What SkinsRestorer works with.
| Platform | Java Edition |
|---|---|
| Loaders | Bukkit, Folia, Paper, Purpur, Spigot, BungeeCord, Velocity, Waterfall |
| Minecraft versions | 1.8, 1.12.2, 1.16.5, 1.18.2, 1.20.1, 1.21.1, 1.21.11, 26.1, 26.1.2, 26.2 |
SkinsRestorer restores and changes player skins on Minecraft servers, with matching builds for Bukkit, Spigot, Paper, Purpur, and Folia, plus the Velocity, BungeeCord, and Waterfall proxies. Fabric and NeoForge builds bring the same skin commands to server-side and singleplayer setups. It works in both online mode, where Mojang already serves a player's skin, and offline mode, where a server has none to draw from, so every player gets a working skin instead of the default Steve or Alex model.
What SkinsRestorer does
Players change their own skin with a single command, pick one from an in-game menu, or have an admin apply one for the whole server. Skins can come from a stored skin name, a direct image URL, or another player's current skin, and SkinsRestorer keeps a short history so a player can undo a change or return to a saved favorite. The plugin is one of the first additions on a new Paper or Spigot server, often installed alongside a core utility plugin like EssentialsX for the commands SkinsRestorer does not cover.
Supported server software and proxies
SkinsRestorer ships a separate build for each server software and proxy, so a network installs the matching jar on every backend server plus the proxy itself for skin changes to stay consistent as players move between servers. The general steps in our plugin installation guide apply the same way: drop the jar in the plugins folder and restart.
- Server software: Bukkit, Spigot, Paper, Purpur, Folia
- Proxies: Velocity, BungeeCord, Waterfall
- Mod loaders: Fabric, NeoForge, for server-side and singleplayer use
Servers that bridge Bedrock players through Geyser get the same benefit, since Floodgate accounts need a skin source the same way an offline-mode Java account does.
Commands
SkinsRestorer adds a short set of player commands plus a longer list of admin tools, all gated behind permission nodes documented in the SkinsRestorer commands and permissions guide.
Player commands
- /skin set <name> applies a stored skin by name
- /skin url <url> applies a skin from a direct image URL
- /skin update refreshes the currently applied skin
- /skin search <text> looks up available skins
- /skin random applies a random recommended skin
- /skin undo reverts to the previous skin
- /skin clear removes the applied skin
- /skins opens an interactive GUI to browse skins, history, and favorites
Admin commands
- /sr setskinall <name> applies one skin to every online player
- /sr createcustom <name> <input> creates a server-wide custom skin
- /sr applyskin <target> and /sr applyskinall reapply skins after a change
- /sr info <target> and /sr drop <target> inspect or remove stored skin data
- /sr purgeolddata <days> clears skin data past a set age
- /sr reload, /sr status, and /sr dump cover configuration reload, API status, and support reports
Questions about SkinsRestorer.
5 questions
How do I install SkinsRestorer on my server?
Download the build that matches your server software or proxy (Bukkit, Paper, Purpur, Folia, Velocity, BungeeCord, or Waterfall) from the SkinsRestorer Modrinth page, drop the jar into your plugins folder, and restart the server. Fabric and NeoForge users install it the same way a normal mod jar is installed. No extra dependencies are required for the default command set.
Does SkinsRestorer work with Velocity and BungeeCord?
Yes. SkinsRestorer ships dedicated builds for the Velocity and BungeeCord proxies alongside Waterfall, so a proxied network can apply skin changes consistently across every backend server. Install the proxy build on the proxy itself and the matching Bukkit, Paper, Purpur, or Folia build on each backend server for skin data to sync correctly.
Which Minecraft version does SkinsRestorer support?
SkinsRestorer's version range runs from 1.8 up through the current 26.2 release, with new builds following soon after each Minecraft update. Long-running servers on older 1.x releases and newer servers on the 26.x year.drop cycle are both covered, though it is worth matching the plugin build to the specific server software version in use.
Is SkinsRestorer safe to use on servers running in offline mode?
SkinsRestorer supports both online mode and offline mode skin handling. Offline mode is a normal setup for private and LAN-style servers that do not authenticate through Mojang, and SkinsRestorer's role there is only to restore the skin a player would otherwise be missing, not to change how the server authenticates players.
Does SkinsRestorer have a GUI for changing skins?
Yes. The /skins command opens an interactive menu where players can browse recommended and custom skins, and /skin history and /skin favourites open menus for previously used and saved skins. Players who prefer commands can skip the GUI entirely and use /skin set <name> or /skin url <url> directly.
