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Yes—you can run Minecraft from your own Windows PC. Use Open to LAN or Bedrock’s Invite to Game for people in the same session, install the official Java or Bedrock Dedicated Server for a persistent server, or choose Realms if you want Microsoft to handle networking and uptime. Java and Bedrock use different server software and do not cross-play by default.
Choose the right method first
| Method | Best for | Main limitation |
|---|---|---|
| Java Open to LAN | Friends on the same home network | The host must open the world; it is not an Internet server |
| Bedrock Invite to Game | A quick Bedrock session | Not a persistent dedicated server; the host generally needs to be in the world |
| Java Dedicated Server | Java players who want control, commands, plugins or mods | You manage networking, security, backups and the PC’s uptime |
| Bedrock Dedicated Server | Bedrock players needing a persistent server | Official downloads target Windows and Ubuntu, not macOS |
| Minecraft Realms | Beginners who want an always-online world | Paid, same-edition only and less customizable |
Realms supports Java cross-play between Windows, macOS and Linux, while Bedrock Realms supports Bedrock devices; neither provides Java/Bedrock cross-play. See the official Realms page.
The easiest options: LAN and Invite to Game
Java: Open to LAN
- Open or create a Java world.
- Press Esc and select Open to LAN.
- Choose the game mode and whether commands are allowed.
- Select Start LAN World.
- Other Java players on the same network select the world under Multiplayer.
This does not make the world reachable by friends elsewhere on the Internet. The official walkthrough is on Minecraft’s multiplayer guide.
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Bedrock: Invite to Game
- Open or create a Bedrock world.
- Open the in-game menu and select Invite to Game.
- Invite friends through their Microsoft/Xbox gamertags.
Use a dedicated server instead when the world must persist independently of a normal game session.
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Before installing a dedicated server
- Confirm whether everyone uses Java Edition or Bedrock Edition.
- Use the same Minecraft release on the server and every client. Snapshots and preview builds may not connect to ordinary releases.
- Keep the host PC powered on, awake, connected and reasonably idle whenever people need access.
- Have administrator access to Windows, its firewall and your router.
- Choose a dedicated folder and make backups before changing versions or adding mods.
- For Java, ensure Java is available from Command Prompt or PowerShell.
There is no universal RAM number. Player count, simulation distance, mods, entities, CPU, storage and what else the PC is doing all matter. The official Java command using 4 GB is an example, not a minimum requirement.
Run a Java server on Windows
1. Create a server folder and download the software
Create a folder such as C:MinecraftServer. Download the current official Java server and place the JAR in that folder. Rename it to server.jar if convenient. Check that Windows has not hidden extensions and created server.jar.jar. Mojang’s server software is for Java Edition only.
2. Check Java and launch once
Open PowerShell in the folder and run:
java -version
java -Xmx4G -Xms4G -jar server.jar noguiIf java is not recognized, install a compatible Java runtime/JDK, put it on Windows’ PATH as required by the official download instructions, then open a new terminal.
The first launch normally creates eula.txt, server.properties, world and logs, then stops because the EULA has not been accepted.
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3. Accept the EULA and start again
Open eula.txt, change:
eula=falseto:
eula=trueSave it only if you agree to the Minecraft EULA, then run the launch command again:
java -Xmx4G -Xms4G -jar server.jar noguiWait for the console to report that the server has finished starting. To shut down safely, type stop in the console; do not normally close the window or kill the process.
4. Test a local connection
On the host PC, connect to localhost or 127.0.0.1. Another computer on the same network should use the host’s private address, such as 192.168.1.25. Private addresses beginning with 192.168. or 10. are not addresses for remote friends on the Internet.
Configure the Java server
Stop the server before editing server.properties, then restart it afterward. A private survival server might include:
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motd=My Minecraft Server
gamemode=survival
difficulty=normal
max-players=10
view-distance=10
simulation-distance=10
online-mode=true
white-list=true
server-port=25565Property names and available settings can vary by version. Keep online-mode=true; disabling authentication is not a safe routine fix. Enable the whitelist and manage players from the console:
op PlayerName
whitelist on
whitelist add PlayerName
list
whitelist remove PlayerName
save-all
stopOperator privileges can change or destroy the world, so grant them only to trusted people.
Let Java friends connect over the Internet
Starting the server only makes it run locally. Remote access requires all of the following:
- Firewall rule: Allow Java/server traffic on the appropriate private network and port. Do not disable Windows Firewall wholesale.
- Stable local IP: Reserve the host PC’s address in the router’s DHCP settings, or configure a static address carefully.
- Router forwarding: Create a NAT, Port Forwarding, Virtual Server or Port Mapping rule. For the normal Java setup, forward TCP 25565 externally to TCP 25565 on the host PC’s private address. Confirm the actual
server-port. - Public address: Give outside players your public IP, optionally as
public-ip:portwhen using a non-default port. Do not post it publicly.
If local play works but remote connections time out, investigate the path between your home and the Internet. Double NAT, a changing public address, an incorrect forwarding target, firewall rules and carrier-grade NAT (CGNAT) are common causes. CGNAT clues include a router WAN address that differs from your observed public IP or a private/shared WAN address. Ask the ISP for a public IPv4 address, use correctly configured IPv6, use a private overlay/tunnel, or choose Realms/hosting if forwarding is impossible.
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Run a Bedrock Dedicated Server
Download the current official Bedrock Dedicated Server. Mojang lists support for Windows 10 version 10.0.15063 or later, Windows Server 2016 or later and Ubuntu 22.04 LTS or later; the official download is not offered for macOS. Listed baseline hardware includes an Intel Core i3-3210, AMD A8-7600 or equivalent, 4 GB RAM and broadband Internet, but real needs vary.
- Extract the Windows package into a dedicated folder.
- Read its included “How to use the dedicated server” guide.
- Run the supplied server executable.
- Review
server.propertiesand accept the EULA as required by the included files. - Allow the executable through Windows Firewall.
- If remote players need access, forward the configured Bedrock port.
The commonly used default is 19132/UDP, but verify the generated property file, especially when running multiple servers. Bedrock players use Servers → Add Server, entering the server name, address and port. Console platforms can impose their own restrictions on adding external servers. Java clients cannot join this server by default.
Performance, updates and backups
- Allocate only the memory the workload needs; leave RAM for Windows, the client and other applications. More heap is not automatically faster.
- Lower
view-distanceandsimulation-distanceif CPU usage or tick performance suffers. - Control entity-heavy farms, redstone clocks, chunk loaders and uncontrolled mobs.
- Watch CPU, memory, disk activity and upload bandwidth before blaming RAM.
- Stop the server with
stopbefore copying a clean backup. - Back up the entire server directory, including the world, configuration, whitelist and permissions files. Keep several dated backups and test restoring one.
- Before an update or mod/plugin change, stop the server, make a backup, install the matching server version, then verify the world before inviting players.
Troubleshooting checklist
“java is not recognized”
Java is missing, not on PATH, or the terminal predates installation. Run java -version, install/configure Java, reopen the terminal and retry.
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The server closes immediately
Read the console error. Check eula=true, the Java version, the exact JAR filename and that the command is running in the server folder.
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Connection refused or timed out
Confirm the server is running and listening on the configured port. “Refused” often means the wrong port or no service listening; “timed out” usually points to a firewall, forwarding, wrong public address, double NAT or CGNAT. Test in this order: host PC, another LAN computer, firewall, router forwarding, then ISP/NAT conditions.
Players cannot join after an update
Match the exact client and server release. Check that nobody is using a snapshot, preview build or incompatible mod/plugin, then restart the server.
The world is laggy
Check CPU, memory pressure, storage, upload speed, simulation distance, newly generated chunks, entities, redstone and mods/plugins. Raising RAM alone may not help.
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When Realms is the better answer
Realms is Microsoft-hosted, always online and avoids router configuration. The official US listing currently shows Java Realms at $7.99 USD per month for the owner plus up to 10 simultaneous players; Bedrock plans and prices differ by plan and region. Invited friends do not need their own Realms subscription, and Realms includes backups. It is a poor fit for large communities, full operating-system control, unsupported modpacks or Java/Bedrock cross-play. It also does not run on your PC.
Final decision
- Use LAN if everyone is in the same home and you want a free, quick session.
- Self-host Java if all players use Java and you want maximum control.
- Use Bedrock Dedicated Server if everyone uses Bedrock and you need a persistent world on supported Windows or Ubuntu.
- Use Realms if convenience, backups and availability while you are offline matter more than cost and customization.
Keep Windows, Java and server software updated, use a whitelist, protect operator access, avoid questionable JARs and mods, and never expose router administration to the Internet. Minecraft’s official multiplayer guidance also recommends not sharing real names, locations, passwords or other personal details.
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