How to start a Minecraft server

Running your own Minecraft server is easier than it looks. The hard part isn't the setup, which takes an evening, but keeping the server stable and giving people a reason to stay. This guide covers both: the technical steps first, then how to find players.

1. Hosting or your own computer

The first decision is where the server will run. There are three realistic options.

Your own computer

Free, and fine for playing with a few friends. The server runs only while your computer is on, your home upload speed limits how many players can join smoothly, and you need to open a port on your router (see networking). It also shares your home IP address with everyone who joins, which matters if your server becomes public.

Minecraft hosting

The easiest choice for a public server. You rent a server with a control panel where you pick the software, upload plugins and restart with a click. The host takes care of the hardware, DDoS protection and a fixed address. Compare plans by RAM, CPU single-core speed and the location of the data centre: pick one close to most of your players for lower ping.

VPS or dedicated server

A virtual or physical Linux machine you control completely. It's the most flexible and often the cheapest per gigabyte of RAM, but you install Java, set up backups, a firewall and automatic restarts yourself. Worth it when you run several servers behind a proxy or know your way around Linux.

2. How much RAM you need

RAM is the number hosts advertise most, and the one people most often overbuy. Use the table below as a starting point for a Paper server and for a modded server. The CPU matters just as much: Minecraft runs most of the world on a single thread, so a fast core beats many slow ones.

Large modpacks can need 8 GB before a single player joins, so check the pack's recommendation. Giving a server far more memory than it needs doesn't make it faster and can make garbage-collection pauses longer. If the server lags, look at the CPU, view distance and entity counts before adding RAM.

3. Choose your server software

• Paper is the default choice for public servers. It runs Bukkit and Spigot plugins, is much faster than the vanilla server and fixes many exploits.
• Purpur is built on Paper and adds hundreds of extra configuration options, such as rideable mobs or tweaks to game mechanics. Use it if you want to change how the game plays.
• Fabric is a lightweight mod loader. Choose it for modded gameplay or performance mods. NeoForge is the other big mod loader, used by many large modpacks.
• Vanilla, Mojang's own server, is fine for a small private world but supports neither plugins nor mods.
• Velocity isn't a game server but a proxy that connects several servers (for example a lobby, survival and minigames) under one address.

Plugins and mods don't mix on the same server, so decide early which way you want to go.

4. Set it up

1. Install Java. Current Minecraft versions need Java 21. Hosting panels handle this for you.
2. Download the server jar from the official site of your chosen software, put it in an empty folder and start it once with a command such as java -Xms4G -Xmx4G -jar paper.jar --nogui.
3. Accept the EULA by changing eula=false to eula=true in eula.txt, then start the server again.
4. Edit server.properties: set the motd players see in their server list, max-players, difficulty, and a view-distance of 8–10 to keep performance steady.
5. Pre-generate the world with a plugin like Chunky, so new chunks don't cause lag when players explore.
6. Add a server icon: a 64×64 PNG named server-icon.png in the server folder. It shows up in the Multiplayer list and on server lists.

5. Networking and port 25565

Java Edition servers listen on TCP port 25565 by default. On hosting, the port is already open and you get an address. At home you need to:

• give your computer a fixed local IP address in the router settings;
• forward TCP port 25565 to that address (look for "port forwarding" or "virtual server" in your router);
• allow Java through your operating system's firewall.

Instead of sharing a bare IP, buy a cheap domain and point it at the server, so the address stays the same if you move hosts. If you use a port other than 25565, players must add it after a colon (for example play.example.com:25566), or you can hide it with an SRV DNS record.

6. Security basics

• Use a whitelist while you build. Run /whitelist on and add your team until the server is ready to open.
• Keep online-mode=true unless you know exactly why you're turning it off. It verifies every player's account with Mojang. A server with it disabled needs an authentication plugin, or anyone can join under any name, including yours.
• Give operator status sparingly. Use a permissions plugin such as LuckPerms to give staff only the commands they need.
• Install anti-grief protection such as CoreProtect, so you can see who broke what and roll it back.
• Back up automatically, and keep copies somewhere other than the server itself. Test a restore at least once.
• Download plugins only from trusted sources such as Hangar, Modrinth or SpigotMC, and keep the server and plugins up to date.

7. Get your first players

An empty server is the hardest one to grow, because new players leave when nobody else is around. A few habits help:

• Start with a core group. Invite friends and schedule a launch time, so the first visitors find people online.
• Make the first five minutes count. A clear spawn, a short tutorial or a sign with rules and commands, and a quick way to start playing.
• Describe the server precisely. "Survival with economy and land claims, 1.21, no pay-to-win" says more than "the best server ever".
• Set up a Discord for announcements, suggestions and support, and link it in your MOTD.
• Reward votes. Players who vote push you up the rankings. Our vote API lets a plugin give them in-game rewards.
• Listen and keep updating. Regular events and visible changes give people a reason to come back.

8. Add your server to MCServerScout

Once the server is online and reachable, add it to the list. It's free and needs no account. We'll check the status every few minutes, build player charts, assign game modes such as survival automatically, and give you a live banner for your website or Discord.

Common questions

How much RAM does a Minecraft server need?

A Paper server with plugins needs about 2–4 GB for up to 10 players, 4–6 GB for up to 30 and 6–10 GB for up to 60. Modded servers need roughly half as much again. Large worlds, many farms and high view distance push these numbers up.

Can I host a Minecraft server for free?

Yes, on your own computer. It only runs while the computer is on, your upload speed limits how many people can play, and you have to forward port 25565 on your router. Free hosting plans exist but usually have little RAM and pause the server when nobody is online.

Which server software should I use?

Paper for most servers with plugins, Purpur if you want extra gameplay options on top of Paper, and Fabric (or NeoForge) if you want mods. Vanilla is fine for a few friends but has no plugin support and runs slower.

What port does a Minecraft server use?

Java Edition servers use TCP port 25565 by default. If you use a different port, players have to add it to the address after a colon, for example play.example.com:25566.

How do I get my first players?

Start with friends, add your server to server lists, set up a Discord, reward players for voting and give the server a clear, specific description. A small, active community grows faster than a big, empty one.