How to Create a Minecraft Server in 2026: Complete Guide

Creating a Minecraft server means choosing the edition and server software, preparing Java or the Bedrock executable, accepting the EULA, configuring the world, and making the instance reachable to players. You can run it on your computer, a VPS, or managed Minecraft hosting. A home PC can handle an occasional LAN session; a 24/7 community benefits from external infrastructure with a public IP, backups, and DDoS protection.

Quick answer: use hosting with a control panel if you want to avoid terminal work, port forwarding, and system maintenance. Install Paper or Vanilla on Linux if learning and full control matter more. This guide covers both routes and the checks that prove the server is actually online.

What you need before creating the server

• Minecraft Java or Bedrock: clients must use an edition compatible with the server.
• Server software: Vanilla for the official experience, Paper for plugins and performance controls, or Fabric/NeoForge for mods.
• A compatible Java runtime: Paper's official version matrix lists Java 21 for Minecraft 1.20–1.21.11 and Java 25 for Paper 26.1 and newer.
• RAM, CPU, and storage: Minecraft depends heavily on single-core performance. Configured slots alone cannot size a server.
• Networking: a reachable IP and the correct port. Java normally uses TCP 25565; Bedrock defaults to UDP 19132.
• A backup: preserve the world and configuration before changing the JAR, version, plugins, or mods.

Minecraft hosting, a VPS, or your own PC?

Official Java and Bedrock server software is free to download from Minecraft.net. Keeping it reachable still consumes hardware, power, bandwidth, and administration time.

How to create a Minecraft server with a hosting panel

1. Choose a plan for the workload. Consider concurrent players, edition, plugins, the exact modpack, worlds, and simulation distance. Use our Minecraft server RAM guide for a measured starting point.
2. Select a location near the players. Network distance normally matters more than the provider's headquarters.
3. Install the server software. Choose Vanilla, Paper, Purpur, Fabric, NeoForge, or the supported modpack in the panel.
4. Accept the EULA. A Java server should not start until you accept the applicable agreement. Review the Minecraft Usage Guidelines for public or commercial projects.
5. Start it and read the console. Wait for the completed-startup message. If the process exits, read the first meaningful error instead of creating a restart loop.
6. Copy the connection address. It may be an IP and port or a provider subdomain.
7. Test through Multiplayer. Add the server, verify the client version, and ask an external player to test.

Teramont Minecraft Hosting provides panel access for software changes, files, console management, and resource scaling without building a Linux system from scratch.

How to install a Minecraft Java server on Linux

This example uses Ubuntu or Debian with Paper. Run the administrative commands with appropriate privileges, but do not operate the game server permanently as root.

1. Install the correct Java version

sudo apt update
sudo apt install openjdk-25-jre-headless
java -version

Java 25 matches Paper 26.1+ in the current documentation. For an older Minecraft branch, check Paper's matrix and install its supported runtime instead of forcing an incompatible Java version.

2. Create a dedicated user and directory

sudo useradd --system --create-home --shell /bin/bash minecraft
sudo mkdir -p /opt/minecraft/server
sudo chown -R minecraft:minecraft /opt/minecraft
sudo -u minecraft bash
cd /opt/minecraft/server

Process isolation limits the reach of a failure. Do not mix unrelated application secrets or databases into the game directory.

3. Download the JAR from its official source

Use the official Minecraft download for Vanilla or a stable build from PaperMC for Paper. Avoid repackaged JARs from unknown download sites.

# Put the downloaded file here and name it paper.jar
ls -lh paper.jar

4. Run it once and accept the EULA

java -Xms2G -Xmx4G -jar paper.jar --nogui
nano eula.txt

Change eula=false to eula=true only after reading the agreement. The memory values demonstrate syntax; they are not universal sizing advice. Keep headroom outside -Xmx for Java and the operating system.

5. Configure server.properties

motd=My Minecraft server
max-players=20
online-mode=true
white-list=true
view-distance=8
simulation-distance=6
server-port=25565

• online-mode=true keeps official authentication enabled. If you need offline mode, understand its impersonation and UUID implications in our offline-mode guide.
• white-list=true blocks unknown players until you explicitly allow them.
• Higher view and simulation distances increase workload; measure TPS and MSPT before raising them.

6. Start the server and authorize players

java -Xms2G -Xmx4G -jar paper.jar --nogui

whitelist on
whitelist add PlayerName
op AdminName
save-all

Grant operator status only to trusted administrators. Shut the server down with stop; killing the process during a save can damage data.

How to create the server on Windows

1. Install the supported Java runtime and verify it with java -version.
2. Create an isolated folder such as C:/MinecraftServer.
3. Download the official JAR and move it into that folder.
4. Create a start.bat file.

bat
@echo off
java -Xms2G -Xmx4G -jar paper.jar --nogui
pause

Run the file, accept the EULA, and start it again. Allow Java through the firewall only on the required network profile. Do not disable the whole firewall as a shortcut.

How to let friends connect over the Internet

Hosting providers normally prepare the network automatically. At home, assign the server a stable local IP and forward TCP port 25565 to it. Test from a different Internet connection: connecting from inside the same LAN does not prove that the port is externally reachable.

If the port is closed, inspect the firewall, destination IP, NAT rule, listening process, and CGNAT. Follow our port 25565 troubleshooting guide. Traditional forwarding may not work behind ISP-grade CGNAT without a public IP or external solution.

Paper, Vanilla, Fabric, or NeoForge?

• Vanilla: the official gameplay baseline without a server-plugin API.
• Paper: supports Bukkit/Spigot/Paper plugins and operational tools. Paper 1.21+ bundles the spark profiler.
• Fabric: a lightweight mod loader; server and clients may need matching mod sets.
• NeoForge: supports mod and modpack ecosystems. Follow the exact pack's requirements.

Paper plugins and Fabric or NeoForge mods are not automatically interchangeable. For permissions, protection, economies, or rollback, compare the best Minecraft server plugins.

Security and maintenance checklist

• Update Java, the server JAR, and plugins/mods, with a backup before every change.
• Keep the allowlist enabled while building the project.
• Do not execute unknown JARs or abandoned plugins without reviewing their origin.
• Store external backups and test restoration. An untested backup is merely a very optimistic ZIP file.
• Do not expose control panels, SSH, or databases without access controls.
• Keep online-mode=true unless you understand and mitigate the consequences.
• For performance problems, profile the active incident with our spark lag troubleshooting guide.

Frequently asked questions

Is creating a Minecraft server free?

The official server software is free. Home hosting still consumes hardware, electricity, and Internet service; a host or VPS charges for infrastructure and availability.

How much RAM does it need?

It depends on the software, concurrent players, worlds, plugins, mods, and activity. About 4 GB can be a starting point for a light server with a few friends, but measure the workload and preserve memory outside the Java heap.

Do my friends need to install anything?

For Vanilla or Paper without client-side mods, they normally need only the compatible edition and version. A modpack may require everyone to install the exact same pack.

Can Java and Bedrock play together?

Not natively on every Java server. Geyser with Floodgate is a common bridge; follow our guide to cross-play between Java and Bedrock.

How do I keep the server online 24/7?

You need a machine that remains available, automatic restarts, backups, and stable networking. Hosting removes the dependency on a home PC staying powered on.

Do I have to share my home IP?

Home hosting exposes your network's public IP to players. External infrastructure with a domain or subdomain is more appropriate for a public community.