The Tool Desk
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This checklist covers a self-hosted Java Edition dedicated server. Bedrock Edition, console hosting and third-party hosting control panels use different procedures.
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1. Decide what kind of server you are building
Your software choice determines which files, Java version and hardware profile you need. Decide this before downloading anything.
Vanilla server
The official server JAR from minecraft.net runs the unmodified Java Edition server. It is the simplest baseline and uses the standard worlds, commands and mechanics.
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Paper or another compatible performance server
Paper is a commonly used alternative when you want performance tuning and plugin support while remaining compatible with most vanilla clients. Its configuration and plugin ecosystem add maintenance work, so start with Vanilla if you are learning the basics.
Forge or NeoForge mod server
A modded server needs the loader required by the mod pack, such as Forge or NeoForge, plus matching client-side mods. Do not place a mod loader JAR in a Vanilla setup and expect it to work; follow the loader’s installer and version requirements.
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2. Install the Java runtime that matches your server
Minecraft server releases are tied to specific Java versions. Use the highest Java version required by the exact release you plan to run. The Minecraft Wiki’s current compatibility table lists:
| Minecraft release | Java required | How to interpret it |
|---|---|---|
| 26.1 and later | Java 25 | Use Java 25 or a compatible newer runtime for these releases. |
| 1.20.5 and later | Java 21 | This applies to releases in this range that are not covered by the newer 26.1 requirement. |
| 1.18 and later | Java 17 | Use Java 17 for releases that require it and are below the Java 21 range. |
Java requirements can change with each Minecraft release. Some hosting guides publish different ranges, so check the Minecraft Wiki’s table and the server release notes for the exact JAR you downloaded rather than relying on a generic “latest Java” recommendation. Releases older than 1.18 need their own compatibility check.
JRE or JDK?
A server needs a Java Runtime Environment (JRE) to run. A Java Development Kit (JDK) includes development tools that a normal server does not use at runtime; installing a JDK is optional unless you also develop or compile software.
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Verify Java before starting
Open a terminal or Command Prompt and run java -version. The reported major version should match the server release. If the command is not found, install Java and reopen the terminal so the updated path is loaded. If the wrong version appears, either adjust your system PATH or call the intended Java executable explicitly in the launch command.
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3. Get the server JAR and create a dedicated folder
Download the official Vanilla server JAR from minecraft.net, or obtain the server file supplied by the Paper or mod-loader project you selected. Keep the server in its own folder rather than running it from Downloads; the first launch creates world data, logs and configuration files beside the JAR.
Use a short, writable path such as C:MinecraftServer on Windows or ~/minecraft-server on Linux. Avoid folders synchronized by cloud-storage software, which can lock world files while the server is writing them. Rename the JAR to a simple name such as server.jar only if your launch script uses that same name.
4. Check hardware before inviting players
Hardware needs depend on view distance, simulation distance, player count, redstone or mob farms, plugins and mods. The figures below are planning guidance, not a Mojang performance guarantee.
| Resource | Practical starting point | What changes the requirement |
|---|---|---|
| RAM | The Minecraft Wiki recommends at least 2 GB available for a small server. A separate hosting guide recommends at least 4 GB free for a few friends. | More players, higher distances, plugins, large farms and mod packs increase memory use. Leave RAM for the operating system. |
| CPU | Prioritize strong single-thread performance. | Minecraft’s main tick loop relies heavily on one core; extra cores still help the operating system and auxiliary tasks. |
| Storage | Reserve at least 5 GB, preferably on an SSD. | World exploration, backups, logs and mod files grow over time. SSD storage helps chunk loading and saves. |
| Upload bandwidth | One hosting guide gives rough estimates of about 5 Mbps for 1–5 players, 10–20 Mbps for 5–20 players and 50+ Mbps for 50+ players. | These figures are unverified planning estimates, not official requirements. Measure your connection’s sustained upstream speed and account for other household traffic. |
On a home connection, the server machine should preferably use Ethernet and a consistent local address. A laptop that sleeps, a desktop that reboots for updates or a household upload saturated by video calls will make the server appear unreliable even when the JAR is configured correctly.
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5. Run the JAR once and accept the EULA correctly
The first launch is supposed to stop. It generates eula.txt, server.properties, a logs folder and usually a world directory. If eula.txt does not exist, the server writes eula=false and exits instead of starting a world.
Windows
- Open the server folder in File Explorer.
- Shift-click the folder background, choose Open in Terminal (or open Command Prompt and use
cdto enter the folder). - Run
java -jar server.jar. Wait for the initial files to appear and for the process to stop. - Open
eula.txtin a plain-text editor and change onlyeula=falsetoeula=trueafter reading and accepting Mojang’s End User License Agreement. - Save the file as plain text, then run the same command again.
Linux or macOS
- Open a terminal and change to the server directory with
cd ~/minecraft-server(use your actual path). - Run
java -jar server.jaronce. - Edit the generated file with a text editor, for example
nano eula.txt, and change the value toeula=trueonly after accepting the agreement. - Save and rerun the command.
If the server still exits immediately, read the last lines of the console and logs/latest.log. The most common causes at this stage are a missing or false EULA value, an incompatible Java version, a mistyped JAR filename or a directory that the account cannot write to.
6. Configure server.properties
Edit this file after the first run. It is a UTF-8 Java-properties file: one key=value pair per line, with # starting a comment. Values are stored as strings, so preserve the exact key names and save with a plain-text editor such as Notepad.
| Setting | Purpose | Safe way to change it |
|---|---|---|
server-port |
Sets the TCP port on which the server listens. | Keep 25565 unless you have a reason to use another port; any alternate port must be forwarded and shared with players. |
max-players |
Limits simultaneous players. | Choose a number your hardware and upload connection can sustain. |
difficulty |
Sets the world’s difficulty. | Use the value supported by your server version and change it before inviting players if you want a predictable start. |
white-list |
Requires connecting names to be on the whitelist. | Set it to true before exposing a private server to the internet. |
Many servers run on the defaults. Change one setting at a time, stop the server before editing, save the file, then start it again so you can identify which change caused a problem.
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7. Give the server enough memory at launch
Java’s -Xmx flag caps the maximum heap and -Xms sets the starting heap. A common fixed-memory example is:
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java -Xms4G -Xmx4G -jar server.jar nogui
The 4G values are an example, not a universal requirement. Do not assign all system RAM to Java; the operating system, file cache and other services need headroom. Increase the heap only when monitoring shows memory pressure, and remember that more RAM cannot compensate for a weak CPU, overloaded connection or excessive simulation distance.
Use a launch script
On Windows, save a file named start.bat beside the JAR containing the command, then double-click it. On Linux or macOS, save the command in start.sh, make it executable with chmod +x start.sh, and run ./start.sh. Keep the terminal open while testing so you can see startup errors and the clean shutdown message.
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Local network access
Players on the same home network can usually connect using the server computer’s private IP address, such as 192.168.x.x. This test does not prove that internet players can connect, because it bypasses the router’s public-facing path.
Router port forwarding
- Give the server computer a reserved or static private IP in the router’s DHCP settings.
- Create a port-forwarding rule for TCP 25565 (or the alternate value in
server-port) to that private IP. - Save the router rule and restart the server if necessary.
- Allow Java or the selected port through the operating-system firewall. Windows Firewall commonly blocks unsolicited inbound connections until you create an allow rule.
Players outside your home should use your public IP address, followed by the port only when it is not 25565. Do not post a private address such as 192.168.x.x for internet players.
Changing public IP addresses
Many residential connections receive a changing public IP. A static address from your provider or a dynamic-DNS service gives players a stable destination; update the DNS record whenever your public address changes. Some providers also use carrier-grade NAT, which prevents inbound forwarding; in that case a home server may be unreachable without a relay or rented server.
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9. Enable the whitelist before sharing the address
For a private server, set white-list=true in server.properties, restart, and add players from the server console:
whitelist onenables enforcement immediately.whitelist add PlayerNameadds a Java account name.whitelist listdisplays current entries.whitelist remove PlayerNameremoves an entry.
Player names must be entered exactly as the account uses them. Test with one invited account before publishing the address. A whitelist limits who may join; it does not replace strong account security, regular updates or firewall rules.
10. Establish a backup and shutdown routine
Never copy a live world folder blindly while the server is writing region files. The safest routine is:
- In the console, run
save-alland wait for the save to finish. - Stop the server with
stop, then copy the world folder,server.properties, whitelist files and any mod or plugin configuration to another disk or machine. - For a running-server maintenance window, use
save-off, runsave-all, copy the files, then runsave-on. Stop the server afterward when practical. - Keep multiple dated copies away from the server computer so a disk failure, ransomware event or accidental deletion does not remove the only backup.
Periodically restore a copy to a separate test folder. A backup that has never been checked may be incomplete or unusable after a crash.
11. Home hardware or a rented server?
| Choice | Advantages | Trade-offs |
|---|---|---|
| Home computer | Uses hardware you already own and gives you direct access to files and settings. | You must handle port forwarding, firewall rules, changing public IPs, electricity, noise, uptime and backups. |
| Rented server | Usually provides a public address, data-center connectivity and an always-on machine without home-router configuration. | Adds a recurring cost and requires you to learn the provider’s panel, file access and backup limits. |
Choose home hosting for a small group when you can keep the machine and connection online. Choose a rented instance when reliable uptime, simpler public access or separation from your home network matters more than the monthly expense.
Quick Recap
12. Troubleshoot the failures players see most
| Symptom | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| The server shuts down immediately after launch. | eula=false, missing Java, an incompatible Java major version or a wrong JAR filename. |
Check eula.txt, run java -version, verify the filename in the launch command and read logs/latest.log. |
| “Unable to access jarfile”. | The terminal is in the wrong folder or the command names a different file. | List the directory, use the exact JAR name or rename it consistently. |
| Local players connect but internet players time out. | Missing port forwarding, a changing private IP, firewall blocking or carrier-grade NAT. | Reserve the server’s private IP, forward TCP 25565, allow the firewall rule and test from a separate network. |
| Players get “connection refused”. | The server is stopped, listening on another port or bound behind a blocked firewall. | Confirm the console is running, check server-port, and verify the router and operating-system rules use the same port. |
| Ticks are slow or players rubber-band. | CPU saturation, insufficient memory, slow storage, high simulation distance or too many entities. | Check resource usage, reduce simulation distance or entity-heavy farms, move the world to SSD storage and adjust memory without starving the operating system. |
| The whitelist rejects an invited player. | The name was entered incorrectly or the whitelist is not enabled on the running instance. | Run whitelist list, add the exact Java account name and restart only if the server version requires it. |
13. Final pre-launch checklist
- The server version and Java major version match the current compatibility table.
- The intended Vanilla, Paper or mod-loader JAR is in a dedicated writable folder.
- The first run generated files, and
eula=trueis set only after acceptance. server.propertiescontains the intended port, player limit, difficulty and whitelist setting.- The launch script uses appropriate
-Xmsand-Xmxvalues while leaving system RAM available. - The server works from the local network before you test internet access.
- TCP 25565 is forwarded to a reserved private IP and allowed through the operating-system firewall.
- The whitelist contains only invited names.
- A dated backup has been created off the server machine and can be restored.
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