How to install Sheriffguard
Last updated September 30, 2026
Four steps. You need a licence key from our Discord and PacketEvents, which is the only dependency. Not sure your server qualifies? See requirements and compatibility.
Installing
Add PacketEvents
Put the latest PacketEvents release in plugins/. Use a stable build, not a beta.
Add the jar and start once
Put the Sheriffguard jar in plugins/, start the server, then stop it. This only generates the config.
Paste your licence key
Open plugins/SheriffGuard/loader.yml and add the key from Discord.
license-key: "xxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxx" channel: "stable"
Start again
Start the server. If the key is valid, plugins/SheriffGuard-Core/ appears. If it does not, check the key and ask in Discord.
Release channel
| stable | Production. Use this one. |
| beta | Only if support asks. |
| experimental | Test servers, and only if support asks. |
Leave channel on stable unless support tells you otherwise. Beta and experimental can cause false positives.
Using ViaBackwards?
Change this setting and restart, or ViaBackwards causes false flags and kicks:
handle-pings-as-inv-acknowledgements: true
Plugins to remove
Sheriffguard reads packets through PacketEvents directly. These are not needed and cause conflicts:
- ProtocolLib
- LPX
- Any protocol compatibility library
- knockbacksync
Changing settings
Punishment durations, the prefix and check settings are in plugins/SheriffGuard-Core/advanced.yml.
That folder only appears once your licence has validated. If it is missing, fix the licence first.
Getting help
Ask in our Discord. Bring your startup console log.