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1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsTo install NeoForge, match Java to your Minecraft version, place the NeoForge installer in a new server folder, run it with --installServer, then launch the generated script twice: the first launch creates files and stops for the EULA, and the second starts the server after you set eula=true. Linux, macOS, and BSD use run.sh; Windows uses run.bat.
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This guide covers the current NeoForged version rules for Minecraft 1.20.2 and newer, the complete installation procedure, mod and modpack deployment, networking, updates, backups, and the failures that most often make a new server stop.
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Check Minecraft and Java compatibility first
NeoForge does not use one Java release for every Minecraft version. The required runtime depends on the Minecraft release, and modern installations require 64-bit Java. Install Java before downloading the installer and verify it from a terminal or command prompt with java -version.
| Minecraft version | Required Java | NeoForge guidance |
|---|---|---|
| 1.20.2–1.20.4 | 64-bit Java 17 | Use a NeoForge build made for the exact Minecraft release. |
| 1.20.5 and newer | 64-bit Java 21 | Use the installer selected for the exact target release; “latest” is not a substitute for checking compatibility. |
| 1.20.1 | Not covered by the current NeoForge Java table | NeoForged says Forge is preferable on 1.20.1 because Forge had longer support for that release. |
Do not assume that a Java installation used by the Minecraft launcher is the Java executable your server will use. The java command in the shell must resolve to the intended 64-bit version. If java -version reports Java 17 while you are setting up Minecraft 1.20.5 or later, install and select Java 21 before running the installer. Conversely, do not replace a working 1.20.2–1.20.4 setup with Java 21 merely because it is newer; use the version mapped to that Minecraft release.
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Create a clean server directory
Use a new, dedicated folder for each server instance. Keeping the NeoForge server separate from the client, unrelated worlds, and other versions prevents old libraries, configuration files, and mods from being mixed into the installation.
Choose and prepare the folder
- Pick a location you can back up and whose path is easy to type.
- Give the folder a name that identifies the Minecraft version or modpack.
- Use an account with permission to create files and execute scripts in that folder.
- For a 24/7 server, place the directory on storage that remains available after you log out or reboot.
Download the NeoForge installer JAR for the target Minecraft release from the official NeoForged/Maven distribution. The installer page is version-selective, so select the release you intend to run instead of copying a version string from an example. The user guide uses 21.4.111-beta as an example in places; that value is not a universal recommendation and should not be hard-coded for another Minecraft version.
Install NeoForge with --installServer
Open a terminal (Linux, macOS, or BSD) or Command Prompt/PowerShell (Windows), change into the new server directory, and run the installer. Replace the path below with the real location of the downloaded JAR:
java -jar /path/to/neoforge-installer.jar --installServerThis is the server installation mode documented by NeoForged. It creates the libraries, configuration files, and launch scripts needed to run the server. Running the JAR without --installServer does not perform the same server setup.
Linux, macOS, and BSD
- Open a terminal.
- Change to the server folder with
cd /path/to/your/server. - Run
java -jar /path/to/neoforge-installer.jar --installServer. - Wait for the installer to finish creating the files. If the shell reports that Java cannot be found, correct the Java installation or
PATHbefore trying again. - After installation, start the generated script with
./run.sh.
The NeoForged guide also shows common Unix download utilities such as wget, curl, fetch, and ftp. You can use any of them to obtain the installer, but the important checks are that the file is the installer for your selected Minecraft version and that the command is run from the directory where you want the server files created.
Windows
- Open Command Prompt or PowerShell and change to the server directory.
- Run
java -jar C:pathtoneoforge-installer.jar --installServer, changing the path to match your file. - When installation completes, start the generated batch script with
run.batfrom Command Prompt or./run.bat(equivalently.run.bat) in PowerShell.
If Windows opens the JAR as a graphical application instead of using the terminal command, do not double-click it for this procedure. Use the command shown above so the --installServer argument reaches the installer and any error text remains visible.
Handle the first launch and the EULA
A successful installation does not immediately leave the server running. The first execution of the generated script normally creates the initial world and configuration files, then stops so you can review and accept the Minecraft EULA.
- Run
./run.shon Linux, macOS, or BSD, orrun.baton Windows. - Wait for the process to stop and confirm that
eula.txthas appeared in the server directory. - Open
eula.txtin a text editor. - Change the line
eula=falsetoeula=true. This setting records your agreement to the Minecraft EULA; it is not a NeoForge license switch. - Save the file without changing its name or location.
- Run the same launch script again.
Seeing the process exit after the first launch is therefore expected. If it continues to stop after you set eula=true, read the terminal output from the second launch rather than repeatedly rerunning the script; the error usually identifies a Java, permission, version, or mod problem.
Adjust memory and JVM arguments safely
The installer creates user_jvm_args.txt. NeoForged provides this file as the place to change memory allocation and other Java virtual-machine arguments without rewriting the generated launch script.
- Stop the server completely.
- Open
user_jvm_args.txtin a plain-text editor. - Review the existing comments and add or edit the JVM options required for your installation, including memory settings if the server needs them.
- Save the file, then start the normal generated script again.
Keep the machine’s available memory in mind: allocating more than the computer can provide causes swapping or prevents the process from starting, while allocating too little can make a large modpack unusable. Change one setting at a time so a new failure can be traced to the option you just edited. Do not delete the generated launch logic when adjusting this file.
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Put mods in the correct place
After the server has completed a successful start, NeoForge creates a mods folder in the server directory. Place compatible server mod JARs directly in that folder, not in the client’s separate installation.
Check every mod before copying it
- The mod must support the server’s Minecraft version.
- It must support the server’s NeoForge version or the compatibility range stated by its author.
- Install required dependencies as well as the main mod.
- Use a server-capable build. A client-only visual or interface mod generally does not belong on a dedicated server.
- Keep the client and server mod lists aligned when the mod requires the same content on both sides.
NeoForged generally recommends CurseForge or Modrinth for obtaining mods. Download the JAR from the mod’s release page, read its stated Minecraft and loader requirements, and avoid mixing files from a different release line simply because their names look similar.
Test additions in small batches
For a new installation, start with the loader and one or two known-compatible mods. Add larger groups only after the server starts and a client can connect. If a new group causes a crash, remove that group, start the server, and add the files back in smaller sets until the incompatible JAR or missing dependency is identified. Keep a copy of the last known-good mods folder so you can recover without rebuilding the installation.
Install a modpack with a server pack
A client modpack is not automatically a dedicated-server package. When the pack publisher offers a server pack, use that package because it normally contains the required server-side files and configuration.
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- Download the server pack that matches the exact modpack and Minecraft release.
- Stop the server if it is running.
- Copy the server pack’s contents into the NeoForge server folder, allowing its files to merge with the generated installation where appropriate.
- Inspect the included mods and remove client-only files when the pack documentation says they are not for a dedicated server.
- Review any supplied instructions for required configuration or scripts.
- Launch the normal
run.shorrun.batscript again.
If the pack does not provide a server distribution, do not assume that copying the client’s entire mods folder will work. Identify which files are server-compatible, install dependencies, and expect to remove client-only components before the first usable start.
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Allow players to connect
The default Minecraft server port is 25565. Players on the same computer or local network may be able to connect without an Internet-facing firewall change, but remote players generally need the port allowed through the host firewall and any network router or security rule in front of the server.
Use a deliberate network checklist
- Confirm the server is running and listening on the configured port.
- Allow TCP traffic for port
25565in the operating-system firewall when remote access is required. - If the server is behind a router, forward the port to the machine running NeoForge and ensure the machine keeps the intended local address.
- Share the correct public address and port with players; never assume the default is unchanged if you edited the server configuration.
- Restrict administrative access and expose only the traffic the server needs.
A blocked port does not indicate a NeoForge installation failure. Test local operation first, then troubleshoot the firewall or router separately from Java and mod errors.
Operate the server reliably
Back up before changes
NeoForged explicitly advises backing up the world before updating NeoForge or mods. Stop the server cleanly, copy the world and important configuration files to separate storage, and label the backup with the date and versions being changed. A backup made while files are actively being written may be incomplete, so do not rely on an unplanned copy of a live world.
Plan restarts for 24/7 servers
A server intended to run continuously still benefits from periodic restarts. The official workflow calls for restart planning, and the Windows guidance points to Task Scheduler for periodic restarts. On Unix-like systems, use the scheduling and process-management approach appropriate for your operating system. Schedule a warning and a clean stop when possible, then start the same generated script again. Test the schedule manually before relying on it overnight.
Update NeoForge or mods
- Record the current Minecraft, NeoForge, Java, mod, and modpack versions.
- Make and verify a world backup.
- Download the installer for the new NeoForge version that matches the Minecraft release.
- Run the installer in the server directory with
--installServer, as you did for the initial setup. - Review the generated or updated files and launch scripts.
- Update mods only to releases compatible with the new loader and Minecraft version.
- Start the server and watch the complete log for dependency or configuration errors.
The installer updates the old-version uses where needed, but it does not make an incompatible mod compatible. Treat loader updates and mod updates as separate changes when you need an easy rollback.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Troubleshoot the most common failures
“Java is not recognized” or the wrong Java version appears
The shell cannot find Java, or it is finding a different installation than the one you intended. Reinstall or select a 64-bit Java release that matches the Minecraft table, then open a new terminal and run java -version again. Only rerun the NeoForge installer after that command reports the expected major version.
The installer runs but no server files appear
Check that you used the exact --installServer argument, that the terminal’s current directory is the intended server folder, and that your account can write there. A path containing spaces must be quoted according to your shell’s normal rules. If the JAR is for another Minecraft release, download the matching installer rather than trying to repair the generated files manually.
The server stops immediately on the first run
Look for eula.txt. If it exists with eula=false, the shutdown is the normal first-launch EULA pause: edit the value to true and launch again. If the file is absent, read the preceding error output for Java, permissions, or an incomplete installation problem.
It stops after EULA acceptance
Capture the first error and identify whether it names a missing dependency, unsupported Java version, malformed JVM argument, or incompatible mod. Remove newly added mods and start with the last known-good set. Confirm that the server and every remaining JAR target the same Minecraft and NeoForge versions.
A client cannot connect while the server is running
First test from the same machine or local network. If local connections work but remote ones fail, investigate port 25565, the operating-system firewall, router forwarding, and the address given to players. If local connections fail too, read the server log for a loader or mod mismatch instead of changing network rules.
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Verify that you used a server pack, removed files identified as client-only, and installed all dependencies. Compare the pack’s Minecraft and NeoForge requirements with the versions in the server folder. Restore the backup and last known-good mods if an update changed the world or configuration unexpectedly.
Self-hosting versus managed operation
Installing NeoForge yourself gives you direct control, but it also makes you responsible for the runtime and the machine. A managed service can reduce routine administration, but availability of a particular Minecraft and NeoForge release must be confirmed before purchase. Use these factors when deciding:
| Consideration | Self-hosted server | Managed server |
|---|---|---|
| Java and runtime control | You install, select, and update the required 64-bit Java version. | The provider controls the runtime options; verify support for your exact Java, Minecraft, and NeoForge combination. |
| RAM and JVM settings | You edit user_jvm_args.txt and are limited by your hardware. |
Memory and JVM controls depend on the service plan and panel. |
| Ports and firewall | You open port 25565 and handle router rules. |
The service normally supplies the network endpoint, subject to its configuration. |
| Restarts | You create scripts or schedules such as Windows Task Scheduler. | Automated restart tools may be included; verify their timing and shutdown behavior. |
| Backups | You create, verify, and store world backups. | Check backup frequency, retention, restore access, and whether backups are included. |
| Modpacks | You install server packs, remove client-only mods, and troubleshoot dependencies. | Check whether the panel supports your pack and permits the files and Java arguments it needs. |
| Cost and support | You provide the hardware, electricity, storage, and administration. | You pay for a service and receive whatever support scope and resources its plan specifies. |
Whichever model you choose, confirm support for the exact Minecraft release before migrating a world. A generic “modded Minecraft” label does not prove that a particular NeoForge build or modpack is available.
Quick Recap
Installation checklist
- Identify the exact Minecraft release.
- Install 64-bit Java 17 for 1.20.2–1.20.4, or Java 21 for 1.20.5 and newer.
- Use Forge rather than NeoForge for 1.20.1 when following NeoForged’s recommendation.
- Create a dedicated server directory.
- Download the version-appropriate NeoForge installer.
- Run
java -jar /path/to/neoforge-installer.jar --installServer. - Adjust
user_jvm_args.txtonly when you understand the required JVM change. - Launch
./run.shon Unix-like systems orrun.baton Windows. - Edit
eula.txtfromeula=falsetoeula=true, then launch the same script again. - Put only compatible server mods in
mods. - Allow port
25565when remote players need access. - Back up the world before every NeoForge or mod update.
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