Skip to main content

How to make a Minecraft server

Minecraft has changed significantly since its inception, but one thing certainly hasn’t: Crafting worlds with friends and family is just plain fun. With only a few clicks of a mouse or controller button, players can design their own persistent worlds with space for others to gather and create.

Whether you’re hosting a server for a few friends or launching a massive effort to recreate your favorite TV show’s world, there are several different options for hosting a Minecraft server. Here are a few ways you can create your own private Minecraft multiplayer oasis. And if you don’t already have the game, here’s how to get Minecraft for free.

Minecraft Realms

Image used with permission by copyright holder

Mojang discontinued Minecraft Realms in December 2019. It was a single-subscription service that allowed one player to host a world on a cloud-based server. In its place are now two separate subscription models: Realms Plus for all editions with Minecraft Marketplace (mobile, Windows 10, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch) and the remains of the old subscription service rebranded as Realms for Minecraft: Java Edition.

Here are the details for both:

Realms Plus Realms for Java Edition
$7.99 per month $7.99 per month
Instant access to more than 50 Marketplace items Supports user-made content
Supports 2 or 10 players simultaneously Supports two or 10 players simultaneously
Supports only one world per subscription Supports only one world per subscription
Requires Xbox Live and Switch online services (consoles) Not compatible with non-Java versions

For gamers on mobile, console, and Windows 10, Realms Plus is your best bet for cheap and simple hosting. It’s a fast and easy way to both create and manage a persistent Minecraft world without any prior knowledge of hosting. Realms Plus subscribers are essentially renting a space on a Microsoft Azure cloud server, so there is a reduced degree of freedom should you choose to opt for Mojang’s hosting solution.

With more than 50 Marketplace items and new content added each month, there will always be something to explore beyond your own Realm. Your world and add-ons are stored securely in the cloud, so your friends are free to hop into the world even if you aren’t available.

Here’s how to create a Minecraft Realms Plus world:

Create New Realm World Windows 10
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Step 1: Select Play.

Step 2: Select Create New.

Step 3: Select Create New World.

Step 4: Configure the world.

Step 5: Select Create on Realms.

Step 6: Select a 10-player or two-player Realm.

Step 7: Set up the Realms Plus subscription.

To modify the Realm, do the following:

Modify Realm Windows 10
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Step 1: Select Play.

Step 2: Select the Pencil icon next to the Realm.

Step 3: Select Game to rename the world, change the difficulty, change the mode, and activate cheats.

Step 4: Select Members to add friends, send a join request, and change the user status. For the latter, users can be a Visitor, Member, or Operator.

Step 5: Select Resource Packs and/or Behavior Packs to enable and disable add-ons.

Be the host!

If you’d rather not have a subscription, the next best way to share a world with friends is to set up a PC to serve as a host.

Mobile, console, and Windows 10

Minecraft Windows 10 Enable Multiplayer
Image used with permission by copyright holder

For the mobile, console, and Windows 10 versions of Minecraft, multiplayer is enabled by default when creating a new world. If you initially disabled multiplayer but now want to play with friends, here’s how to turn it back on:

Step 1: Select Play.

Step 2: Select the Pencil icon next to your world.

Step 3: Select Multiplayer listed on the left.

Step 4: Select the Toggle next to Multiplayer Game.

Step 5: Select the Toggle next to Visible for LAN Players for local multiplayer support.

Because this version of Minecraft uses Xbox Live, you can play with anyone logged in to their Microsoft Account. You can also change the multiplayer settings to Invite Only, allow Only Friends to connect, or allow Friends of Friends to connect.

Minecraft: Java Edition — LAN play

Minecraft Java Edition Open to LAN
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Playing multiplayer on this version isn’t quite so cut and dry. You can host a world on a local network using the integrated multiplayer component. For online multiplayer, however, you’ll need Mojang’s standalone server software.

Here’s how to enable multiplayer within Minecraft: Java Edition:

Step 1: Select Singleplayer.

Step 2: Create a new world or open an existing world.

Step 3: Press the Esc key.

Step 4: Select Open to LAN on the menu.

Step 5: Select the game mode, enable or disable cheats, and then select Start LAN World.

Other players on the network can now select Multiplayer and join your world. However, keep in mind that you need a decent PC to host a multiplayer Minecraft world. Not only is the game rendering the world on your screen, but it’s sending the world to all other players and synchronizing all player input. This can be taxing on PCs with low hardware specs.

Minecraft: Java Edition — online play

Use Mojang Minecraft Server
Image used with permission by copyright holder

If you’d rather create a dedicated server, there are three options provided by Mojang:

Here we’ll use the Java Edition version on Windows. Before starting, make sure you have the latest version of Java installed on your PC.

Step 1: Download the Server.jar file from Mojang to a dedicated folder, as you’ll be required to extract files.

Step 2: Right-click on the Server.jar file and select Open to extract a few files.

Minecraft Server Directory
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Step 3: Open the EULA file, change the eula=false line to eula=true, and then save the file. The server won’t run without agreeing to the terms.

Step 4: Right-click on the Server.jar file and select Open on the pop-up menu. Additional files will extract to your folder as the Minecraft Server window appears on the screen.

Step 5: To modify the world’s properties, right-click on the server.properties file and select Open With on the pop-up menu, followed by Notepad.

With this file open, you can change the maximum number of players, the game mode, enable player-versus-player, set the maximum world size, and more. Restart the server if you made any changes while it’s running.

With the server portion configured, you need to create a direct path.

Minecraft: Java Edition — enable remote play

Keep in mind that for remote gamers to connect to your server, you’ll need to know two things: Your public-facing IP address assigned to your modem and the IP address of the local PC running your server. For the latter, we suggest going into the router and assigning a static IP address so the PC’s address never changes.

You will also need to use port forwarding so the Minecraft packets know exactly where to go. Again, the ideal scenario is to assign a static IP address to the server PC. The port Minecraft requires is: 25565.

Essentially, the path will look something like this: incoming > modem > router > static IP address via port 25565.

Here are a few guides to help you along:

How to launch the Java Edition server

Minecraft Server Create Batch File
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Instead of right-clicking on the sever.jar file to launch the server, we can create a BAT file and insert a modified command to help the server run more smoothly.

Step 1: Right-click within the folder and select New followed by Text Document on the pop-up menus.

Step 2: Rename the file so you can recognize it later.

Step 3: Open the file and enter the following command: java -Xmx1024M -Xms1024M -jar server.jar pause

The first two numbers allocate memory to the server, while “pause” keeps the server window open.

Step 4: Save the file and then rename its extension to “.bat” (short for batch file).

Step 5: Double-click the new BAT file to launch the server.

Connect to the server and create a world

Java Edition Create Server World
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Playing Minecraft on the same machine running your server isn’t a good idea given the resources needed to run both. Doing so will likely create a laggy experience for everyone. We suggest running Minecraft on another PC if possible.

Step 1: Select Multiplayer.

Step 2: Check the box next to Do Not Show This Screen Again, and then select Proceed if this is the first time you’re nagged about multiplayer.

Step 3: Select Add Server.

Step 4: Enter the server name.

Step 5: To allow remote players, enter the public-facing address assigned to your modem, along with the port. For example, the IP address would be something like 177.98.119.228:25565.

For local network play, enter the server PC’s network address. You likely don’t need to add the port.

Step 6: Select Done to complete.

Craftbukkit

Bukkit Plugins
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Craftbukkit is a modified version of Mojang’s “vanilla” server software for Minecraft: Java Edition to run Bukkit plugins. It sets up just like Mojang’s version: Extract the files, agree to the EULA, modify the server.properties file, create the world, and so on. Follow the directions listed above or consult the Bukkit wiki. However, note that the BAT file command should read as follows: java -Xms1024M -Xmx1024M -jar craftbukkit.jar -o true pause

Bukkit maintains a forum of user-created plugins designed specifically for Craftbukkit, providing a solution for managing the effects of many plugins together in-game, without causing conflicts or reducing performance. There are 17 categories in all, including admin tools, chat-related tools, role-playing elements, world generators, and so much more.

To use a plugin, the JAR file(s) must be placed in a specific directory. Unlike Mojang’s server software, extracting the craftbukkit.jar file creates a plugins folder. This is where all downloaded plugins must reside. Note that the server must be restarted each time a plugin is added to the plugins directory.

Connecting to a Bukkit server is similar to connecting to a standard server — clients do not need to install the mods running host-side. Ideally, you would run Bukkit or the regular Minecraft server software on a second PC to cut down on latency.

Additional paid server options

Minecraft Forums
Brittany Vincent/Digital Trends

Other third-party, subscription-based, and free options are available if you’d rather not take the Realms route.

There are many benefits to using a third-party server, including easy setup, consistent access, and technical support. There are more paid services available than the free offerings, however, and a lot of them can be found on the Minecraft forums starting at under $5 a month, with rates increasing for use of extra server software and for more allowed connections.

While setting up your own server can be complicated and require some networking knowledge, most of the paid services designed specifically for Minecraft automate the process. Setup is usually as simple as picking the number of players, deciding the type of world, then hitting go. Configuring and restarting the server is also easy thanks to web interfaces that deal with configuration files and parameters in more robust ways than a user might if they were just editing the files themselves.

Some systems like Multicraft (pictured below) are implemented by hosting companies to allow users to access the controls to their servers in limited ways while leaving some configuration decisions in the hands of the host.

Multicraft Settings
Image used with permission by copyright holder

The port and IP addresses will be listed on the administration page for the server, allowing players to easily join the game. Using a server like this also gives players a fair amount of freedom because they can ban other users or reboot the server when needed.

Any service that has servers with a reasonable amount of RAM can be used with Minecraft or Craftbukkit when an FTP client uploads with it. This makes them ideal for those looking for custom DIY solutions. You can get an acceptable server from Amazon or other online retailers at reasonable prices or pay a little more to increase the memory for smoother gameplay.

If you need to have freedom with settings and files and don’t mind going without web-based control software, this type of setup will do the trick. Using your server to play the games will allow you more freedom to change the settings to your liking.

Editors' Recommendations

Brad Bourque
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Brad Bourque is a native Portlander, devout nerd, and craft beer enthusiast. He studied creative writing at Willamette…
Best Perk-a-Colas in Modern Warfare 3 zombies, ranked
A lineup of perk sodas from Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3.

Ever since perks were introduced to the series, they've been a staple in every game mode in Call of Duty. For Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, you can obviously pick your perks during multiplayer, but not so in Zombies. This mode has always made perks work slightly differently, using different names, but similar mechanics. This time around, the Perk-a-Colas have returned, and these cans of refreshing soda just so happen to give your character a massive improvement. You can grab one from a vending machine on the map in exchange for your points, but they don't come cheap. Since these perks last you the rest of the match (or until used for some of them), you will want to choose your flavor wisely. These are all nine Perk-a-Colas in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 ranked from best to worst.

It is important to note that the location where each perk machine spawns on the new Zombies map is random for every match. There's no way to know where any specific perk will be, but you can see where perk machines spawn on your map as indicated by a downward pointing arrow.

Read more
The best field upgrades for Modern Warfare 3 Zombies
A man holding a mysterious glowing vial.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3's Zombies mode puts a slight twist on the mechanics you are already familiar with. It now plays much more like a souped-up DMZ mode rather than its old round-based format. And Field Upgrades have been modified in terms of both their effects and how you get them just for this game type. There are six different Field Upgrades you can bring into the map and use on a cooldown timer to help improve your chances of survival, but you can only pick one at a time. You will begin the game with only one option, but steadily unlock the rest as you level up. Once you have them all, the question then becomes which is the best Field Upgrade? We've managed to exfiltrate with the answer.

Healing Aura
Regardless of whether or not you're playing with a team or running solo, Healing Aura is no doubt the best Field Upgrade to bring on any Zombie run. When activated, you and any teammates in the area will not only gain immediate healing, but it will also instantly revive any downed teammates. The downside to all this power is that this upgrade has the slowest recharge time and is unlocked at level 19.
Aether Shroud
This is another upgrade that you will be glad to have. Aether Shroud makes you you temporary invisibile to all Zombies. This won't make you invincible, mind you, and PMCs can still take shots, but if you're getting swarmed and have no way to escape, becoming instantly invisible to a bloodthirsty pack of zombies can save your skin more often than you think. This upgrade has a medium recharge rate and is unlocked when you hit level 39.
Frenzied Guard
Just past the halfway mark, Frenzied Guard has a massive upside, but not without some risk. When you pop this Field Upgrade, you instantly repair all your armor, but also draw all the aggression of any enemy nearby for 10 seconds. However, another perk is that anything you kill during this time also repairs your armor, so situationally, it can be great or detrimental. This one recharges slowly, unlocking at level 9.
Frost Blast
Frost Blast does exactly what you expect: it fires a freezing blast that will slow down any enemy you hit with it and deal a bit of damage. It's decent in a pinch, but not a game-changer. You can get it when you hit level 29.
Tesla Storm
An odd ability on paper, Tesla Storm is only good if you have a team working together. Activating it will create a lightning chain between you and your team that will damage and stun enemies that get close to any one of you. It lasts for 10 seconds and can be great in the final moments while holding out for an extraction, but not in other situations. It recharges slowly and is the last upgrade you unlock at level 50.
Energy Mine
This is your default Field Upgrade, so it makes sense that it's the "worst" on the list. Energy Mine isn't exactly bad; you simply lay down a mine that does what a mine does -- explodes. It's just that setting up traps like this in Zombies isn't all that applicable except when kiting a boss around or waiting for the helicopter. It has a medium recharge speed.

Read more
How to fix packet burst in Modern Warfare 3
A soldier shields themself from an underwater explosion.

The last thing anyone wants to see when booting up a game like Modern Warfare 3 to head online with your friends is to be stopped by an error. Online games are susceptible to all types of problems beyond the player's control, leading to plenty of frustration and disappointment in a possibly ruined experience. While there are more substantial issues that can completely prevent you from playing, seeing the packet burst issue is almost worse because, while it does let you play, you will experience a ton of lag that makes the game essentially unplayable. If you've been struck by a packet burst error in Modern Warfare 3, here are some possible solutions so you can get back to fragging.
How to fix packet burst errors

If you spot a symbol of three squares on the left of your screen while playing Modern Warfare 3, it means you're suffering from a packet burst. This is essentially an error where something is messed up in the communication between your system and the game's servers, resulting in terrible performance. While it could be simply an issue on the server side and not related to you at all, which you can check by looking at the Modern Warfare 3 server status here, there are a few things you can do to potentially fix the issue on your end.

Read more