How to make a Minecraft server on Windows, Mac, or Linux

If you want to play the well-known sandbox game online with your friends, you must be familiar with Minecraft hosting. When you run your own server for Minecraft Java Edition, you can play alongside others in the same world at the same time for PVP matches, build contests, manhunts, or just cooperative survival.

Depending on your level of expertise, there are a few different ways to run your own Minecraft server. Mojang Studios has kindly made available free server software that you can download to get you started. However, this requires some knowledge of java. There are alternative ways to connect with your friends online if you don’t have that.

Have players joining your server follow the steps below:
  1. In Minecraft, click “Multiplayer.”
  2. Click “Add Server.”
  3. Enter a server name.
  4. Enter the server address. This will be your external IP followed by the port number: 25565 This will look like the address in the image on the right. …
  5. Click Done.

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“New Server” only allows you to add one to the list of servers you frequently connect to; it does not actually create a server.

To create a server, you have to run the server executable, “Minecraft_Server.exe” or “minecraft_server.jar”. Detailed instructions can be found on the minecraft wiki if you need more help getting set up or run into performance issues. If you are running the server on the same machine as the client, you can connect to “localhost” as the server address, or your own IP address.

Create a single player world, choose Open to LAN from the pause screen, as shown below, and then connect it to your local area network to play with your friends who are also connected to the same network.

Five steps:

  • Open to LAN
  • It will give you a 5-digit port number
  • Find your IPv4 Address using ipconfig in Command prompt (search CMD in search bar)
  • If your IP address is 123.456.7.8, and LAN is 89072, then you will combine them to make something like: 123.456.7.8:80729
  • Use direct connect and connect to the game
  • Go to your game menu and press “Open to LAN”. Next, it will show your IP address. Once you’ve noted the IP address, return to the title screen and select multiplayer. Next, select “Add server,” give the server a name, and finally enter the IP address.

    The following worked for me:

    Locate your IP address by opening System Preferences > Network. Copy the IP address.

    Alternatively, find your IP address from the terminal:

    Start single player after that, and from the pause menu select “Open to LAN.” It will print a port number, say 51831. If your local IP address is 10. 0. 0. 217 then join the two with a :: 10. 0. 0. 217:51831. Give your friend this address and instruct them to use “Direct Connection” from the multiplayer start menu to connect.

  • Start a Single-Player World

    The first step, if you haven’t already started one, is to create a single-player world. Pretty simple, under the “Singleplayer” tab, select “Create World” and then select your game options. There is no specific set of settings for your world; this will not affect your friend from later joining the game.

  • Open to LAN

    After you have started your single-player world, press “ESC” on the keyboard (for PC), and this will bring up the pause menu. Then, in the lower right corner, select the “Open to LAN” button, customize multiplayer options, then lastly select “Start LAN World” in the lower left corner, and a 5-digit LAN number will pop up in chat. Make sure that you remember it.

  • Find Your IPV4 Address in Settings

    How to Find your IPV4 Address Windows and MAC If you’re not sure what this is or how to find it, there are many helpful articles and videos on the web (should look something like 192.168.x.xx, numbers will vary).

  • “Direct Connect” to Server

    of The Direct Connect button in Multiplayer Tab Now call up your friend, (or whatever you use to communicate with them) and have them select the “Multiplayer” option on the home screen. Next, they need to click the “Direct Connect” option on the bottom of the screen. After they have the Direct Connect screen open, tell them to put in your IPV4 address (with periods and everything): When they have typed it in character by character, add a colon directly at the end of this string of characters. After the colon, they need to put in the LAN number you produced earlier; after you selected “Open to LAN” (There should be no spaces in between any of the numbers or characters). When you have completed all the steps above, tell them to select “Join Server” at the bottom, and watch the magic happen!

  • You will frequently encounter an error message similar to this when attempting to play with your friends via LAN. As this has occurred to me far too frequently, it can be extremely annoying. There are a few ways to try and avoid this obstacle;

    First off, give “Direct Connect” at least 45 seconds to fully load after you have launched it. I understand that there isn’t a loading indicator, but if you enter all the necessary information and attempt to join your friend’s game before the “Direct Connect” page has fully loaded, you will receive an error.

    Second, the firewall, particularly if you use Windows, can significantly interfere with your ability to play with friends. Try turning off your firewall, and try this again.

    **** REMEMBER TO TURN IT BACK ON AFTERWARDS! ****

    Lastly, you might want to try re-installing Minecraft. The main cause of this not working is that your computer pings for the host after you “Direct Connect” to the server; if it finds them, great, you can join them. You will, however, be unsuccessful if this LAN number or IPV4 address is not associated with any computers or users. By re-installing Minecraft, you can restart this process.

    A more detailed description of this process found here.

    How to make a Minecraft server on Windows, Mac, or Linux

    Making a Minecraft server, at its most basic, involves the following steps:

  • Install the latest version of Java

  • Install the latest version of the Minecraft server software

  • Configure your server & network

  • Start the server

  • Check that your server is accessible

  • Setting up a VPN

    Establishing a VPN (virtual private network) is an alternative method of setting up a server between you and your friends. Given that all users wishing to connect to the server must download external software in order to join or create the server, this approach may be deemed unrecommended and inconvenient by many users. An alternative to this method is to port forward. Hamachi by LogMeIn is a free software tool that can be used to set up a VPN. Another (free, open source) alternative is OpenVPN, which works with most OSes but requires a little more configuration. Free Radmin VPN is another program that doesn’t require website registration and has no user cap. Hamachi’s free version permits a maximum of five connections (i e. players).

  • Install Hamachi on each computer that wishes to participate in the server, including the host. Windows / Mac Linux (32-bit and 64-bit .deb and .rpm packages are available, you can install it on Gentoo by emerging “net-misc/logmein-hamachi”)
  • The host server signs up for admin via the Logmein website.
  • On the host machine, a new Hamachi network is created.
  • The host installs and configures the Minecraft server software: The server IP field in server.properties is left blank (as default).
  • The host passes the newly created Hamachi network credentials to each of the players.
  • The players connect to the hosts Hamachi network.
  • Now that all the machines are connected within the same Hamachi network, the host gives their machines Hamachi IPv4 address to the players.
  • Each player connects using this IP as per the usual Minecraft multiplayer screen.
  • Note that Hamachi has been squatting on an IANA-allocated IP block (25.0.0.0/8). As such, Hamachi fundamentally conflicts with the internet itself.
  • It is very similar to Hamachi installation.

  • Download free and install Radmin VPN
  • Create a network: after Radmin VPN installation on the local computer press “Create network” button. Set a Network name and a Password —> Press “Create” button.
  • Now the new network will appear in the main window —> invite friends, send them the info to connect -> you are welcome to run Minecraft.
  • Connection: after program launch press “Join network” —> in the dialog box press enter Network name and Password received from the network administrator —> “Join” —> the new network and its nodes will be shown in the main window. —> Connect to the host in Minecraft.
  • If the connection on Radmin VPN has been established, but you don`t see other players in the game, then it is required to adjust firewall for work of the game or just turn the firewall off.
  • 5 Ways How To Host A Minecraft Server

    FAQ

    Can you host a local Minecraft server for free?

    If you want to create more than two servers or allow more than 10 players, you can buy credits. As an alternative, you can run a free Minecraft server on your personal computer. You can do this for all versions of Minecraft.

    How do I host a Minecraft server for me and a friend?

    Open Minecraft and go into the “Multiplayer” tab. Towards the bottom, click on “Add Server”. Enter any name you like under “Server Name,” followed by the server’s IP address and port, and click “Done.”

    Can you host your own Minecraft server?

    You’ll need the Minecraft server software to build your own Minecraft server. You can get a free setup for this from the creator Mojang, but it is only compatible with Minecraft: Java Edition. The Java Runtime Environment (JRE) must also be up to date.

    Can you play Minecraft with friends locally?

    You can play Minecraft locally with your friends in split-screen mode as well as online with other players. In other words, split-screen play is not available for online play, but it is available when two or more local players are playing alongside those who are online.

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