How to Set Up a Minecraft Server: Complete Step-by-Step Guide

Running your own Minecraft server gives you full control over gameplay, mods, and who joins your world. Whether you want a private survival world for friends or a public server with custom plugins, this guide walks you through the entire setup process.

What You Need Before Starting

Before setting up your Minecraft server, make sure you have:

• A computer or VPS with at least 4GB RAM (8GB recommended for 10+ players)
• Java 17 or newer (Minecraft 1.17+ requires newer Java versions)
• A stable internet connection with upload speed of at least 5 Mbps
• Basic command line knowledge (not scary, we will explain everything)

Step 1: Install Java

Minecraft servers run on Java, so you need to install it first.

For Windows:

1. Visit java.com and download the latest Java Runtime Environment
2. Run the installer and follow the prompts
3. Verify installation by opening Command Prompt and typing: java -version

For Linux (Ubuntu/Debian):

sudo apt update
sudo apt install openjdk-17-jre-headless

For Linux (CentOS/RHEL):

sudo yum install java-17-openjdk

Step 2: Create a Server Folder

Create a dedicated folder for your Minecraft server. This keeps everything organized.

1. Create a new folder named MinecraftServer
2. Place this folder in a location with plenty of storage space (games save data)
3. Avoid folders like Desktop or Documents - these can cause issues

Step 3: Download Server Software

You have several options for server software. Here are the most popular:

Vanilla Minecraft Server

The basic Minecraft experience with no modifications. Download from the official Minecraft download page.

Spigot

A optimized fork of Vanilla with better performance and plugin support. Download from SpigotMC.org.

Paper

Built on Spigot, Paper offers even better performance and more configuration options. Recommended for most modded servers. Download from PaperMC.io.

Purpur

The most optimized option, built on Paper with additional tweaks for maximum performance. Great for large servers. Download from PurpurMC.org.

Download the .jar file and place it in your server folder.

Step 4: Create the Start Script

You need a script to launch the server. Create a new text file named start.bat (Windows) or start.sh (Linux).

Windows (start.bat):

@echo off
java -Xmx4G -Xms2G -jar server.jar nogui
pause

Replace 4G with the amount of RAM you want to allocate and server.jar with your actual filename.

Linux (start.sh):

#!/bin/sh
java -Xmx4G -Xms2G -jar server.jar nogui

Make it executable:

chmod +x start.sh

Step 5: Configure server.properties

The first time you run the server, it will create a server.properties file. Open this file with a text editor to configure your server.

Key settings you should change:

server-port=25565
max-players=20
level-name=world
gamemode=survival
difficulty=normal
online-mode=true

Explanation of Important Settings:

• server-port: The port players use to connect (default 25565)
• max-players: Maximum number of players allowed
• level-name: The name of your world folder
• gamemode: survival, creative, adventure, or spectator
• difficulty: peaceful, easy, normal, or hard
• online-mode: Set to true to require premium Minecraft accounts

Step 6: Accept the EULA

When you first run the server, it will create an eula.txt file. Open it and change eula=false to eula=true. This accepts the Minecraft End User License Agreement.

Step 7: Port Forwarding (For Home Servers)

If you are hosting the server on your home computer (not a VPS), you need to forward port 25565 so players can connect from outside your network.

1. Log into your router (usually at 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1)
2. Find the "Port Forwarding" or "Virtual Server" section
3. Create a new rule:
   • External Port: 25565
   • Internal Port: 25565
   • Protocol: TCP
   • Internal IP: Your computer's local IP address
4. Save the rule and restart your router

You can find your local IP by typing ipconfig (Windows) or ip addr (Linux) in command line.

Step 8: Start the Server

Double-click your start script or run it from command line:

./start.sh

The server will take a minute or two to start. You will see console output showing the server status. Once you see "Done" in the console, your server is ready.

Step 9: Connect to Your Server

For Players on Your Network:

Open Minecraft, click Multiplayer, click Add Server, and enter:

• Server Name: Whatever you want
• Server Address: localhost (if on the same computer) or your local IP (if on the same network)

For Players Outside Your Network:

Players need your public IP address. Find it by visiting whatismyip.com.

Give them this address: your-public-ip:25565

For VPS Hosting:

Players connect directly to your VPS IP address on port 25565.

Step 10: Basic Server Commands

Once the server is running, you can use these commands in the console:

• stop - Safely shutdown the server
• kick [player] - Remove a player from the server
• ban [player] - Ban a player
• op [player] - Give a player operator status
• whitelist on - Enable whitelist
• whitelist add [player] - Add player to whitelist

Optimizing Your Server Performance

A few quick tips to improve server performance:

1. Allocate RAM properly: Set -Xmx to half your available RAM
2. Use Paper or Purpur: These builds offer better performance than Vanilla
3. Limit view distance: Set view-distance in server.properties to 8-10
4. Remove laggy plugins: Test plugins individually to find performance issues
5. Use SSD storage: HDD drives cause significant lag on busy servers

Should You Host Yourself or Use a VPS?

Hosting at home works for small servers with a few friends, but comes with limitations:

• Your home internet upload speed limits player capacity
• Your IP address is exposed to players
• Your computer must stay running 24/7
• Power outages or internet issues take the server offline

For anything beyond a few friends, a VPS or dedicated game server hosting is the better choice. Providers like DoomHosting offer optimized Minecraft server hosting with DDoS protection, 99.9% uptime, and professional support.

Ready to Launch Your Server?

Setting up a Minecraft server is straightforward when you follow these steps. Take your time with configuration, test with friends first, and gradually add plugins or mods as you get comfortable.

If you want to skip the technical setup and get straight to playing, consider professional Minecraft server hosting. It handles all the infrastructure so you can focus on building and playing with your community.

Rent a Minecraft Server - Instant setup, DDoS protection, and 24/7 support. Use code SAVE20 for 20% off your first month.