Minecraft is one of the most popular video games in the world, where you can create entire worlds as pixel voxels. Not only a game, but also a tool for mod developers to extend them, and a way to teach kids to program. For those interested in the full experience, a platform is provided to build their own Minecraft server.
For those new to Minecraft, it might be best to start your journey by purchasing the game and getting started. This will help you become more familiar with what the game has to offer. However, if you are living a brave life and want all of this to happen without training wheels, this article will provide you with a guide to building a Minecraft server using the Windows 10 operating system.
How to create a Minecraft Server
It takes a little technical knowledge on your part to properly set up a Minecraft server. A basic understanding of computer and networking concepts will go a long way in server management.
Take some time to familiarize yourself with command line usage, your system, network and router configurations, and some basic networks. You will also want to determine if you plan on running a Minecraft server from home or if you prefer to host it. Keep in mind that hosting your own server can make your home network accessible to the world.
For a home Minecraft server, a mid to high end desktop system is recommended. If you plan to play Minecraft on the same computer that the server is scheduled on, this is not recommended. However, this can be done if your system has serious power. Also, Ethernet configuration is required to ensure reliability.
Hosting your server usually only requires a monthly fee from your service provider. This saves you from having to manage the server hardware yourself. Virtual Private Servers are ideal for small communities that don’t need a lot of resources. For a more populous community, there is always a dedicated server.
Create a Minecraft Server on Windows 10
First, make sure you have the latest Java version installed.
- In Windows Search (taskbar) enter Java. If Java is installed, you will see “Configure Java” in the search results. You can then select it to display the Java Control Panel showing the version number. If “Configure Java” is not displayed, you need to download and install the latest version
- After completing this task, you will want to decide where all the Minecraft files will be stored. Create a folder on your PC where all Minecraft files will be placed. The location is up to you, just remember where it was placed. Configuration files are created when the server is first started. It is best to keep them all together in this folder.
- The server software from the Minecraft website will be provided as a Java.jar file. Save it in the folder you just created.
- Right-click the file and select “Run as administrator ” to start the server and create the server configuration files. These files will need to be changed before the server is ready for use.
- Find a text file named eula.txt inside the folder and open the file in a text editor.
- Change eula = false to eula = true. This is required to accept the license agreement. Otherwise, you won’t be able to start the Minecraft server.
Hosting a server for multiple players on a local network does not require port forwarding. However, to make your server available to the world, port forwarding must be enabled on your router.
To set up port forwarding on your router, you will need specific instructions from your router documentation. If you are unfamiliar, you can read more about port forwarding at PortForward.com Minecraft will require you to forward TCP port 25565.
- For the egress IP (or server IP), you will need to enter the local IP address of your server. You can find out the local IP address of your server by opening a command prompt and entering the / ipconfig command. Do not close the command prompt window, as from there we will need to start the Minecraft server.
- Navigate to the path to the Minecraft server file using the DIR command. The file will look like minecraft_server.1.15.2.jar.
- Start the server with the following command:
java -Xmx1024M -Xms1024M -jar {server filename} nogui
Replace {server file name} with the actual server file name. You can exclude the “nogui” parameter if you prefer to use the server user interface.
- After the server is up and running, you can start inviting others to your server.
- Home network: Connect to your server via your local IP address.
- Non-Home Network: Connect to your server via an external / public IP address.
- Your public IP address can be found by searching for “my IP address†on Google.
- To make sure your server is available, you must enter your public IP address into the Minecraft Server Status Checker
Other resources on how to create a Minecraft server
Other resources on how to create a Minecraft server
Here are some links to additional resources on how to best manage, customize, and promote your own private Minecraft servers. Some of these links will even help you set up a Minecraft server using macOS and Linux operating systems.
Minecraft Wiki
- Server Configuration
- Server.Properties Configuration
- Server Management and Maintenance
MSMHQ
Official Minecraft Forums
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