How to make a Minecraft Server on Windows, Mac, or Linux

This article will show you how to make a Minecraft server from start to finish.

As of February 2023, Minecraft has sold an incredible 232 million copies, making it the number one most popular video game worldwide.

Minecraft possesses a much richer dimension than simply being a game. It is also a way to instruct children in coding; an open platform to be augmented by modders; and the main focus of a large international group of creators. 1, 2 and 3

If you want to get the complete Minecraft experience, you can go the extra mile and set up your own private Minecraft server. With a private server, you can develop a Minecraft world that is all your own.

This piece will provide an outline on how to construct a Minecraft server on a Windows PC, Mac, and Linux hosting plan. It’s essential to remember that the costing mentioned in this article is accurate as of its publication.

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How to make a Minecraft Server: A Step-by-Step Guide

In broad terms, the process of setting up a Minecraft server on Windows involves a few basic steps:

If you’re using a Mac, you can find a guide on creating a Minecraft server here. If you’d prefer to use your own Linux server, you can find instructions here.

Before you get started, here are a few ideas to consider:

To get a server running, one must have an understanding of the technical side. A certain level of expertise is necessary in order to correctly set up a Minecraft server.

In order to properly manage any server, it is important to possess a basic knowledge of computer and networking basics.

To set up a Minecraft server you should be knowledgeable in the areas of:

• Making use of the command line
• Understanding the ins and outs of IPs, DHCP, and ports
• About your system’s setup
• Applying to your network setup
• Applying to your router setup (for home environments)

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We have seen a shift in the way people interact with each other and with the world around them. Minecraft uses technology that has allowed us to explore the world in ways we never thought possible. It has provided us with unprecedented opportunities to learn and grow. Technology is continuing to change our lives and our society in a variety of ways.

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Is it possible to host a Minecraft server from one’s own home?

To run a Minecraft server, a desktop computer is the perfect system, and it doesn’t have to be the most advanced.

If you wish to run a Minecraft server and play the game on the same computer, you will require a device with increased power.

For your server, it is recommended that you opt for a wired ethernet connection instead of wireless. This will provide a more dependable connection.

Are there any other options if you don’t want your Minecraft server to be hosted in your own residence?

Note: If you set up a Minecraft server; By running a server from the confines your home, the household network is now exposed to the public.

If you don’t fancy taking any chances, then you could go with a hosting provider. This option requires a monthly or annual fee, however, you won’t have to worry about the upkeep of the server hardware.

If you’re just beginning, an ELITEWEB.Co Virtual Private Server could be a suitable choice. Take into account though that you’ll be sharing the hardware with other users, so monitor consumption of resources. A more cost effective server when starting out would be to use web hosting plus.

For those who need more power and are looking to accommodate a larger number of gamers, a bare metal dedicated server would be a much better option.

Creating a Minecraft server on a Windows computer is achievable by doing the following:

Jump to a step!

1. Install Java
2. Save the files of your Minecraft server.
3. Download & Launch the Minecraft server program.
4. Set up port forwarding on the router.
5. Start the Minecraft server.

1. Download the most recent iteration of Java.

To update Java, the Control Panel in Windows must be opened. Then, in the Programs section, select Java and click on the Update Now option.

In a command prompt, type java -version and the version number should appear.

It is possible to get the latest version of Java from its official website, in case it is not already installed on your device.

2. Pick a spot to save the files of your Minecraft server.

Prior to obtaining the Minecraft server program, select a spot on your computer where you would prefer to operate the server.

The server should generate a series of configuration files when it is first run. To avoid any confusion, it is recommended to keep these files in their own separate folder.

It is completely up to you where to put this folder, whether it is on the Desktop, in your Documents, in your Programs folder, or in any other location.

3. Obtain and launch the Minecraft server program.

Head on to the Minecraft website to get the server software. The file is a Java .jar, so make sure to save it in the spot designated earlier.

Begin the server by double-clicking the .jar file. This will generate the configuration files that must be fine-tuned prior to using the server.

Agree to the EULA: A document named eula.txt was generated. Open the file in a text editing program and alter eula=false to eula=true. If you don’t accept the EULA, you won’t be able to launch the Minecraft server.

If you come across an error that reads “Can’t save server properties”, try running Minecraft server as an administrator. To do this, right click the .jar file and select “Run as administrator”.

4. Set up port forwarding on the router.

It is important to be aware that port forwarding can pose a potential security risk.

For those who are merely hosting a game server for players within their local network, there is no need to think about port forwarding. Nevertheless, if you intend to make your server available to the public, you will need to allow port forwarding on your router. For more information about port forwarding, check out PortForward.com for tutorials.

To properly configure port forwarding for your router, refer to the device’s documentation. The TCP port 25565 needs to be opened up for Minecraft.

To set up your forwarding port, you must input the local IP address of your server as the Output IP or Server IP. To determine what this address is, you can open a command prompt and type in ipconfig.

5. Begin the Minecraft server.

To commence the Minecraft server, the Windows command prompt should be opened.

Go to the location where the Minecraft server file (e.g. “minecraft_server.1.12.2.jar”) was saved.

To initiate the server, use this command:

This command will run the server file: java -Xmx1024M -Xms1024M -jar {server file name} nogui

The {server file name} must be substituted with the correct title.

If you would prefer to utilize the server’s graphical user interface, do not include the “nogui” argument.

The command line argument -Xmx1024M -Xms1024M -jar {server file name} can be entered to run a Java program.

You can also make a .bat file to group the commands together.

Once the server is operational, you can invite people to join by giving them your local IP address if they’re in your home network, or your external/public IP address if they’re not.

6. Establishing a link to the server

These steps need to be followed to join your server by players:

1. In Minecraft, choose “multiplayer”.
2. Then press “add server”.
3. Type in the desired server name.
4. Enter your IP address, accompanied by the port 25565. You can obtain your public IP by Googling “my ip address”. If you have an IPv6 address, make sure to encase it in brackets [].
5. Hit “done”.
6. Your Minecraft client should now be connected to the server, and other players will be able to click “join server”.

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To determine if any issues exist, utilize the Minecraft Server Status Checker to input your public IP address and check your server’s accessibility.

It is possible to set up a Minecraft server on a Mac computer

Find a specific step:

1. Download or update Java
2. Save the files of your Minecraft server.
3. Download and run the Minecraft server program.
4. Set up port forwarding on the router you are using.
5. Start the Minecraft Server.

1. Ensure that Java is present on your device.

If you have a newer MacOS, Java is pre-installed. For people running an older OS X, you must acquire the legacy version of Java from the Apple website. This can be done by following the link.

2. Decide on a spot to save the files of your Minecraft server.

You have the option to make a folder containing your Minecraft server files wherever you’d like; for instance, on your desktop or folder of your choice. The decision is yours.

3. Obtain the Minecraft server program.

Obtain the server software from the Minecraft website. It will be in the form of a Java .jar file. Store it in the directory you specified in the preceding step.

Using TextEdit, select the “Plain Text” format. Then, type in the following:

#!/bin/bash to begin the script.

Navigate to the directory containing the present script by using “$(dirname “$0″)”.

Run the Java program with a memory allocation of 1GB for both minimum and maximum memory, without a graphical user interface, by executing the command java -Xms1G -Xmx1G -jar {server file name} nogui.

Replacing {server file name} should be done with the appropriate name of the server file.

Create a file you will name ‘start.command’ and place it in the directory that contains the server’s .jar file.

In order for the start.command file to be executable, open the Terminal and type chmod a+x, leaving a space afterwards. Then drag and drop the start.command file into the Terminal window and hit the Enter key.

4. Activate port forwarding on the router you are using.

Be advised: There is a potential security hazard in port forwarding.

When you want to make your server available to anyone outside of your local network, you need to enable port forwarding on your router. For further information on how to do this, PortForward.com provides useful tutorials. If you are only allowing players on your local network, you do not need to worry about port forwarding.

Consult your router’s manual in order to obtain the necessary instructions to configure port forwarding for your appliance. If you are looking to use Minecraft, you’ll need to forward TCP port 25565.

To correctly configure your router, you’ll need to input the local IP address of your server as the Output IP or Server IP. To figure out this address, open the Terminal and type in ifconfig. This will tell the router which device to point the port to.

5. Fire up the Minecraft Server.

In step 3, initiate the “start.command” file by double clicking it. This will open up a Terminal window and it is natural to observe error messages the first time you run the server.

When the server is activated, people can access your server either through your internal IP address if they’re on the same home network, or your external/public IP address if they’re not.

To have people join your server, have them undertake these steps.

Set up a Minecraft server on Linux Operating System

See below for the steps:

1. Update or download Java for your Minecraft Server.
2. Save the files associated with your Minecraft server.
3. Download the files for the Minecraft server.
4. Start your Minecraft server.
5. Pair a domain name with your Minecraft server.

Rather than having to manage the hardware yourself, if you don’t prefer to have a Minecraft server in your own home, you can simply rent a Linux-based hosting plan instead. This will provide an extra layer of security since you won’t be exposing your personal network to the public.

If you’re just starting out or don’t anticipate many people joining your server, a Linux VPS hosting plan from The Elite Web Co. would be a suitable choice. On the other hand, if you’re expecting a sizable number of players, it’s best to use a dedicated Linux server.

In order to carry out these steps, you’ll need to get connected to your hosting using SSH. (If the procedure is unfamiliar to you, the Help article here has the information you need.)

1. Get Java set up for your Minecraft Server.

When logging into your server as the root user, execute this command:

Searching the apt-cache for the openjdk package.

The following will display the different OpenJDK packages that can be used to install Java. To illustrate, we will choose openjdk-7-jdk which is the OpenJDK 7 Development Kit.

Refresh the list of packages offered from the external sources:

Updating one’s system with apt-get can be done by running the command update

After choosing the software package, proceed to install it.

To download and set up the openjdk-7-jdk, the command apt-get install openjdk-7-jdk should be used.

Upon being asked, press “Y” to grant the necessary storage capacity for the setup. After that, ensure that Java has been properly installed:

To check the version of Java, use the command java -version.

It is necessary to view the most recently installed Java version.

2. Establish a spot to house the files associated with your Minecraft server.

Set up a folder on your host computer to save the Minecraft server files, then switch to that folder.

I created a directory named “minecraft”.

To access the game of Minecraft, one needs to open the directory.

3. Obtain the files for the Minecraft server.

To acquire the Minecraft server files, utilize the wget command inside the directory of Minecraft.

Retrieve the file named “minecraft_server.jar” from the website “https://s3.amazonaws.com/Minecraft.Download/versions/1.12.2/minecraft_server.1.12.2.jar” using the command “wget -O minecraft_server.jar”.

Verify the URL of the latest version of Minecraft by visiting the download page.

To make sure your server continues to operate when you aren’t logged in, you have to install and initiate “screen”:

Using the command-line, one can install the package ‘screen’ through the ‘yum’ program.

A display device is used to view images, text, and video.

4. Initiate your Minecraft server.

Using the command line, run java -Xmx512M -Xms512M -jar minecraft_server.jar without the graphical interface.

You can modify the -Xmx and -Xms settings to regulate the memory given to the Minecraft server. As an example, you could type -Xmx1G -Xmx1G to raise it to 1GB of RAM. The quantity of available memory is contingent on your hosting plan.

In order to ensure the system is working properly, cease your server with the following:

Cease all activity!

Alter the “server.properties” file to include the following:

Set the query to “on” by using the command enable-query=true.

Once you have saved the “server.properties” file and restarted the server, use the Minecraft Server Status Checker to test if your server IP address is publicly accessible.

5. Associate a domain name with your Minecraft server.

Making it simpler for individuals to join your Minecraft server can be achieved by giving players a domain name that is easy to remember, rather than a complex IP address.

Making the change to your domain’s DNS records is an easy process. Just add an “A” record, either with “@” as the hostname if it is for the domain or a subdomain, such as “mc”, if it is for a subdomain, which links to the IP address of your Minecraft server.

It should be noted that it could take up to around 24 hours for DNS modifications to be visible worldwide.

If you don’t know how to modify DNS records, this Help article can guide you through adding an A record.

Supplemental aids for overseeing the set up of a Minecraft server

Just the beginning steps have been taken to create a Minecraft server of your own. The following are a few sources that investigate more into the setting up, running, and advertising of the server:

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