Don’t let a lack of coding experience keep you from taking complete control of the Minecraft virtual world. We’ll walk you through the server configuration process so you can customize game settings and protect your virtual children’s playground.
Don’t worry if you’ve ever wanted to build a Minecraft server but were discouraged by terminology or file modification. If you carefully follow the necessary instructions and commands, creating your own server is a relatively easy task. Although connecting friends to that server is a completely different process, we’ll cover that in another article. Let’s concentrate on starting your Minecraft server right away.
Making your own Minecraft server allows you to make changes to the game that you would not otherwise be able to. For instance, you can modify the in-game physics, assign or deny other players roles, or decide how objects spawn. If you’re a parent, you’ll be happy to know that setting up a Minecraft server allows you to monitor who your kids play with online.
There are two main approaches you can take when setting up a Minecraft server, though there are other methods as well. Your option for hosting your Minecraft server is to pay a virtual private server (VPS) provider or to use your personal computer. Both require some technical knowledge, but generally speaking, the VPS route is simpler. Numerous web hosts provide dedicated Minecraft hosting, which simplifies the procedure. This is a good choice if you don’t mind paying for the service. Additionally, a lot of web hosts provide customer support, so if you are hesitant to set up a server on your own, the extra assistance will ease your mind.
- In Minecraft, click “Multiplayer.”
- Click “Add Server.”
- Enter a server name.
- 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. …
- Click Done.
How to make a Minecraft server
Making a Minecraft server on Windows essentially involves the following steps:
Things to keep in mind before you start:
Setting up a server takes some effort. In order to configure a Minecraft server properly, you need some technical knowledge.
To manage any type of server, you should have a fundamental understanding of computer and networking concepts.
Specifically, you should be comfortable and familiar with:
- Using the command line
- Networking (IP, DHCP, ports)
- Your system configuration
- Your network configuration
- Your router configuration (for home setups)
Running a Minecraft server from home?
A desktop computer works best for running a Minecraft server because you don’t need a high-end system.
While you can play and run a Minecraft server on the same computer, doing so will require a more powerful setup.
Last but not least, connect your server via wired ethernet rather than wireless. A wired connection is more reliable.
What if you don’t want to host your server at home?
When you run a server from your house, the entire world can access your home network.
Instead, if you’d prefer not to take that chance, you can use a hosting provider. Although there will be a fee to be paid on a regular basis or annually, you won’t have to deal with the hassle of maintaining the server hardware.
A GoDaddy Virtual Private Server is a good fit if you’re just getting started. Just keep in mind that you’re sharing hardware with other users, so keep an eye on resource usage.
Try a dedicated server instead if you want to connect a lot of players and you need a little more power.
Make a Minecraft server on your Windows PC
Open the Windows Control Panel. Under Programs, look for Java, and click Update Now.
Open a command prompt and enter java -version. You should see a version number.
Install Java if it isn’t already installed on your computer or if your version is out of date.
Choose a location for your Minecraft server files.
Choose a location on your PC where you want to run the server before downloading the Minecraft server software.
A few configuration files will be created when the server is first started. It’s best to keep all of these files in a specific folder.
You can put this folder anywhere you want, including on your desktop, in your documents folder, your programs folder, or another location. It’s entirely up to you.
Download and start the Minecraft server software.
Download the server software from the Minecraft website. It comes as a Java .jar file. Save it to the location you chose in the previous step.
Double-click the . jar file to start the server. The server configuration files will be generated; they must be modified before the server is usable.
Accept the EULA: A text file called eula. txt was created. In a text editor, open the file, and change eula=false to eula=true. Your ability to launch the Minecraft server will be suspended if you refuse to accept the EULA.
Run the Minecraft server as an administrator by right-clicking the Minecraft server icon if you encounter the message “Can’t save server properties.” jar file and selecting “Run as administrator”.
Enable port forwarding on your router.
Note: Port forwarding can be a security risk.
If you’re just hosting a server for players on your local network, you don’t need to worry about port forwarding. If, however, you want to make your server accessible to the world, you’ll need to enable port forwarding on your router. (To learn more about port forwarding, check out PortForward.com for tutorials.)
For detailed instructions on how to set up port forwarding for your device, consult the router’s documentation. For Minecraft, you’ll need to forward TCP port 25565.
Additionally, you must enter the local IP address of your server as the Output IP or Server IP for the forwarded port. This tells the router which device to point at. Open a command prompt and type ipconfig to find your server’s local IP address.
Start the Minecraft server.
To start the Minecraft server, open the Windows command prompt.
Navigate to the location of the Minecraft server file, which is typically named “minecraft_server.” 1. 12. 2. jar”) was installed.
Start the server with the following command:
java -Xmx1024M -Xms1024M -jar {server file name} nogui
(Replace {server file name} with the actual server file name.)
Leave out “nogui” if you’d rather use the server’s UI:
java -Xmx1024M -Xms1024M -jar {server file name}
You can also create a . bat file to batch the commands together.
Once the server is up and running, you can invite people to connect by sending them an invitation using either your local IP address if they are on your home network or your external/public IP address if they are not.
Connecting to your server
Players can join your server by following these steps:
- Selecting “multiplayer” in Minecraft.
- Clicking “add server”.
- Entering your server name.
- Entering your server address. Your IP address is the first part of the server address, followed by port 25565. By using the Google search term “my ip address,” you can discover your public IP address. You should enclose your IPv6 address in square brackets [] if you have one.
- Clicking “done”.
- Players should now be able to click “join server” after Minecraft connects to the server.
If you encounter any problems, check if your server is accessible by entering your public IP address into the Minecraft Server Status Checker.
Make a Minecraft server on your Mac
Newer versions of MacOS includes Java by default. If you’re running an older version of MacOS (OS X), you may need to download the legacy version of Java from the Apple website.
Choose a location for your Minecraft server files.
Create a folder to contain your Minecraft server files. The decision is entirely up to you; for example, you could make the folder on your desktop.
Download the Minecraft server software.
Download the server software from the Minecraft website. It comes as a Java . jar file. Save it in the location that you decided on in the earlier step.
Open TextEdit. Set the format to plain text. Enter the following:
exec java -Xms1G -Xmx1G -jar {server file name} nogui
(Replace {server file name} with the actual server file name.)
Save the file as start. command in the same folder where the server’s . jar file is located.
Open the Terminal and grant permissions for the new start. command file so it can be run. Type chmod a+x with a space after the command. Drag and drop the start. command file into the terminal window. Press Enter.
Enable port forwarding on your router.
Note: Port forwarding can be a security risk.
If you’re just hosting a server for players on your local network, you don’t need to worry about port forwarding. If, however, you want to make your server accessible to the world, you’ll need to enable port forwarding on your router. (To learn more about port forwarding, check out PortForward.com for tutorials.)
For detailed instructions on how to set up port forwarding for your device, consult the router’s documentation. For Minecraft, you’ll need to forward TCP port 25565.
Additionally, you must enter the local IP address of your server as the Output IP or Server IP for the forwarded port. This tells the router which device to point at. Open the Terminal and type ifconfig to determine your server’s local IP.
Start the Minecraft server.
Double-click the “start. command” file you created in step 3. A Terminal window will open. When you launch the server for the first time, you probably see error messages. This is normal.
Once the server is up and running, you can invite people to connect by sending them an invitation using either your local IP address if they are on your home network or your external/public IP address if they are not.
Follow these steps to have people connect to your server.
Make a Minecraft server on a Linux host
You can set up a Linux hosting plan to host a Minecraft server if you don’t want to host one at home. By doing so, you avoid having to manage any hardware and protect your private home network from prying eyes.
As mentioned before, a Linux VPS hosting plan from GoDaddy is a lightweight option if you’re experimenting or not expecting a lot of players to join your server. If, however, you’re expecting a lot of players, you should look at using a dedicated Linux server instead.
You must establish an SSH connection to your hosting in order to complete these steps. (This Help article will explain the procedure if you are unfamiliar. ).
Enter the following command while SSH’d into your host as the root user:
This’ll list the available OpenJDK packages that can install Java. We’ll choose openjdk-7-jdk, the OpenJDK 7 Development Kit, for this example.
Update the list of available packages from the remote repositories:
Then install the selected software package:
When asked to approve the necessary storage space for installation, select “Y.” Once that’s done, verify that Java has been successfully installed:
Check out the most recent Java version that was installed.
Create a location for your Minecraft server files.
To save the Minecraft server files, create a directory on your host, then navigate to it.
Download the Minecraft server files.
Use the wget command to download the Minecraft server files from the Minecraft directory:
wget -O minecraft_server.jar https://s3.amazonaws.com/Minecraft.Download/versions/1.12.2/minecraft_server.1.12.2.jar
(Tip: Double-check the URL to the most recent version on the Minecraft download page. ).
Next, we’ll install and activate “screen” to ensure that your server keeps running even if you aren’t connected:
Start your Minecraft server.
java -Xmx512M -Xms512M -jar minecraft_server.jar nogui
(Hint: You can modify the -Xmx and -Xms settings to alter how much memory the Minecraft server is allotted. For instance, you could type -Xmx1G -Xmx1G to increase the RAM to 1GB. The available memory will depend on your hosting plan. ).
Stop your server with: to verify that everything is functioning properly.
Then edit the “server.properties” file and set:
Save the “server.properties” file and restart your server. From there, enter your server IP address into the Minecraft Server Status Checker to see if it’s publicly accessible.
Point a domain at your Minecraft server.
More people will connect to your Minecraft server if you give them an easy-to-remember domain name rather than a confusing IP address.
Adding an “A” record for your domain (using @ as the hostname) or subdomain (using something like “mc” as the hostname) that points to your Minecraft server’s IP address updates your domain’s DNS records.
Please be aware that it may take up to 24 hours for DNS changes to become effective worldwide.
Check out this Help article for adding an A record if you’re unsure how to modify DNS records.
Additional resources for managing a Minecraft server
We’ve only begun to scratch the surface of creating your very own Minecraft server. The following resources go into greater detail about configuring, running, and advertising your server:
This article provides instructions for using third-party products, but GoDaddy does not recommend or directly support them, and it is not liable for their features or dependability. The owners of third-party marks and logos have registered them as their trademarks. All rights reserved. Products Mentioned.
How to Make a Minecraft Server 1.19 – (Play Minecraft Java with Your Friends)
FAQ
How do you create a Minecraft server for free?
Minehut is one of many Minecraft server hosting services. One of the few services that let you host Minecraft servers for free, it is simple to use. You are granted free hosting for two Minecraft servers with a maximum of ten players by Minehut.
How to create your own Minecraft server?
How to set up a Minecraft serverStep 1: Install/Update Minecraft. Step 2: Install/Update Java. Step 3: Download Server . Step 4: Create a Minecraft Server Folder. Step 5: First-Time Startup. Step 6: Restart the Server. Step 7: Create an Automatic Script.
How do I start a Minecraft server with friends?
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.”
What is the easiest Minecraft server?
Even for new players to the game, some servers have been specifically designed to be simple to understand. IP Address: play. minesuperior. comSkyblock. Survival. Towny. Factions. Prisons. Towny. KitPvP. Creative.
