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To make a Minecraft 1.20 Java server, download the official 1.20 server JAR, install a compatible Java Runtime Environment (JRE), run the JAR once to generate its files, accept the EULA, configure server.properties, and start it again. You can then connect from the host with localhost, from another device at home with the host computer’s private IP address, or from outside your home through a router port-forwarding rule.
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The server software is free to download, but a home server makes your computer, firewall, router, public IP address, backups, and uptime your responsibility. This guide covers a private server for you and your friends, including the setup decisions that commonly cause a server to stop at launch or remain unreachable from the internet.
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What you need before starting
Prepare these items before downloading anything:
- A computer that can remain on while people play. The official material does not publish a universal RAM-per-player or maximum-player figure, so capacity depends on your operating system, CPU, world activity, view distance, player count, and any mods or plugins.
- The exact Minecraft Java Edition 1.20 server build you intend to run. “1.20” identifies a release family; select the specific JAR that matches the clients your group will use.
- A compatible Java Runtime Environment. The required Java major version is not one universal value for every 1.20 JAR, so check the requirement for the exact build instead of assuming it.
- Permission to create a folder, run Java, and allow an application or port through the host computer’s firewall.
- Router administrator access if friends will connect over the internet.
- A backup location for the world folder, configuration files, and server logs.
Use a dedicated server folder rather than placing the JAR among unrelated downloads. Keeping the JAR, world, logs, eula.txt, and server.properties together makes upgrades and backups much less error-prone.
Choose the exact 1.20 server JAR
Open the official Minecraft server-download page and select the Java server JAR for the precise 1.20 build you want. Minecraft 1.20 is the Trails & Tales release family, but players must still agree on an exact version. A client on a different release may be unable to join, even when both versions are described informally as “1.20.”
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- PLAY TOGETHER — Play cross-platform with friends in Bedrock Edition on console, mobile, and PC, or join community servers in Java Edition on PC, Mac, and Linux. Online console multiplayer requires a platform-specific subscription (sold separately).
Save the file instead of opening it from a browser’s temporary download location. Note its complete filename; you will use that name in the launch command. Do not rename the file unless you also change every command and script that refers to it.
Install and verify Java
The server JAR needs a compatible JRE. Install the JRE specified for your selected build, then open a terminal on Windows, macOS, or Linux and run:
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java -versionThe command should print a Java version rather than an error. If the terminal says that java is not recognized, the JRE is either missing or its executable is not on the system PATH. Reinstall it using the installer for your operating system, enable the option that adds Java to PATH when offered, open a new terminal, and run java -version again.
A successful version check does not prove that the JRE is right for every 1.20 build. If the server later reports an unsupported class-file version or another Java compatibility error, compare the selected JAR’s documented requirement with the installed version and install the matching JRE. Keep only the Java installation you intend to invoke, or use the full path to the correct executable in your launch script.
Create the server folder
- Create a folder with a clear name such as
Minecraft Server. A location you can easily back up is preferable. - Copy the downloaded server JAR into that folder.
- Open a terminal in the folder. On Windows, you can use the folder’s address bar to open Command Prompt or PowerShell; on macOS or Linux, use
cdto change into the folder. - Confirm that the JAR filename shown by the terminal exactly matches the name you saved.
Do not put the world folder in a cloud-synchronised directory while the server is running. Synchronisation conflicts can damage files that are being written. Stop the server before copying or synchronising a backup.
Run the JAR once and accept the EULA
Start the initial run with the exact filename you downloaded:
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- SURVIVE THE ADVENTURE — Face mysterious foes, travel across exciting landscapes, and venture into perilous dimensions.
- PLAY TOGETHER — Play cross-platform with friends in Bedrock Edition on console, mobile, and PC, or join community servers in Java Edition on PC, Mac, and Linux. Online console multiplayer requires a platform-specific subscription (sold separately).
java -jar minecraft_server.1.20.x.jar noguiReplace minecraft_server.1.20.x.jar with your real filename. The first run creates configuration files and may report that properties or eula.txt could not be loaded. That is expected: those files do not exist until the server has started its initial setup.
When the process stops or returns to the prompt, open the newly created eula.txt in a plain-text editor. Change the single setting from:
eula=falseto:
eula=trueSave the file. Setting this value means you agree to the applicable Minecraft End User License Agreement; it is not a workaround for the warning. If the server still says the EULA has not been accepted, check that you edited the eula.txt in the same folder as the JAR, that the filename is exactly eula.txt, and that the editor did not save a second extension such as eula.txt.txt.
Configure server.properties
Open server.properties with a plain-text editor. The file is generated during the first run. Change only the values you understand, and stop the server before editing it so that a running process cannot overwrite your changes.
| Setting | Purpose | Practical choice |
|---|---|---|
server-port |
The port used by players to connect. | The Java default is 25565. If you change it, use the new value in the firewall and router rule. |
gamemode |
The default game mode. | Use survival, creative, adventure, or spectator as supported by your selected build. |
difficulty |
World difficulty. | Choose peaceful, easy, normal, or hard for your group. |
pvp |
Whether players can damage one another. | Set deliberately for a cooperative or competitive world. |
max-players |
Connection cap. | Set a realistic cap for your hardware and world workload; no universal capacity number is published. |
level-seed |
Optional world-generation seed. | Leave it empty for a random seed or enter a chosen seed before generating the world. |
motd |
Message displayed in the multiplayer list. | Use a short name or rule reminder for your friends. |
spawn-protection |
Protected radius around the world spawn. | Keep or reduce it according to how your group uses spawn. |
allow-nether |
Controls Nether access. | Set it according to whether the world should include Nether travel. |
server-ip |
Optional network-interface binding. | Leave it blank unless you have a specific binding requirement. |
The port in server.properties is authoritative. If you decide to use a non-default port, record it before configuring your firewall, router, or connection instructions. A remote player must use the public address and the same port.
Start the server after configuration
Run the JAR again after setting eula=true and saving the properties:
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- EXPLORE AND CRAFT — Discover biomes, resources, and mobs, then craft your way through a sandbox world full of surprises.
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- PLAY TOGETHER — Play solo or join friends in local split-screen and cross-platform play across console, mobile, and PC. Online multiplayer supports up to 8 players.
- COMMUNITY PLAY — Connect with players on community servers, or subscribe to Realms Plus (sold separately) to play with up to 10 friends on a private server.
java -Xms2G -Xmx2G -jar minecraft_server.1.20.x.jar noguiThe -Xms2G and -Xmx2G values are examples, not an official universal recommendation. -Xms is the initial heap and -Xmx is the maximum heap. Leave enough memory for the operating system and other applications. If the server becomes slow, first inspect CPU and memory use, lower view distance or the player cap, and consider the workload created by your world. A fixed RAM-per-player promise would be misleading because the official sources do not publish one.
Keep the terminal window open while the server runs. Its console shows startup progress, joins, warnings, and commands. To stop safely, use the server console’s stop command and wait for it to finish saving the world before closing the window or shutting down the computer.
Connect from the same computer
- Launch Minecraft Java Edition with the same version/build as the server JAR.
- Choose Multiplayer, then add a server or use the direct-connect option.
- For the computer hosting the server, enter
localhost. If you changed the port, enterlocalhost:PORT, replacingPORTwith the configured value. - Join after the server console indicates that it has finished starting.
If localhost fails, read the console for an actual startup error rather than beginning with router troubleshooting. A server that has not completed startup cannot accept a client connection.
Connect from another device on your home network
A second computer, console-like device, or laptop on the same home network must use the host computer’s private LAN address, not localhost. Find the host’s private IPv4 address in its network settings, then enter that address and the configured port, for example 192.168.1.25:25565. The exact private address can change when the router assigns a new lease, so reserve the host’s address in the router or update the forwarding rule if it changes.
Allow Java or the configured server port through the host computer’s firewall. Test locally before involving remote friends: first use localhost on the host, then the private address from another device. This separates a server configuration problem from a home-network routing problem.
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Let friends connect over the internet
Internet play requires three values to agree: the port in server.properties, the router’s forwarding rule, and the host firewall rule.
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- Give the host computer a stable private LAN address, either by reserving it in the router or by using your network’s supported static-address method.
- In the router’s port-forwarding section, forward the configured Minecraft server port from the internet to that private address. With default settings, the port is
25565. Router labels and screens vary by manufacturer, so follow the documentation for your router’s exact interface. - Allow the same port, or Java itself, through the host operating system’s firewall.
- Start the server and verify that a device on the home network can join using the private address.
- Give trusted friends your current public IPv4 address and port. With the default port, a player enters an address such as
PUBLIC_IP:25565in Minecraft’s multiplayer screen.
Do not post your home public IP in a public forum, livestream description, or open chat. The official setup guidance identifies public disclosure as a security risk and recommends sharing the address only with trusted people. Your public address can also change when your internet provider renews the connection, so remote players may need the updated value.
Security and privacy choices
- Share the public address privately and only with people you trust.
- Use the smallest practical player cap and avoid exposing unrelated router services.
- Keep the operating system, Java installation, and Minecraft server build maintained according to their release guidance.
- Back up the world while the server is stopped, or use a backup method that is explicitly safe for live files.
- Do not give friends router-administrator credentials. They need the server address and port, not access to your network equipment.
- If you no longer want internet access, remove the forwarding rule and keep the server available only through
localhostor the private LAN address.
Troubleshoot the most common failures
“java” is not recognized
The JRE is missing or Java is not on PATH. Install a JRE compatible with the exact 1.20 JAR, open a new terminal, and rerun java -version. If several Java versions are installed, invoke the compatible executable by its full path or correct PATH order.
The server stops with an EULA message
Stop the process, open the generated eula.txt beside the server JAR, change eula=false to eula=true, save it as plain text, and start the same JAR again. Editing a copy in another folder will not affect the server you launched.
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Confirm that every player is running the same Java Edition version/build and that the selected JAR matches the intended 1.20 release. Check the exact address and port, then test localhost on the host. If that works, test the private LAN address. A failure only for remote players points to the firewall, router rule, private host address, or public address rather than the world itself.
Friends cannot connect, but LAN play works
Recheck the router’s destination private IP, the forwarded port, the host firewall, and server-port. If the host’s private address changed, the router may now be forwarding to the wrong computer. If the public address changed, send trusted players the current address privately.
The server becomes slow
Lower view distance or max-players, close other applications, and review CPU and memory usage while the problem occurs. The official material does not establish a guaranteed player count or RAM requirement, so treat the values in the launch command as settings to tune rather than performance promises.
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Changing a property appears to do nothing
Stop the server before editing, save the file in plain text, confirm the spelling and value, and restart. Some options affect newly generated worlds or future behavior rather than changing existing terrain immediately. Keep a backup before making major world or configuration changes.
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What to back up
At minimum, copy the world directory, server.properties, eula.txt, and any scripts or notes containing your launch command. Preserve the server JAR that created the world until you have confirmed that the upgraded build works. Label backups with the date and server version.
How to back up safely
- Tell players to leave and run
stopin the server console. - Wait until the process finishes saving and returns to the command prompt.
- Copy the world and configuration files to a separate drive or protected storage location.
- Restart the server and confirm that the world loads before inviting players back.
How to change builds
Agree on the target build with every player, download the corresponding official server JAR, and keep the old JAR and a pre-upgrade world backup. Place the new JAR in the server folder, update your launch command, and start it once with the existing configuration. If the new build reports a Java incompatibility, install the JRE it requires rather than changing the world or deleting configuration files.
Home hosting versus managed hosting
Running the JAR at home is appropriate when you want direct control and are comfortable with networking. A managed Minecraft server can be simpler for a group that does not want to configure a router or keep a home computer online, but its features, price, exact 1.20 support, backup tools, mod or plugin policy, and location must be verified with the provider.
| Consideration | Self-hosted at home | Managed service |
|---|---|---|
| Setup effort | Install Java, configure the JAR, firewall, and router. | Usually reduces local networking work, but requires account and panel setup. |
| Recurring cost | No server-software fee; electricity, hardware, and internet service remain your costs. | Normally a recurring service charge; compare the exact plan and billing terms. |
| Router access | Required for players outside your home. | Usually handled by the provider’s infrastructure. |
| Backups | You create and protect them yourself. | Check whether backups exist, how often they run, and how restoration works. |
| Capacity and latency | Limited by your hardware, upload connection, and home location. | Depends on the plan’s resources and data-center geography. |
| Java-version control | You choose the JRE and JAR pairing. | Confirm that the service supports the exact 1.20 build and Java requirement. |
| Mods and plugins | You control the files and compatibility decisions. | Check supported loaders, plugins, file access, and restrictions before subscribing. |
| Privacy responsibility | You protect the public IP, machine, router, and backups. | You still need account security and must review the provider’s terms and data practices. |
For a small, trusted group with router access, self-hosting is the most direct path. For players who cannot forward ports or keep a host online, evaluate managed services using the comparison points above rather than assuming every service supports the same 1.20 build.
Quick Recap
Final connection checklist
- The selected server JAR and every player’s client use the same intended 1.20 build.
java -versionreports a JRE compatible with that JAR.- The initial run created the files and
eula.txtcontainseula=true. server.propertiescontains the intended port and gameplay settings, withserver-ipblank unless you specifically need a binding.- The server starts without an error and remains running in the console.
- The host can join through
localhost. - LAN players can use the host’s private address and configured port.
- Remote players can reach the forwarded port after the firewall and router rules point to the correct host.
- The public address is shared privately, and a current backup exists before regular play.
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