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How to Set Up a Minecraft Server: Step by Step
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1. Java or Bedrock?
Java Edition is played on computers and has a huge world of plugins and mods. Bedrock is the edition played on phones, consoles and Windows; it is set up with Mojang's Bedrock Dedicated Server software and uses UDP port 19132 by default. Set the server up for the edition your players use; to join the two, there are bridges such as GeyserMC that are added to a Java server.
2. Java and the server software
A Java server needs Java installed on the computer. Since 2026, versions are named by year (such as 26.1), and 26.1 and later need Java 25; the older 1.21 versions run on Java 21. Instead of Mojang's official server, Paper is widely used as the server software because it supports plugins and runs more efficiently; it is downloaded from papermc.io.
3. First run
Put the server file in an empty folder and run it with a command like java -Xms2G -Xmx4G -jar paper.jar --nogui; Xmx sets the most memory the server may use. On the first run the server stops and creates an eula.txt file; to accept Minecraft's terms, change the value inside to eula=true and start it again.
4. How much RAM do you need?
The memory you need depends on the number of players, the view distance and your plugins. A server without plugins for a few friends runs fine on little memory; as players and plugins grow, memory and especially single-core CPU speed matter more. Do not give the server all of the computer's memory; leave some for the operating system.
5. Port: 25565
A Java server uses port 25565 by default. For people outside to connect to a server opened at home, this port must be forwarded on the router to the server computer and allowed in the Windows firewall. If only people in the same home will play, the local network address is enough.
6. Plugins
Paper runs Bukkit and Spigot plugins; you add a plugin by putting it in the plugins folder and restarting the server. LuckPerms for permissions and CoreProtect for looking back at who broke what are common examples. Only download plugins from known places such as Modrinth, Hangar or SpigotMC, and check that they support your server version.
7. Home computer or rented server?
A home computer is enough for testing and playing with a few friends, but the server is only up while the computer is on, and your home IP address is visible to players. For a server that is always on and open to everyone, a Minecraft hosting service or a virtual server (VDS) is healthier; backups and protection usually come with the service.
8. Security: whitelist and backups
If only people you know will play, turn on the whitelist: after /whitelist on, only players you add with /whitelist add can join. Keep online-mode=true in server.properties; if you turn it off, anyone can join under any name, pretending to be someone else. Give operator rights (op) to few people and back up the world folder regularly.
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