Direct answer
If Paper names a missing dependency, install that dependency from a trusted official source, make sure its version supports your server, and restart fully. Do not rename another JAR to the missing plugin name.
Read the named dependency
Paper’s own example looks like:
Unknown/missing dependency plugins: [Vault]. Please download and install these plugins to run MyAwesomePlugin.The bracketed name is the dependency the plugin declared, not necessarily the plugin you originally tried to install.
Dependencies can have dependencies too
After installing the first missing library, restart and read the next error. Permission, economy, packet, or placeholder libraries may require a compatible provider or companion plugin to deliver the feature the main plugin expects.
Focused diagnostic check: Read the exact dependency name and first stack trace. In classic plugin.yml, depend is required while softdepend indicates an optional integration; Paper-plugin.yml has its own dependency format. Install a compatible official build of the truly required dependency rather than renaming an unrelated JAR.
Check version support
A dependency JAR being present is not enough if it fails to enable. Update the dependency and main plugin together when their documentation requires matching Minecraft/Paper versions.
Do not use /reload to test dependency changes
Stop the server, change plugin JARs, and start it cleanly. Runtime reloads can leave old classes/listeners behind and make dependency troubleshooting harder.
Official references
These references were checked while preparing this fix. Version-specific behavior can change, so use the project documentation for your exact release when a detail differs.
Related fixes and guides
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