Plugin and Config folder contents is not copied

[crazydisi]

Describe the problem

I've playing around with this via docker compose and i stumbled upon an issue (in my opinion) The documentation states that the contents of a config and plugin folder are "synced" upon start of the container but this doesn't seem to work like i would expect it, maybe i have a wrong understanding about it.

This is my docker-compose.yml file is below

and i got a config and plugin folder next to the resulting data folder. here a stripped down tree view

$ tree
.
├── config
│   ├── ops.json
│   └── whitelist.json
├── data
├── docker-compose.yml
└── plugins
    ├── CoreProtect-22.4.jar
    ├── EssentialsX-2.21.1.jar
    ├── EssentialsXChat-2.21.1.jar
    ├── EssentialsXDiscord-2.21.1.jar
    ├── EssentialsXDiscordLink-2.21.1.jar
    ├── EssentialsXGeoIP-2.21.1.jar
    └── EssentialsXSpawn-2.21.1.jar

those files are not copied over, neither the plugins nor the config files to "data".

$ cat data/ops.json
[]#

$ cat data/whitelist.json
[]#

Anyideas?

Container definition

services:
  mc:
    image: itzg/minecraft-server:latest
    tty: true
    stdin_open: true
    ports:
      - "25565:25565/tcp"
    environment:
      EULA: "TRUE"
      TYPE: "PAPER"
      VERSION: "1.21.7"
      MEMORY: "8192M"
      MAX_PLAYERS: "100"
      TZ: "Europe/Berlin"
      SPAWN_PROTECTION: "500"
      ENABLE_WHITELIST: "true"
      PREVENT_PROXY_CONNECTIONS: "true"
      ENABLE_ROLLING_LOGS: "true"
      LOG_TIMESTAMP: "true"
    volumes:
      - "./data:/data"

Container logs

Here are the logs of a fresh start

$ docker compose up
Attaching to mc-1
mc-1  | [init] 2025-08-01 16:36:49+02:00 Changing ownership of /data to 1000 ...
mc-1  | [init] 2025-08-01 16:36:49+02:00 Changing ownership of /data to 1000 ...
mc-1  | [init] 2025-08-01 16:36:49+02:00 Running as uid=1000 gid=1000 with /data as 'drwxr-xr-x 2 1000 1000 4096 Aug  1 16:36 /data'
mc-1  | [init] 2025-08-01 16:36:49+02:00 Running as uid=1000 gid=1000 with /data as 'drwxr-xr-x 2 1000 1000 4096 Aug  1 16:36 /data'
mc-1  | [init] 2025-08-01 16:36:49+02:00 Image info: buildtime=2025-07-27T01:48:49.548Z,version=java21,revision=ac806b756cb607d44b0d36b3d57f542a2fd8f508
mc-1  | [init] 2025-08-01 16:36:49+02:00 Image info: buildtime=2025-07-27T01:48:49.548Z,version=java21,revision=ac806b756cb607d44b0d36b3d57f542a2fd8f508
mc-1  | [init] 2025-08-01 16:36:49+02:00 Resolving type given PAPER
mc-1  | [init] 2025-08-01 16:36:49+02:00 Resolving type given PAPER
mc-1  | [mc-image-helper] 16:36:52.578 INFO  : Downloaded /data/paper-1.21.7-32.jar
mc-1  | [mc-image-helper] 16:36:52.578 INFO  : Downloaded /data/paper-1.21.7-32.jar
mc-1  | [init] 2025-08-01 16:36:54+02:00 Copying any plugins from /plugins to /data/plugins
mc-1  | [init] 2025-08-01 16:36:54+02:00 Copying any plugins from /plugins to /data/plugins
mc-1  | [init] 2025-08-01 16:36:55+02:00 Copying any configs from /config to /data/config
mc-1  | [init] 2025-08-01 16:36:55+02:00 Copying any configs from /config to /data/config
mc-1  | [init] 2025-08-01 16:36:55+02:00 Creating server properties in /data/server.properties
mc-1  | [init] 2025-08-01 16:36:55+02:00 Creating server properties in /data/server.properties
mc-1  | [init] 2025-08-01 16:36:55+02:00 Disabling whitelist functionality
mc-1  | [init] 2025-08-01 16:36:55+02:00 Disabling whitelist functionality
mc-1  | [mc-image-helper] 16:36:56.984 INFO  : Created/updated 6 properties in /data/server.properties
mc-1  | [mc-image-helper] 16:36:56.984 INFO  : Created/updated 6 properties in /data/server.properties
mc-1  | [mc-image-helper] 16:36:59.156 INFO  : Downloading /data/config/paper-world-defaults.yml from https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Shonz1/minecraft-default-configs/main/1.21.7/paper-world-defaults.yml
mc-1  | [mc-image-helper] 16:36:59.156 INFO  : Downloading /data/config/paper-global.yml from https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Shonz1/minecraft-default-configs/main/1.21.7/paper-global.yml
mc-1  | [mc-image-helper] 16:36:59.156 INFO  : Downloading /data/config/paper-world-defaults.yml from https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Shonz1/minecraft-default-configs/main/1.21.7/paper-world-defaults.yml
mc-1  | [mc-image-helper] 16:36:59.156 INFO  : Downloading /data/config/paper-global.yml from https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Shonz1/minecraft-default-configs/main/1.21.7/paper-global.yml
mc-1  | [mc-image-helper] 16:37:01.701 INFO  : Downloading /data/spigot.yml from https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Shonz1/minecraft-default-configs/main/1.21.7/spigot.yml
mc-1  | [mc-image-helper] 16:37:01.701 INFO  : Downloading /data/bukkit.yml from https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Shonz1/minecraft-default-configs/main/1.21.7/bukkit.yml
mc-1  | [mc-image-helper] 16:37:01.701 INFO  : Downloading /data/spigot.yml from https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Shonz1/minecraft-default-configs/main/1.21.7/spigot.yml
mc-1  | [mc-image-helper] 16:37:01.701 INFO  : Downloading /data/bukkit.yml from https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Shonz1/minecraft-default-configs/main/1.21.7/bukkit.yml
mc-1  | [init] 2025-08-01 16:37:02+02:00 Creating log4j2.xml in /data/log4j2.xml
mc-1  | [init] 2025-08-01 16:37:02+02:00 Creating log4j2.xml in /data/log4j2.xml
mc-1  | [init] 2025-08-01 16:37:02+02:00 Setting initial memory to 8192M and max to 8192M
mc-1  | [init] 2025-08-01 16:37:02+02:00 Setting initial memory to 8192M and max to 8192M
mc-1  | [init] 2025-08-01 16:37:02+02:00 Starting the Minecraft server...
mc-1  | [init] 2025-08-01 16:37:02+02:00 Starting the Minecraft server...
mc-1  | Downloading mojang_1.21.7.jar
mc-1  | Downloading mojang_1.21.7.jar

mc-1  | Applying patches
mc-1  | Starting org.bukkit.craftbukkit.Main
mc-1  | Starting org.bukkit.craftbukkit.Main
mc-1  | *** Warning, you've not updated in a while! ***
mc-1  | *** Please download a new build from https://papermc.io/downloads/paper ***
mc-1  | *** Warning, you've not updated in a while! ***
mc-1  | *** Please download a new build from https://papermc.io/downloads/paper ***
mc-1  | [16:37:10] [ServerMain/INFO]: Running Java 21 (OpenJDK 64-Bit Server VM 21.0.7+6-LTS; Eclipse Adoptium Temurin-21.0.7+6) on Linux 6.8.0-71-generic (aarch64)
mc-1  | [16:37:10] [ServerMain/INFO]: Running Java 21 (OpenJDK 64-Bit Server VM 21.0.7+6-LTS; Eclipse Adoptium Temurin-21.0.7+6) on Linux 6.8.0-71-generic (aarch64)
mc-1  | [16:37:10] [ServerMain/INFO]: Loading Paper 1.21.7-32-main@e792779 (2025-07-16T20:10:15Z) for Minecraft 1.21.7
mc-1  | [16:37:10] [ServerMain/INFO]: Loading Paper 1.21.7-32-main@e792779 (2025-07-16T20:10:15Z) for Minecraft 1.21.7
mc-1  | [16:37:10] [ServerMain/INFO]: Initializing plugins...
mc-1  | [16:37:10] [ServerMain/INFO]: Initializing plugins...
mc-1  | [16:37:11] [ServerMain/INFO]: Initialized 0 plugins
mc-1  | [16:37:11] [ServerMain/INFO]: Initialized 0 plugins
mc-1  | [16:37:11] [Paper Plugin Remapper Thread - 1/INFO]: Remapping server...
mc-1  | [16:37:11] [Paper Plugin Remapper Thread - 1/INFO]: Remapping server...
mc-1  | [16:37:17] [Paper Plugin Remapper Thread - 1/INFO]: Done remapping server in 6203ms.
mc-1  | [16:37:17] [Paper Plugin Remapper Thread - 1/INFO]: Done remapping server in 6203ms.

mc-1  | [16:37:17] [ServerMain/INFO]: Environment: Environment[sessionHost=https://sessionserver.mojang.com, servicesHost=https://api.minecraftservices.com, name=PROD]
mc-1  | [16:37:18] [ServerMain/INFO]: Found new data pack file/bukkit, loading it automatically
mc-1  | [16:37:18] [ServerMain/INFO]: Found new data pack paper, loading it automatically
mc-1  | [16:37:18] [ServerMain/INFO]: Found new data pack file/bukkit, loading it automatically
mc-1  | [16:37:18] [ServerMain/INFO]: Found new data pack paper, loading it automatically
mc-1  | [16:37:18] [ServerMain/INFO]: No existing world data, creating new world
mc-1  | [16:37:18] [ServerMain/INFO]: No existing world data, creating new world
mc-1  | [16:37:20] [ServerMain/INFO]: Loaded 1407 recipes
mc-1  | [16:37:20] [ServerMain/INFO]: Loaded 1407 recipes
mc-1  | [16:37:20] [ServerMain/INFO]: Loaded 1520 advancements
mc-1  | [16:37:20] [ServerMain/INFO]: Loaded 1520 advancements
mc-1  | [16:37:20] [ServerMain/INFO]: Initialising converters for DataConverter...
mc-1  | [16:37:20] [ServerMain/INFO]: Initialising converters for DataConverter...
mc-1  | [16:37:20] [ServerMain/INFO]: Finished initialising converters for DataConverter in 488.9ms
mc-1  | [16:37:20] [ServerMain/INFO]: Finished initialising converters for DataConverter in 488.9ms
mc-1  | [16:37:20] [Server thread/INFO]: Starting minecraft server version 1.21.7
mc-1  | [16:37:20] [Server thread/INFO]: Loading properties
mc-1  | [16:37:20] [Server thread/INFO]: Starting minecraft server version 1.21.7
mc-1  | [16:37:20] [Server thread/INFO]: Loading properties
mc-1  | [16:37:20] [Server thread/INFO]: This server is running Paper version 1.21.7-32-main@e792779 (2025-07-16T20:10:15Z) (Implementing API version 1.21.7-R0.1-SNAPSHOT)
mc-1  | [16:37:20] [Server thread/INFO]: This server is running Paper version 1.21.7-32-main@e792779 (2025-07-16T20:10:15Z) (Implementing API version 1.21.7-R0.1-SNAPSHOT)
mc-1  | [16:37:20] [Server thread/INFO]: This server bundles the spark profiler. For more information please visit https://docs.papermc.io/paper/profiling
mc-1  | [16:37:20] [Server thread/INFO]: This server bundles the spark profiler. For more information please visit https://docs.papermc.io/paper/profiling
mc-1  | [16:37:20] [Server thread/INFO]: Server Ping Player Sample Count: 12
mc-1  | [16:37:20] [Server thread/INFO]: Using 4 threads for Netty based IO
mc-1  | [16:37:20] [Server thread/INFO]: Server Ping Player Sample Count: 12
mc-1  | [16:37:20] [Server thread/INFO]: Using 4 threads for Netty based IO
mc-1  | [16:37:21] [Server thread/INFO]: Paper is using 2 worker threads, 1 I/O threads
mc-1  | [16:37:21] [Server thread/INFO]: Paper is using 2 worker threads, 1 I/O threads
mc-1  | [16:37:21] [Server thread/INFO]: Chunk system is using population gen parallelism: true
mc-1  | [16:37:21] [Server thread/INFO]: Chunk system is using population gen parallelism: true
mc-1  | [16:37:22] [Server thread/INFO]: Default game type: SURVIVAL
mc-1  | [16:37:22] [Server thread/INFO]: Generating keypair
mc-1  | [16:37:22] [Server thread/INFO]: Default game type: SURVIVAL
mc-1  | [16:37:22] [Server thread/INFO]: Generating keypair
mc-1  | [16:37:22] [Server thread/INFO]: Starting Minecraft server on *:25565
mc-1  | [16:37:22] [Server thread/INFO]: Starting Minecraft server on *:25565
mc-1  | [16:37:22] [Server thread/INFO]: Using epoll channel type
mc-1  | [16:37:22] [Server thread/INFO]: Using epoll channel type
mc-1  | [16:37:22] [Server thread/INFO]: Paper: Using libdeflate (Linux aarch64) compression from Velocity.
mc-1  | [16:37:22] [Server thread/INFO]: Paper: Using libdeflate (Linux aarch64) compression from Velocity.
mc-1  | [16:37:22] [Server thread/INFO]: Paper: Using OpenSSL 3.x.x (Linux aarch64) cipher from Velocity.
mc-1  | [16:37:22] [Server thread/INFO]: Paper: Using OpenSSL 3.x.x (Linux aarch64) cipher from Velocity.
mc-1  | [16:37:22] [Server thread/INFO]: Preparing level "world"
mc-1  | [16:37:22] [Server thread/INFO]: Preparing level "world"
mc-1  | [16:37:29] [Server thread/INFO]: Preparing start region for dimension minecraft:overworld
mc-1  | [16:37:29] [Server thread/INFO]: Preparing start region for dimension minecraft:overworld

mc-1  | [16:37:29] [Server thread/INFO]: Preparing spawn area: 2%
mc-1  | [16:37:29] [Server thread/INFO]: Preparing spawn area: 2%
mc-1  | [16:37:29] [Server thread/INFO]: Preparing spawn area: 2%
mc-1  | [16:37:30] [Server thread/INFO]: Preparing spawn area: 2%
mc-1  | [16:37:30] [Server thread/INFO]: Preparing spawn area: 2%
mc-1  | [16:37:30] [Server thread/INFO]: Preparing spawn area: 18%
mc-1  | [16:37:30] [Server thread/INFO]: Preparing spawn area: 18%
mc-1  | [16:37:31] [Server thread/INFO]: Preparing spawn area: 22%
mc-1  | [16:37:31] [Server thread/INFO]: Preparing spawn area: 22%
mc-1  | [16:37:31] [Server thread/INFO]: Preparing spawn area: 51%
mc-1  | [16:37:31] [Server thread/INFO]: Preparing spawn area: 51%
mc-1  | [16:37:32] [Server thread/INFO]: Preparing spawn area: 77%
mc-1  | [16:37:32] [Server thread/INFO]: Preparing spawn area: 77%
mc-1  | [16:37:32] [Server thread/INFO]: Time elapsed: 3047 ms
mc-1  | [16:37:32] [Server thread/INFO]: Preparing start region for dimension minecraft:the_nether
mc-1  | [16:37:32] [Server thread/INFO]: Time elapsed: 3047 ms
mc-1  | [16:37:32] [Server thread/INFO]: Preparing start region for dimension minecraft:the_nether
mc-1  | [16:37:32] [Server thread/INFO]: Preparing spawn area: 2%
mc-1  | [16:37:32] [Server thread/INFO]: Preparing spawn area: 2%
mc-1  | [16:37:32] [Server thread/INFO]: Preparing spawn area: 18%
mc-1  | [16:37:32] [Server thread/INFO]: Preparing spawn area: 18%
mc-1  | [16:37:33] [Server thread/INFO]: Preparing spawn area: 51%

mc-1  | [16:37:33] [Server thread/INFO]: Time elapsed: 1334 ms
mc-1  | [16:37:33] [Server thread/INFO]: Time elapsed: 1334 ms
mc-1  | [16:37:33] [Server thread/INFO]: Preparing start region for dimension minecraft:the_end

mc-1  | [16:37:33] [Server thread/INFO]: Preparing spawn area: 2%
mc-1  | [16:37:34] [Server thread/INFO]: Preparing spawn area: 18%
mc-1  | [16:37:34] [Server thread/INFO]: Preparing spawn area: 18%
mc-1  | [16:37:34] [Server thread/INFO]: Time elapsed: 713 ms
mc-1  | [16:37:34] [Server thread/INFO]: Time elapsed: 713 ms
mc-1  | [16:37:34] [Server thread/INFO]: Starting background profiler...
mc-1  | [16:37:34] [Server thread/INFO]: Starting background profiler...
mc-1  | [16:37:34] [Server thread/INFO]: Done preparing level "world" (12.381s)
mc-1  | [16:37:34] [Server thread/INFO]: Done preparing level "world" (12.381s)
mc-1  | [16:37:34] [Server thread/INFO]: Starting remote control listener
mc-1  | [16:37:34] [Server thread/INFO]: Starting remote control listener
mc-1  | [16:37:34] [Server thread/INFO]: Thread RCON Listener started
mc-1  | [16:37:34] [Server thread/INFO]: Thread RCON Listener started

mc-1  | [16:37:34] [Server thread/INFO]: RCON running on 0.0.0.0:25575
mc-1  | [16:37:34] [Server thread/INFO]: Running delayed init tasks
mc-1  | [16:37:34] [Server thread/INFO]: Running delayed init tasks
mc-1  | [16:37:34] [Server thread/INFO]: Done (24.927s)! For help, type "help"
mc-1  | [16:37:34] [Server thread/INFO]: Done (24.927s)! For help, type "help"

[itzg]

You're missing volume mounts for /config and /plugins. The container can only see filesystems you tell it to see, so you need

    volumes:
      - "./data:/data"
      - "./config:/config"
      - "./plugins:/plugins"

[EmilyxFox]

You need to mount the plugins/ and config/ directories, and set the config dest to /data

services:
  mc:
    image: itzg/minecraft-server:latest
    tty: true
    stdin_open: true
    ports:
      - "25565:25565/tcp"
    environment:
      EULA: "TRUE"
      TYPE: "PAPER"
      VERSION: "1.21.7"
      MEMORY: "8192M"
      MAX_PLAYERS: "100"
      TZ: "Europe/Berlin"
      SPAWN_PROTECTION: "500"
      ENABLE_WHITELIST: "true"
      PREVENT_PROXY_CONNECTIONS: "true"
      ENABLE_ROLLING_LOGS: "true"
      LOG_TIMESTAMP: "true"
      COPY_CONFIG_DEST: "/data" # NEW
    volumes:
      - "./data:/data"
      - "./plugins:/plugins"    # NEW
      - "./config:/config"      # NEW

I would recommend using this syntax for whitelist and ops instead of mounting configs:

environment:
  ops: |
    player1
  whitelist: |
    player1
    player2
    player3

If you choose this instead, you can remove the ./config mount, and remove the COPY_CONFIG_DEST env var.

[crazydisi]

Thanks for the super quick response! @EmilyxFox could you explain why you would use the syntax over the config file?

[EmilyxFox]

Using environment variables are less fragile and more portable. Cuts down on the amount of files and volumes you need and Just Works™. It's easy to copy paste over to another server configuration in the future, or if you're migrating the same server.

[crazydisi]

I see, it works now, thanks for all the help!