Table of Contents
Who this is for: Minecraft players wanting to host private servers for friends and family.
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Download the Bedrock Server Software
Start by visiting the official Minecraft website and downloading the Bedrock Dedicated Server software. This free download comes as a ZIP file containing all the necessary server files. Extract the contents to a dedicated folder on your computer – something like “MinecraftBedrockServer” works well for organization.
Configure Your Server Settings
Open the “server.properties” file in a text editor to customize your server. Key settings include:
- server-name: What players see when browsing servers
- gamemode: Choose survival, creative, or adventure
- difficulty: Set from peaceful to hard
- max-players: Limit concurrent players (default is 10)
- server-port: Usually 19132 for Bedrock
Save your changes before proceeding to the next step.
Set Up Port Forwarding
For friends to join from outside your network, configure port forwarding on your router. Access your router’s admin panel (typically by typing 192.168.1.1 in your browser) and forward port 19132 (UDP) to your computer’s local IP address. Each router interface differs, but look for “Port Forwarding” or “Virtual Server” settings.
Launch Your Server
Run the “bedrock_server.exe” file (Windows) or appropriate executable for your operating system. A console window opens showing server startup messages. When you see “Server started,” your server is ready for connections.
Connect Players to Your Server
Players can join using your external IP address and port 19132. Find your external IP by searching “what is my IP” in a web browser. Share this IP with friends, and they can add it as a server in their Minecraft Bedrock Edition game.
Essential Server Management
Monitor your server through the console window, which displays player activity and system messages. Common commands include:
- /op [playername]: Grant operator privileges
- /whitelist add [playername]: Allow specific players
- /save-all: Force save the world
- /stop: Safely shut down the server
Regular backups of your “worlds” folder prevent data loss and ensure your creations stay safe.
Ready to explore more building and survival adventures? Check out our collection of minecraft games for endless creative possibilities.
TL;DR
Download Bedrock server software, configure server.properties, set up port forwarding on your router, and launch the executable to create your multiplayer world.
