How to Make a Minecraft Server

Creating your own Minecraft server opens up a world of possibilities. Instead of joining someone else’s world, you can build a space that’s completely your own, customize it with plugins or mods, and invite friends or an entire community to explore and play together.

Whether you want a small private server for just a few friends or a larger server with a thriving community, this guide will walk you through the key steps to get started. You’ll learn how to:

Set up a server with us here at SimpleGameHosting
Set up a server using your own PC and hardware

With the right setup, your Minecraft server can provide a richer, more social, and fully customizable gaming experience.

Planning Your Server

Before setting up your Minecraft server, it’s important to define your goals. Consider whether you’ll be using mods (and how many), how many players you expect to join, and how you plan to keep your server secure. These decisions directly affect the resources, setup, and overall performance your server will require.

If you’re using a hosting provider like us at SimpleGameHosting, we handle the hardware, uptime, and security for you. However, if you’re hosting on your own PC, careful planning is essential to ensure your hardware can handle the load and your server remains protected.

When self-hosting, security, hardware, and server management fall entirely on you. To keep your server safe and running smoothly, follow these best practices:

Limit who has your IP
- Only share your public IP with trusted players, as exposing it publicly can put your network at risk.
Use a firewall
- Make sure your computer’s firewall allows Minecraft traffic but blocks unwanted connections.
Keep software updated
- Ensure your operating system, Java, and Minecraft server files are always up to date.
Strong passwords
- Use strong passwords for any server accounts or admin tools.
Back up regularly
- Regularly save copies of your world and server files in case of crashes or corruption.
Monitor performance
- Keep an eye on CPU, RAM, and network usage to prevent crashes or lag.

Without proper planning, sufficient RAM, security measures, and capable hardware, you may experience startup failures, crashes, lost progress, or in-game lag. Once you’ve outlined your server’s requirements and taken steps to secure your setup, you’re ready to start building and managing your Minecraft server.

Creating a SimpleGameHosting Minecraft Server

Hosting your Minecraft server with us is simple and reliable. We provide the server hardware and handle security, but you have full control over configuring your server how you want it to be. You can learn more about the features and hardware being used using the links below:

Before you start, think about the type of server you want.

Will you be using mods, if so, how many? Or are you using a modpack?
How many players will be joining?

For guidance on how much RAM your server will need, check out our detailed RAM Calculator Help Article, which explains the requirements for different setups and helps you determine the best option for your server. We also have RAM recommendations for over 200 support modpakcs in our installer here.

Step 1: Purchase your Server

Once you know your server’s requirements, visit our pricing page and make sure the correct currency is selected.

Choose the RAM package that fits your needs and click the Get Started button.

Step 2: Configuring your server

After selecting a RAM package, you’ll be taken to the server configuration page. Here, you can:

Pick your billing cycle
- Monthly or quartely options are available.
Choose your platform
- Pick either Java or Bedrock.

👋Note: If you want to set up a cross-play server, choose Java as your platform and either Paper or Purpur as your server software.

Select your server software
- Options include Vanilla, Paper, Purpur, Forge, NeoForge, or Fabric for example. These are pre-installation choices, but you can change them later from your server’s control panel.

Pick a hosting location
- Select the location that provides the best connection for your players. You can test your ping to each location using this link.

After configuring your server to your liking, click Continue and complete the checkout process to finish your setup.

Step 3: Accessing your server control panel

Once your purchase is complete, you will receive two emails. An order confirmation email and an account created email. Look for the email with the subject "Account Created" in your inbox.

1. Click on the Setup Your Account button in the email.

2. Follow the instructions in the email to log in to your SimpleGameHosting control panel. From there, you can:

Manage your server settings
Install mods or plugins
Change game versions
Turn the server on or off

❓Having trouble locating the email? Check your spam folder, and if it isn't there, don't hesitate to reach out to our support team by submitting a Support Ticket or contacting us directly via LiveChat!

3. After accessing the control panel, make sure everything is working correctly by joining the server yourself. Use the server address provided at the top-right of your server’s console to connect in Minecraft, ensuring your game version matches the server’s setup.

If you need more help joining, check out our detailed help guide for How To Join Your Minecraft Server.

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Adding mods or modpacks

Wanting to add mods? Learn how here.
Looking to add a modpack? Learn how here.
Have a custom modpack you're wanting to add? Learn how here.

For additional help, our Help Center offers step by step guides with images to get you started. If you encounter any issues, our support team is available via LiveChat or Support Ticket for assistance.

Hosting a Minecraft Server on Your Computer

🛑Warning: Hosting a Minecraft server on your own computer requires modifying your home network settings and is not recommended unless you have experience. If you choose to set up a private server, proceed at your own risk.

We do not provide support for home networks or self-hosted servers.

Before you begin:

Install Java
- Make sure Java is installed and up to date on the computer that will host the server, as it is required to run .jar server files. If you need more help with installing Java, check out this link.
Check system requirements
- Ensure your PC meets the minimum requirements for Minecraft: Java Edition, including a compatible operating system and sufficient hardware resources. You can view the full requirements here.

Step 1: Download and Set Up the Server

1. Download the latest Minecraft server .jar file from the official Minecraft site.

2. Create a dedicated folder on your desktop and place the .jar file inside. The example below shows the folder being renamed to MyMCServer.

3. Open the folder in CMD/Terminal by right clicking the folder on your desktop:

4. Launch your server for the first time using the following command:

java -Xmx1024M -Xms1024M -jar server.jar

Here’s what this command does:

java - Tells your computer to run Java.
-Xmx1024M - Sets the maximum RAM the server can use (1GB).
-Xms1024M - Sets the starting RAM allocation (1GB).
-jar server.jar - Runs the Minecraft server file.

💡Note: This example allocates 1GB of RAM. If you want to give your server more memory, adjust the values. For instance, to allocate 5GB, use:
java -Xmx5G -Xms5G -jar server.jar

You may see errors about eula.txt, this is normal. Close the window and go to your servers folder.

5. Find the newly generated .eula.txt file, right click, and open it with your notepad.

6. Change the line: eula=false to eula=true

7. Save the file to confirm your changes.

This step is required to show that you agree to Minecraft’s End User License Agreement before the server can run.

8. If you want to customize your server, open the server.properties file located in your server folder. You can use a text editor like Notepad or a code editor such as Visual Studio Code.

Here are some of the key settings you can adjust:

query.port – The port to forward (default: 25565)
server-ip – The server’s address (leave blank to use your public IP)
gamemode – Sets the default game mode (survival, creative, adventure, or spectator)
spawn-protection – Radius (in blocks) where players cannot break/place blocks near spawn
allow-nether – Enable (true) or disable (false) the Nether
difficulty – Sets the difficulty (peaceful, easy, normal, or hard)
pvp – Enable (true) or disable (false) player-vs-player combat
max-players – Maximum number of players (adjust based on your server’s available RAM)
level-seed – Optional world seed for generating your world
motd – The “Message of the Day” shown in the multiplayer server list

Be sure to save your changes before closing the file. If you don’t, your adjustments will be lost when the server restarts.

For a more detailed view and explanation of all available settings, we recommend checking out the Minecraft Wiki’s server.properties page.

Step 2: Port Forwarding & Public IP Setup

To allow others to join your server, you’ll need to set up port forwarding on your router. By default, Minecraft servers use port 25565, but you can change this in your server.properties file. If you do, make sure the new port number is updated both in the file and in your router’s network settings.

Setting Up Port Forwarding

The exact process depends on your router, so check your manufacturer’s guide for details. In general, you’ll:

1. Log into your router’s settings (often found under Advanced or Network options).

2. Locate the Port Forwarding section.

3. Create a new port forwarding rule with the following details:

Device: Select the PC hosting your Minecraft server
Service Name: Custom
Protocol: TCP and UDP
External Port: 25565 (or your custom port)
Internal Port: 25565 (or your custom port)

Keep in mind layout and settings may vary based on the router.

4. Save your changes and restart your router to ensure the rule takes effect.

Finding Your Public IP

Before players can connect, you’ll need your public IP address, which is used along with your server port (default: 25565) to join the server.

To find it, visit a site like WhatIsMyIP. You'll want to take note of the IPV4 address, this is the one you're going to share.

⚠️ Important: Only share your public IP with people you trust. Publicly exposing it can put your network at risk.

If you prefer not to use your public IP, you can configure a static IP address in your router’s network settings and update your port forwarding rule to match. This ensures your server’s IP won’t change over time.

Step 3: Starting the Server

After everything is set up and configured, it’s time to launch your server.

1. Navigate to the folder where your server.jar file is stored.

2. Right-click the folder and choose to open it with CMD/Terminal, just like in the earlier steps.

3. Run the server start command:

java -Xmx1024M -Xms1024M -jar server.jar

If you want to allocate more memory, change the values. For example, to give the server 5GB of RAM: java -Xmx5G -Xms5G -jar server.jar

4. Once the server starts, a GUI window will open. Here you’ll see performance stats, memory usage, current online players, and console logs. The console also lets you type in commands or view activity when you’re not logged in to the game.

Step 5: Testing the Server

Once your server is online, players can connect using your public IP and port. This is the address they will enter in Minecraft to join your server. For example, If your public IP is 123.45.67.89, then the server address will be:

123.45.67.89:25565

If you’re hosting the server on the same computer you play Minecraft on, you might not be able to join using your public IP. In that case, connect using:

localhost

Joining the Server

1. Open Minecraft and confirm you’re using the same version as your server.

2. From the main menu, select Multiplayer.

3. Click Direct Connect to quickly test your connection.

Once connected, you’ll see yourself listed as a player in the server’s GUI, along with details shown in the console log on the right.

4. If everything works, use Add Server to save it for easier access in the future.

5. Share your server address with friends so they can join. You can stop the server at any time or continue with further configuration.

From the server console, you can run commands and monitor the server while it’s online.

For example, you can use /stop to safely shut down the server, /op <player> to give a player operator permissions, or /whitelist to manage who can join.

The console also shows real-time activity, letting you keep an eye on player actions and server performance.

Expanding Beyond Vanilla

This guide focuses on setting up a Vanilla Minecraft server, but you can also run modded or optimized servers for extra features and improved performance. The basic setup is similar, download the server file for your chosen platform, place it in your server folder, and configure it as outlined above. After that, you can proceed with adding mods if desired.

Server Downloads:

Adding Mods

If you want to add mods to your server, you can find them on popular sites such as CurseForge or Modrinth. When setting up mods, ensure they are compatible with your server version and mod loader.

⚠️Important: Some mods, like shaders, are client-side only and should not be installed on the server, as this can prevent the server from starting. Here’s a helpful article on common client-side mods to watch out for.

Any mod installed on the server must also be installed on the client of every player joining the server, along with the correct game version and mod loader. Otherwise, players may experience connection issues.

Adding Plugins

If you want to add plugins to your server, you can find them on sites like Spigot, CurseForge, and Modrinth. Make sure the plugin is compatible with your server’s game version. Plugins may require extra setup, so always follow the instructions on the plugin’s support page.

Once installed, plugins only need to be configured on the server—players simply join using the correct game version.

Minecraft Server FAQ

1. Can I create a Minecraft server for free?

Yes! You can technically host a Minecraft server on your own computer at no cost, using the official Minecraft: Java Edition server file. But there are a few things to keep in mind:

Your PC and internet connection will need to stay on anytime you want the server online.
Performance will be limited by your hardware.
You’ll need to handle port forwarding, updates, and security yourself.

We recommend using a hosting provider like us at SimpleGameHosting if you want a reliable, always-online server with no headaches.

2. How do I make a server in Minecraft to play with friends?

You have two main options. Self-hosting or using a hosting provider.

Self-Hosting:

Download the official Minecraft: Java Edition server .jar file.
Put it in a dedicated folder on your computer.
Agree to the EULA and configure the server.properties file.
Set up port forwarding on your router for port 25565 (or whichever port you choose).
Share your public IP and port with your friends so they can join.

Using SimpleGameHosting:

Determine the amount of RAM you needed and choose your package.
Pick your platform (Java or Bedrock), server software (Vanilla, Paper, Purpur, etc.), and RAM.
Complete the setup. We take care of port forwarding, uptime, and security.
Share your server address with friends and start playing! You can also customize your server by adding mods, modpacks, or plugins to enhance gameplay and features.

We make it easy, so you don’t have to worry about technical networking or hardware.

3. How much does it cost to make my own Minecraft server?

It depends on how you host it:

Self-Hosted
- The main cost is just your PC and a Minecraft license. You’ll also need a stable internet connection and maybe a static IP if you want your server to stay accessible.
Hosting with us
- Our servers start at just $10/month for a small setup, and you can easily scale up based on RAM, player slots, and additional server features as your needs grow.

4. Can Java and Bedrock players play together?

Yes! With GeyserMC, Bedrock players can join a Java Edition server. To make it even easier, you can use Floodgate so Bedrock players don’t need a Java account.

Keep in mind that performance may vary depending on the number of mods, plugins, and your server’s hardware.

We also have an indepth guide for How To Enable Crossplay with Geyser on Your SimpleGameHosting Minecraft Server.

5. How much RAM do I need for a Minecraft server?

The amount of RAM your server needs depends on several factors, including the number of players, the size of your world, and whether you’re using mods or plugins.

Vanilla servers: 2–4 GB is typically sufficient, though worlds with large farms, redstone contraptions, or heavy builds may require more.
Modded/Plugin servers: 4–6 GB is generally recommended, but this can vary depending on the number of mods/plugins and players.
Modpacks: 6 GB or more may be necessary. Refer to the modpack’s specific recommendations for optimal RAM allocation.

Proper RAM allocation helps prevent lag, crashes, and lost progress, ensuring a smoother experience for you and your players. We have a detailed RAM Calculator Help Article that can help you pick the perfect setup for your server.

6. Can anyone host a Minecraft server?

Yes! Anyone can host a server, but there are a few things to consider:

Technical Skills: You need to know how to install Java, configure the server, and set up port forwarding if self-hosting.
Hardware Requirements: Your computer must meet minimum requirements for Minecraft.
Internet Stability: A stable connection with enough upload bandwidth is important for multiple players.

That’s why we recommend using SimpleGameHosting. We handle the technical setup, uptime, and security for you, so you can focus on building your world and playing with friends.