Updated 25 October 2026. Facts on this page come from minecraft.wiki, minecraft.net and the live Artemis PvP server; sources are listed at the bottom.
How to Port Forward a Minecraft Server (Port 25565)
To let friends outside your home join your Minecraft server, forward port 25565 (TCP) on your router to the local IP of the computer running the server, allow Java through your firewall, then give friends your public IP address. Bedrock servers use port 19132 over UDP instead. Hosting companies and Realms skip all of this.
How do you port forward step by step?
- Find the server computer's local IP (for example 192.168.1.20): on Windows run
ipconfigand read the IPv4 address. Give it a fixed (static or reserved) address in your router so it does not change. - Log in to your router (often 192.168.0.1 or 192.168.1.1 in a browser) and open the Port Forwarding, Virtual Server or NAT section.
- Add a rule: port 25565, protocol TCP/UDP (or Both), to the local IP. For Bedrock Dedicated Server use 19132 UDP (and 19133 for IPv6).
- Allow Java (or the Bedrock server) through the Windows firewall when it asks, or add the rule by hand.
- Start the server and have a friend connect to your public IP, which any "what is my IP" site shows.
Why can't my friends connect?
- The rule points at the wrong local IP, or the computer's IP changed after a restart.
- The firewall blocks Java, or the server is not running.
- Your internet provider uses CGNAT (shared public IPs), so forwarding cannot work; ask for a public IP or use a host.
- Inside your own network, connect with localhost or the local IP; your public IP may not work from inside on some routers.
- The server-port in server.properties is not 25565; see server.properties.
More fixes: server connection errors.
Is port forwarding safe?
Forwarding one port only exposes that program, but anyone with your IP can try to join, so turn on the whitelist, keep the server updated, and never forward ports you do not need. Since Java 26.3 new servers start with the whitelist on. See whitelist and operators.
Is there an easier way?
Yes: Realms is Mojang's paid server with no setup, Open to LAN works for players in the same house, and server hosts run the machine for you. See Minecraft Realms, LAN worlds and how to make a server.
Do you need to port forward to play on ArtemisPvP?
Frequently asked questions
What port does Minecraft use?
Java servers use TCP 25565 by default; Bedrock servers use UDP 19132.
Do I need to port forward for LAN?
No. Open to LAN works without forwarding for players on the same network.
Sources
Every fact on this page was checked against these pages; the wording is ours.