

First, you need to download the behavior pack you want to use. You can find them on reputable sites like MCPEDL or the official Minecraft Marketplace. The pack will usually download as a .mcpack or .zip file.

1. If you have a .mcpack file, rename it to end in .zip (e.g., coolpack.mcpack becomes coolpack.zip).
2. Extract the .zip file on your computer. You should now have a folder containing several files, including one named manifest.json. This folder is what you will upload.

Step 2: Upload the Pack to Your Server

Next, you need to upload the behavior pack folder to your server's files.

1. Stop your server. This is a critical step to prevent world corruption.
2. Navigate to your server's control panel and open the File Manager.
3. Find and open the folder named behavior_packs.
4. Upload the entire behavior pack folder (the one with manifest.json inside) into the behavior_packs directory.

Step 3: Activate the Behavior Pack

Uploading the files isn't enough; you now need to tell your world to use the pack. This requires editing a world file and getting some info from the pack's manifest.

1. In the behavior pack folder you just uploaded, find and open the manifest.json file. Keep this open in a separate tab or text editor. You need to copy two values from it: the uuid and the version.

2. Go back to your main file directory and navigate into the worlds folder, then into your world's folder (e.g., Bedrock level).
3. Find the file named world_behavior_packs.json and click to edit it.
4. You will need to add an entry for your new pack in a specific JSON format. For a single pack, the structure looks like this:
   
   [
  {
    "pack_id": "PASTE_YOUR_UUID_HERE",
    "version": [ 1, 0, 0 ]
  }
]
5. If you are adding multiple packs, you must list them all inside the main square brackets [], separated by a comma ,.
   
   Example with multiple packs:
   [
  {
    "pack_id": "FIRST_PACK_UUID_HERE",
    "version": [ 1, 0, 0 ]
  },
  {
    "pack_id": "SECOND_PACK_UUID_HERE",
    "version": [ 1, 2, 5 ]
  }
]
6. Save the world_behavior_packs.json file.

Step 4: Start Your Server

You're all set! Start your server. The world will now load with the behavior pack(s) active. Join the game to test out the new features you've added.

Troubleshooting Tips

• Server won't start or pack isn't working: The most common issue is a syntax error in the world_behavior_packs.json file. Double-check that all UUIDs and versions are correct and that you haven't missed any commas or brackets. You can use an online JSON validator to check your code.
• Compatibility: Make sure the behavior pack is compatible with your server's version of Minecraft. Outdated packs may not work correctly.