What you need to start a Minecraft server

A Minecraft server is a computer that runs the game and lets other players connect to the same world. You can run a server on your own machine, rent one from a hosting company, or use Minecraft Realms, which is a subscription service built into the game. The easiest route for most people is Realms because it requires almost no setup — you pay a monthly fee and Minecraft handles everything behind the scenes. If you want more control or don't want to pay monthly, you can run a server yourself on a Windows, Mac, or Linux computer that stays on while players are connected.

Running your own server means that computer becomes the server — it needs to stay powered on and connected to the internet whenever you want people to play. The computer doesn't need to be powerful, but it does need enough RAM (memory) to handle the number of players you expect. A server for two to four players can run on most modern computers. A server for ten or more players needs more RAM and a faster processor, or the game will lag.

Key Takeaways

  • Minecraft Realms is the simplest option if you want a server without managing a computer — you pay monthly and Minecraft handles everything.
  • Running your own server requires downloading the server software from minecraft.net, installing Java, and keeping a computer powered on and connected to the internet.
  • Your router needs port forwarding set up so other players can find and join your server using your IP address.
  • A server for two to four players works on most computers, but ten or more players requires more RAM and a faster processor.
  • You can add plugins and mods to a self-hosted server to change gameplay, but Realms does not support custom plugins.

Using Minecraft Realms instead of hosting your own

Minecraft Realms is a subscription service that runs a server for you on Minecraft's computers. You create a Realm inside the Minecraft launcher, invite up to ten players, and they join through the game menu — no IP addresses, no port forwarding, no computer to leave running. Realms costs about $8 per month and you can pause the subscription whenever you want. The server shuts down when nobody is playing, so you only pay for the time you actually use it.

Realms works on Windows, Mac, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, Xbox, and mobile versions of Minecraft. The main limitation is that you cannot add plugins or custom mods — the server runs vanilla Minecraft only. If you want to play with friends casually and don't need custom gameplay changes, Realms is the fastest way to start. You can always switch to a self-hosted server later if you want more features.

Downloading and installing the server software

To run your own server, go to minecraft.net/read/server and read the server.jar file. This is the actual server software. Before you run it, you need Java installed on your computer — the server software is written in Java and cannot run without it. read Java from java.com if you don't have it already. Most computers have Java, but if the server won't start, Java is usually the reason.

Create a new folder on your computer called "Minecraft Server" or something similar. Put the server.jar file inside that folder. Open a command prompt (on Windows, search for "cmd"; on Mac, search for "Terminal") and navigate to that folder. Type java -Xmx1024M -Xms1024M -jar server.jar nogui and press Enter. The server will start and create several files in that folder, including a world folder where the game saves everything. The first time you run it, you need to accept the EULA (End User License Agreement) by opening eula.txt and changing "eula=false" to "eula=true".

Setting up port forwarding so others can join

When other players try to join your server, they need to know your IP address and the port the server is running on. By default, Minecraft servers use port 25565. Your router sits between your computer and the internet, and it blocks outside connections to your computer by default. You need to tell your router to forward connections on port 25565 to your computer — this is called port forwarding.

Log into your router's settings by typing your router's IP address into a web browser (usually 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1 — check your router's manual or the sticker on the back). Find the port forwarding section and create a new rule that forwards port 25565 to your computer's local IP address. Your computer's local IP is different from your public IP — you can find it by opening a command prompt and typing ipconfig (Windows) or ifconfig (Mac/Linux). Look for the address that starts with 192.168.

Once port forwarding is set up, other players can join by typing your public IP address into the server address field in Minecraft. You can find your public IP by searching "what is my IP" in a web browser. Give this address to your friends so they can connect.

Adjusting server settings and performance

The server creates a file called server.properties when it first runs. This file controls how the server behaves — difficulty level, whether PvP is on, the world name, and how many players can join at once. Open server.properties in a text editor and change the settings you want. For example, change max-players=20 to limit how many people can play at once, or change difficulty=1 to set the difficulty level (0 is peaceful, 1 is straightforward, 2 is normal, 3 is hard).

If the server lags or crashes, the problem is usually not enough RAM. When you started the server, you used -Xmx1024M, which gives it 1024 megabytes of RAM. If you have more RAM available on your computer, increase this number — try 2048M for four to six players, or 4096M for eight to ten players. Stop the server, edit the command, and start it again with the new number.

Adding plugins to change gameplay

The server software you downloaded from minecraft.net is vanilla Minecraft — it has no extra features. If you want to add plugins (small programs that change how the server works), you need to use a different server software called Spigot or Paper instead of the vanilla server.jar. Plugins let you add things like custom commands, anti-cheat systems, economy systems, or protection against griefing.

To use plugins, read Spigot or Paper from their websites instead of the vanilla server software. The setup is almost identical — put the .jar file in your server folder and run it the same way. Once it starts, create a plugins folder inside your server folder and put plugin files (.jar files) inside it. Restart the server and the plugins will load. Be careful when choosing plugins — only read them from trusted sources like SpigotMC.org or PaperMC.io, because plugins can contain malware.

Keeping your server running and backing up your world

Your server only runs when the computer is on and the server software is running. If you shut down the computer or close the command prompt, the server stops and nobody can join. If you want the server to run all the time, you need to leave the computer on all the time — this uses electricity and can wear out the computer faster. Many people run servers on old computers or Raspberry Pi devices that use less power.

Back up your world regularly by copying the world folder to another location. The world folder contains all the blocks, structures, and player data — if something goes wrong, you can restore from a backup. Stop the server, copy the world folder to an external drive or cloud storage, then restart the server. Do this at least once a week if you care about keeping your progress.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I run a server on a laptop?

Yes, but the laptop needs to stay on and connected to the internet while people are playing. Laptops can overheat if they run a server for many hours, so make sure it has good ventilation. For a small group of two to four players, a laptop works fine.

What if my internet connection is slow?

Minecraft servers need a stable connection more than a fast one. If your upload speed is at least 1 Mbps, you can run a small server. Check your upload speed at speedtest.net. If it's below 1 Mbps, the server will lag for players joining from far away.

Do I need to pay for a domain name?

No. Players join using your public IP address, which is free. A domain name (like myserver.com) is optional and costs money. Most small servers just use the IP address.

Can I run multiple servers on one computer?

Yes, but each server needs its own port number. Instead of port 25565, the second server could use port 25566. You need to set up port forwarding for each port separately, and each server uses RAM, so your computer needs enough memory.

What happens if I stop paying for Realms?

Your Realm shuts down and nobody can join. You can read your world before the subscription ends and run it on your own server instead, so you don't lose your progress.