Does this mod need to be installed on both the server and the client?

Yes, for the auto-pause feature to work all players need the mod installed. The server detects pause states from connected clients, so if someone is running vanilla they won't report a paused state and the server won't pause.

What counts as a 'pauseable screen'?

The standard pause menu, inventory, and similar in-game screens count. The mod tracks when clients go into these states and pauses the server once all connected players are in one.

Does the /pause command require any special setup?

No setup needed. It's available to any player with operator permissions on the server. Just run /pause in chat and the server halts immediately.

Will the server pause if I'm the only player and I open my inventory?

Yes. If you're the only one connected and you open a pauseable screen, the server will pause. This makes it behave a lot more like singleplayer, which is the point.

Does pausing the server affect mobs, crops, and other ticking things?

Yes, the whole server tick stops. Mobs freeze, crops stop growing, and any in-progress processes halt until the server resumes. Everything picks up exactly where it left off.

Multiplayer Server Pause Mod (1.20.4, 1.19.4) for Minecraft

Multiplayer Server Pause Mod pauses your Minecraft server when players aren’t actively playing. No more wasted CPU cycles ticking on an empty server, and no weird desyncs when everyone steps away at once. It works on both dedicated servers and integrated (LAN) ones.

What It Does

The main feature is straightforward: when all connected clients are on a pause screen, the server pauses too. You won’t come back to find your world ticked forward while you were grabbing a drink. The mod also handles the case where nobody is connected at all, letting the server sit idle without burning resources. This one’s actually worth it if you run a small server with friends.

Features

Auto-pause when all clients are paused: The server stops ticking when every connected player is on a pauseable screen.
Pause on empty server: Configurable option to pause when no clients are connected, saving CPU when the server is just sitting idle.
Chat notification on pause: Optionally send a message to players when the server pauses, so nobody is left wondering why things stopped.
/pause command: Server operators can force a pause at any time, regardless of what clients are doing. Handy for dealing with issues mid-session without restarting.

Requires:

Minecraft Forge or Fabric API or NeoForge

How to Install

Install Minecraft Forge, Fabric API, or NeoForge for your Minecraft version.
Download the correct mod file for your version from the links below.
Drop the .jar into your .minecraft/mods folder.
Launch Minecraft. The mod loads automatically.

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Multiplayer Server Pause Mod (1.20.4, 1.19.4) Download Links

For Minecraft 1.16.5

Forge Version:
MultiplayerServerPause-1.20.6-NeoForge-1.3.3.jar
This file is part of Multiplayer Server Pause Mod (1.20.4, 1.19.4) for Minecraft. Visit the main page for features, installation guide, screenshots, and more download options.

Size: 67.8 KB
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Fabric Version:
Multiplayer-Server-Pause-Mod-Fabric-1.16.5.jar
This file is part of Multiplayer Server Pause Mod (1.20.4, 1.19.4) for Minecraft. Visit the main page for features, installation guide, screenshots, and more download options.

Size: 726.9 KB
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For Minecraft 1.17.1

Forge Version:
Multiplayer-Server-Pause-Mod-Forge-1.17.1.jar
This file is part of Multiplayer Server Pause Mod (1.20.4, 1.19.4) for Minecraft. Visit the main page for features, installation guide, screenshots, and more download options.

Size: 45.7 KB
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Fabric Version:
Multiplayer-Server-Pause-Mod-Fabric-1.17.1.jar
This file is part of Multiplayer Server Pause Mod (1.20.4, 1.19.4) for Minecraft. Visit the main page for features, installation guide, screenshots, and more download options.

Size: 51.1 KB
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For Minecraft 1.18.2, 1.18.1

Forge Version:
Multiplayer-Server-Pause-Mod-Forge-1.18.2.jar
This file is part of Multiplayer Server Pause Mod (1.20.4, 1.19.4) for Minecraft. Visit the main page for features, installation guide, screenshots, and more download options.

Size: 49.6 KB
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Fabric Version:
Multiplayer-Server-Pause-Mod-Fabric-1.18.2.jar
This file is part of Multiplayer Server Pause Mod (1.20.4, 1.19.4) for Minecraft. Visit the main page for features, installation guide, screenshots, and more download options.

Size: 55.3 KB
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For Minecraft 1.19

Forge Version:
Multiplayer-Server-Pause-Mod-Forge-1.19.jar
This file is part of Multiplayer Server Pause Mod (1.20.4, 1.19.4) for Minecraft. Visit the main page for features, installation guide, screenshots, and more download options.

Size: 45.6 KB
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For Minecraft 1.19.2

Forge Version:
Multiplayer-Server-Pause-Mod-Forge-1.19.2.jar
This file is part of Multiplayer Server Pause Mod (1.20.4, 1.19.4) for Minecraft. Visit the main page for features, installation guide, screenshots, and more download options.

Size: 49.5 KB
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For Minecraft 1.19.2, 1.19.1, 1.19

Fabric Version:
Multiplayer-Server-Pause-Mod-Fabric-1.19.2.jar
This file is part of Multiplayer Server Pause Mod (1.20.4, 1.19.4) for Minecraft. Visit the main page for features, installation guide, screenshots, and more download options.

Size: 55.4 KB
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For Minecraft 1.19.3

Forge Version:
Multiplayer-Server-Pause-Mod-Forge-1.19.3.jar
This file is part of Multiplayer Server Pause Mod (1.20.4, 1.19.4) for Minecraft. Visit the main page for features, installation guide, screenshots, and more download options.

Size: 45.6 KB
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Fabric Version:
Multiplayer-Server-Pause-Mod-Fabric-1.19.3.jar
This file is part of Multiplayer Server Pause Mod (1.20.4, 1.19.4) for Minecraft. Visit the main page for features, installation guide, screenshots, and more download options.

Size: 51.2 KB
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For Minecraft 1.19.4

Forge Version:
Multiplayer-Server-Pause-Mod-Forge-1.19.4.jar
This file is part of Multiplayer Server Pause Mod (1.20.4, 1.19.4) for Minecraft. Visit the main page for features, installation guide, screenshots, and more download options.

Size: 45.9 KB
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Fabric Version:
Multiplayer-Server-Pause-Mod-Fabric-1.19.4.jar
This file is part of Multiplayer Server Pause Mod (1.20.4, 1.19.4) for Minecraft. Visit the main page for features, installation guide, screenshots, and more download options.

Size: 51.2 KB
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For Minecraft 1.20.1, 1.20

Forge Version:
Multiplayer-Server-Pause-Mod-Forge-1.20.1.jar
This file is part of Multiplayer Server Pause Mod (1.20.4, 1.19.4) for Minecraft. Visit the main page for features, installation guide, screenshots, and more download options.

Size: 46.1 KB
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Fabric Version:
Multiplayer-Server-Pause-Mod-Fabric-1.20.1.jar
This file is part of Multiplayer Server Pause Mod (1.20.4, 1.19.4) for Minecraft. Visit the main page for features, installation guide, screenshots, and more download options.

Size: 52.4 KB
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For Minecraft 1.20.2

Forge Version:
Multiplayer-Server-Pause-Mod-Forge-1.20.2.jar
This file is part of Multiplayer Server Pause Mod (1.20.4, 1.19.4) for Minecraft. Visit the main page for features, installation guide, screenshots, and more download options.

Size: 51.1 KB
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Fabric Version:
Multiplayer-Server-Pause-Mod-Fabric-1.20.2.jar
This file is part of Multiplayer Server Pause Mod (1.20.4, 1.19.4) for Minecraft. Visit the main page for features, installation guide, screenshots, and more download options.

Size: 55.9 KB
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For Minecraft 1.20.4

Forge Version:
Multiplayer-Server-Pause-Mod-Forge-1.20.4.jar
This file is part of Multiplayer Server Pause Mod (1.20.4, 1.19.4) for Minecraft. Visit the main page for features, installation guide, screenshots, and more download options.

Size: 52.9 KB
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Fabric Version:
Multiplayer-Server-Pause-Mod-Fabric-1.20.4.jar
This file is part of Multiplayer Server Pause Mod (1.20.4, 1.19.4) for Minecraft. Visit the main page for features, installation guide, screenshots, and more download options.

Size: 56.9 KB
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NeoForge Version:
Multiplayer-Server-Pause-Mod-NeoForge-1.20.4.jar
This file is part of Multiplayer Server Pause Mod (1.20.4, 1.19.4) for Minecraft. Visit the main page for features, installation guide, screenshots, and more download options.

Size: 51.6 KB
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Original project by its author on Modrinth. Mirrored here for a faster, ad-light download.