How to make a Minecraft server
When I came to know how to make a Minecraft server, I realized it was the perfect way for my friends and me to play without the restrictions of official servers like Minecraft Realms. Having your own Minecraft server means full control and no more waiting for permissions. You can customize everything, from the rules to the mods. It will make your experience truly unique. Whether it’s for your friends or a private gaming session, believe me, it will be worth your effort.
In this article, I will teach you completely how to make a Minecraft server, including how to set up and configure it. You will also learn the best practices for getting started and making sure your server runs smoothly. If you’ve ever wished for your own Minecraft Server, this is the perfect point!
What is a Minecraft server?
Minecraft server is a feature that Minecraft offers to its players. The Minecraft server allows multiple people to collaborate or play together in the same Minecraft environment. Players have full control over the game features. They can collaborate with their friends and make their own custom worlds from the ground up.
Before we start the step-by-step guide on making your own Minecraft server for free, make sure your system meets the following requirements
Note
Setting- up your own server demands that you should have some technical knowledge. It is necessary to properly configure your server. It is a must that you have a basic understanding of the computer and fundamental networking concepts.
A step-by-step guide to create your own Minecraft server!
Follow the following step-by-step guide to make and configure your own Minecraft server.
Choose a specific location for your Minecraft server files
Before you start the process, first make sure that you have created a separate folder on your device to store all the files of your Minecraft server.
To make a folder:
- Go to the desktop and right-click.
- Click “New Folder” from the list.
- Rename the folder to, e.g., “Server” for identification.
- Download the latest version of Java.
If you have already installed the latest version of Java on your PC, good. But in case you don’t have the latest version of Java installed on your machine, do follow the following steps to download and install it on your PC:
- Go to https://www.java.com/en/download/.
- Click the download button and download the Java installer.
- Navigate the location of the Java installer and move it to the folder you just created.
- Double-click the installer file and follow all the instructions.
- The latest version of Java is installed on your machine.
- Download the Minecraft server software.
We have installed the latest version of Java. Now we will download and run the Minecraft Server software, which comes as a server.jar file. To install it:
- Go to https://www.minecraft.net/en-us/download/server
- Click on “minecraft_server.1.21.3.jar” and download the file.
- Move this file to your folder.
- Now run this file with the following command
- java -Xmx1024M -Xms1024M -jar minecraft_server.1.21.3.jar nogui
Note
Later, when you will be downloading Minecraft server software, it may be possible that you find a different version as mentioned above. Don’t worry, just follow the same steps, and you are all set.
Your system may also give you some warnings before downloading or installing; just ignore these warnings because you are downloading it from a trusted source.
Creating server configuration files
To create server configuration files:
- Go to your folder and double-click the “server.jar” file.
- It will automatically create server configuration files.
- Open the generated file named Eula.txt.
- Now change the text eula=false to eula=true and save the file.
Now you have successfully created server configuration files. Now, to run the server, right-click the server.jar file and run it as an administrator to avoid any error. Congrats! Now your server is running successfully.
Enabling Port Forwarding
If you are hosting your Minecraft server on your local network, you don’t really need to enable port forwarding. Your friends will simply log into Minecraft, select the multiplayer tab, and they will find the server you just created. But, to do this, you and your friends should be using the same network connection and the same version of Minecraft.
But if you want to make the scope of your server global, e.g., make your server accessible to the whole world so that anyone can join it, then you should enable port forwarding on your router.
Procedures to enable port forwarding on different routers might be different, but we will discuss the general steps that you can follow to enable it:
- First, make sure which model of router you are using.
- You can either google or refer to the documentation of your specific router to know the exact steps and procedure to enable port forwarding on your router.
- Now for Minecraft, add port forward on your router to port number 25565.
- Now you can share your IP address with your friends.
- Using this IP, your friends can join your server and enjoy the game.
Note
During the port forwarding procedure, you will be required to provide your server’s local IP address as the output IP for the forwarded port to help the router know which device to point at. But it might be a security risk for you. To avoid this risk, you can block your IP during the port forwarding procedure, and based on your router, it will provide a custom IP for your server. Now you can share this IP address with other people, but if a custom IP is not reserved for your server, you have to use your IP address.
Connection to your Minecraft Server
To join your server, your friends or other players should follow the following steps:
- Open Minecraft, select the Multiplayer option, and click “Add server.”.
- Name the server as they want.
- Now they will add your server IP address followed by port number 25565
- Finally, Minecraft will be connected to your server.
- Now they can join your server.
Note
If people are facing problems joining your server, please go to “Minecraft Server Status Checker” and the accessibility of your server.
Configuring Minecraft Server Properties
You have created your own Minecraft server. You can configure it or set its properties as you want. You can set your own rules and limitations for your server for the game.
- Open your “Server” folder and find the “server.properties” file.
- Right-click and open the file in any text editor, e.g., notepad.
- Edit the server properties as you want and save the file.
Now the custom properties or configuration is added to your server.
Other options for making a Minecraft server
There are the following options available if you want to make your own Minecraft server.
Renting a Minecraft server
This is the easiest option. You simply rent out a server from a third party, e.g., a hosting company like Hostinger. They do all the things for you, and you just have to pay a monthly subscription amount. This amount may vary depending on what kind of service you are using.
Using Realms in Minecraft
Mojang Studios offers Minecraft Realms, a subscription-based service. Realms allow you to play with your friends in a secure environment, online, and you don’t have any need to set up and host your own server for it.
Making and managing your own server
If you want to make your own Minecraft server, you can follow the step-by-step guidelines in this article. We have discussed the complete procedure in detail.
IS Minecraft server Beneficial or Not?
Everything comes with its pros and cons. Now let’s do a comparison of what potential pros you will get and what cons you will have to face if you decide to make and host your own server.
Pros
- Full control over customisation
- Server settings can be optimized.
- Low cost for self-hosting
- Full custom plugins and mods support
- More security control
- Many players can be hosted based on hardware specifications
Cons
- Complex setup and maintenance
- Performance may lag if not properly managed.
- Ongoing costs if using paid hosting
- Complex installation and management
- Manual security management
- More powerful hardware and strong internet are required.
Final Thoughts
Making and setting up your own Minecraft server will introduce you to a new world of creativity, flexibility, and custom experiences. You will be able to make your own world of your imagination, and other people can also join and play with you in your world.
Besides all these plus points, you will also have to bear some costs. You have to manage and maintain your server continuously for a smooth and hassle-free gaming experience, and it requires consistent efforts and comes with monetary costs.
But overall, it is worth giving a try if you want full control over the game and enjoy a custom Minecraft experience. Look no further! Follow this step-by-step guide and create and explore a custom world of new possibilities and imaginations.
