Updated 24 October 2026. Every answer lists its source.
Hosting your own Minecraft server, answered
Running your own server, step by step: what to download, how to start it, how friends connect, and the settings and add-ons people ask about most.
How do you host your own Minecraft server?
Download the free server software from minecraft.net, run it once with Java, accept the EULA, then run it again and let friends connect.
For friends outside your home you also need port forwarding (TCP 25565 on Java). Renting a Realm or a hosting company skips that part.
Source: Minecraft Wiki - Setting up a Java Edition server, minecraft.net - Server
Is it free to host a Minecraft server?
Yes. The official server software for Java and Bedrock is free. You only pay if you rent hosting or a Realm.
Running it at home costs only your own computer, power and internet upload speed.
What version of Java do you need for a Minecraft server?
Minecraft 26.1 and newer need Java 25. Versions 1.20.5 to 1.21.11 need Java 21. Older versions run on older Java.
Newer Java can usually run older Minecraft, but not the other way round. A version that is too new for your Java fails to start with an "unsupported class version" error.
Source: Minecraft Wiki - Setting up a Java Edition server, Minecraft Wiki - Java Edition 26.1
What is the Minecraft server EULA?
It is Mojang's license agreement for servers. The first run makes eula.txt; change eula=false to eula=true to accept it and start the server.
Source: Minecraft Wiki - Setting up a Java Edition server, Minecraft Wiki - Server.jar, minecraft.net - Eula
Can you run a Minecraft server on the same PC you play on?
Yes. You can run the server and the game on one computer and join with the address localhost.
Both share the computer's memory and CPU, so give the server only what you can spare.
How much RAM should I give my Minecraft server?
About 2 GB is plenty for a small vanilla server with a few friends. Add more for more players, a bigger view distance or mods.
The -Xmx flag sets the maximum, for example -Xmx4G for 4 GB. Giving a server far more than it needs does not make it faster.
Can you host a Minecraft server on a Mac or Linux?
Yes. The Java server runs anywhere Java runs: Windows, macOS and Linux. Bedrock Dedicated Server runs on Windows and Linux.
Source: Minecraft Wiki - Setting up a Java Edition server, Minecraft Wiki - Bedrock Dedicated Server
Can you host a Minecraft server on a Raspberry Pi?
Yes, the Java server runs on a recent Raspberry Pi with enough memory. It suits a few players and a short view distance.
What is port forwarding for a Minecraft server?
Port forwarding tells your router to send outside traffic on one port to your server PC, so friends on the internet can join.
Java uses TCP port 25565 by default. Bedrock uses UDP port 19132 (19133 for IPv6). Each router has its own settings page for this.
Source: Minecraft Wiki - Setting up a Java Edition server, Minecraft Wiki - Bedrock Dedicated Server
What IP do friends use to join my Minecraft server?
Friends on your Wi-Fi use your PC's local IP. Friends elsewhere use your public IP, after you forward the port.
If you changed the port from 25565, add it after a colon, for example 203.0.113.5:25570.
How do you join your own Minecraft server?
On the same computer, add a server with the address localhost. From another device at home, use the host PC's local IP.
Can you host a Minecraft server without port forwarding?
Yes, with a VPN-style tunnel, a hosting company or a Realm. Without one of these, only players on your own network can join.
Is it safe to port forward for Minecraft?
It opens one port to the internet. Keep the server updated, keep online-mode on and use a whitelist for a private server.
Anyone who knows your public IP can try to connect, and your public IP is visible to them.
How do you get a domain name for your Minecraft server?
Buy a domain and point a DNS record (an A record, or an SRV record for a custom port) at your server's IP.
Source: Minecraft Wiki - Server
What is server.properties?
It is the settings file of a Java server: game mode, difficulty, player limit, port, whitelist, view distance and more. Edit it while the server is stopped.
How do you change the max players on a Minecraft server?
Set max-players= in server.properties (default 20) and restart the server.
How do you change a Minecraft server's MOTD?
Edit motd= in server.properties. The default is "A Minecraft Server". Color codes with the section sign are supported.
How do you change the difficulty on a Minecraft server?
Set difficulty= in server.properties (peaceful, easy, normal or hard), or type /difficulty in the console.
How do you make a hardcore Minecraft server?
Set hardcore=true in server.properties before the world is created. Players who die become spectators.
Source: Minecraft Wiki - Server.properties, Minecraft Wiki - Hardcore
How do you change the seed of a Minecraft server?
Set level-seed= in server.properties and generate a new world, for example by changing level-name= to a new folder name.
The seed only applies when a world is created. Changing it does not change an existing world.
How do you turn off PvP on a Minecraft server?
On Java 1.21.9+, run /gamerule pvp false. Before 1.21.9 it was pvp=false in server.properties.
Source: Minecraft Wiki - Server.properties, Minecraft Wiki - Game rule
How do you turn on command blocks on a server?
On Java 1.21.11+ use the game rule command_blocks_work (commandBlocksEnabled in 1.21.9-1.21.10). Before 1.21.9 it was enable-command-block=true in server.properties.
Source: Minecraft Wiki - Server.properties, Minecraft Wiki - Game rule
Is the whitelist on by default on a Minecraft server?
Yes, since Java 26.3 new servers start with white-list=true. Older versions started with it off.
Operators are always allowed in. Add friends with /whitelist add Name.
How do you allow flying on a Minecraft server?
Set allow-flight=true in server.properties. Otherwise the server can kick players who fly in Survival with mods.
What does view-distance do on a server?
It sets how many chunks around each player the server sends. The default is 10. Lower it if the server lags.
simulation-distance (also 10 by default) sets how far mobs and crops keep working.
How do you change the server port?
Set server-port= in server.properties. Friends then join with your address followed by a colon and the port.
What does spawn-protection do?
It stops non-operators from breaking blocks near the world spawn. The default radius is 16. Set it to 0 to turn it off.
What does online-mode do in server.properties?
With online-mode=true the server checks every player's account with Mojang. Turning it off lets unchecked (cracked) accounts in, which is unsafe.
How do you op yourself on your own server?
Type op YourName in the server console. Operators can then use commands in game.
Operator levels range from 1 to 4. Ops are listed in ops.json.
Source: Minecraft Wiki - Op, Minecraft Wiki - Server.properties
How do you stop a Minecraft server safely?
Type stop in the console. The server saves the world and shuts down. Closing the window can lose recent changes.
Source: Minecraft Wiki - Stop
How do you back up a Minecraft server?
Stop the server, then copy the world folder somewhere safe. On a live server, run save-off and save-all first, copy, then save-on.
Source: Minecraft Wiki - Save
How do you update a Minecraft server?
Back up the world, replace the server file with the new version and start it. The world converts to the new version on load.
You cannot go back to an older version safely after a world opens in a newer one, which is why the backup matters.
How do you add a server icon?
Put a 64 by 64 pixel PNG named server-icon.png in the server folder and restart. It shows in the server list.
Source: Minecraft Wiki - Server
Why does my Minecraft server say "Failed to bind to port"?
Another program, often another copy of the server, is already using that port. Close it or change server-port.
Why does my server keep lagging?
Usually too many entities, big farms or a high view distance. Lower view-distance, check TPS and give enough RAM.
Source: Minecraft Wiki - Server.properties, Minecraft Wiki - Tick
How do you add plugins to a Minecraft server?
Run Paper or Spigot, drop the plugin .jar into the plugins folder and restart. Plugins do not work on the vanilla server.
Source: docs.papermc.io - Adding plugins
How do you add mods to a Minecraft server?
Run a mod loader server such as Fabric, NeoForge or Forge, put the mods in the mods folder, and give every player the same mods.
Source: Minecraft Wiki - Mods
Can a server have both plugins and mods?
Not with the standard software. Some community builds try to load both, but plugins need Bukkit-style servers and mods need a mod loader.
How do you host a Bedrock server?
Download Bedrock Dedicated Server from minecraft.net, unzip it and run it. Players connect on UDP port 19132.
It runs on Windows and Linux. Console players can only join outside servers with workarounds, because consoles list featured servers only.
Source: Minecraft Wiki - Bedrock Dedicated Server, minecraft.net - Bedrock
How do you make a Minecraft server for free with friends?
Host it yourself on your PC, use LAN for friends at home, or use a free hosting site. Realms has a free 30-day trial.
What is a hosting company for Minecraft?
A hosting company runs your server on its own machines for a monthly fee, with a control panel to change settings and upload worlds.
Source: Minecraft Wiki - Server
More questions
Every topic is on the FAQ hub. Questions about the ArtemisPvP server itself (commands, ranks, events) are on the server FAQ. Server IP: play.artemispvp.com.