Table of Contents
Who this is for: Minecraft players wanting to host their own multiplayer servers for friends and custom gameplay experiences.
Ready to jump in? Play minecraft games and explore creative building adventures right in your browser!
Play free games on Playgama.com
Download the Server Software
Start by downloading the official Minecraft server software from Minecraft.net. You’ll get a .jar file that serves as the foundation for your server. Make sure you have Java installed on your computer first, as the server runs on Java.
Set Up Your Server Files
Create a dedicated folder for your server files. Place the downloaded server.jar file inside this folder and run it once. This initial run will create essential files including server.properties, where you’ll configure your server settings.
Configure Server Settings
Open the server.properties file with a text editor to customize your server:
- gamemode – Set to survival, creative, adventure, or spectator
- difficulty – Choose peaceful, easy, normal, or hard
- max-players – Limit how many players can join simultaneously
- server-port – Usually 25565 (default)
- online-mode – Keep true for premium accounts only
Port Forwarding for External Access
If you want friends outside your network to join, you’ll need to configure port forwarding on your router. Access your router’s admin panel and forward port 25565 to your computer’s local IP address. This step varies by router brand, so check your router’s manual for specific instructions.
Start Your Server
Run the server by double-clicking the .jar file or using command line with “java -Xmx1024M -Xms1024M -jar server.jar nogui”. The -Xmx and -Xms flags allocate memory to your server – adjust these numbers based on your available RAM and expected player count.
Share Your Server Address
Players on your local network can connect using your computer’s local IP address. For external players, they’ll need your public IP address (find this at whatismyipaddress.com) followed by the port number if it’s not 25565.
Essential Server Management
Learn basic server commands like /op [username] to give admin privileges, /whitelist add [username] for player control, and /save-all to backup your world. Consider installing server management tools like Bukkit or Spigot for enhanced features and plugin support.
Building and managing your own Minecraft server opens up endless possibilities for custom gameplay experiences with friends and fellow builders.
TL;DR
Download Minecraft server software, configure settings in server.properties, set up port forwarding for external access, then start your server and share the IP address with players.
