Your first Minecraft Java server

Open the Console in the game panel. When you see a line starting with Done, such as Done (8.2s)! For help, type "help", the server is ready for players.

1. Open Minecraft Java Edition and choose Multiplayer. 2. Choose Add Server. 3. Type your full server address in Server Address, including the number after the colon. 4. Choose Done, then pick the server and choose Join Server.

Everyone needs the same Minecraft version as the server. The server version is in the Startup tab ("latest" means the newest release).

Join the server once, then type this in the Console, using your Minecraft name and no slash:

op YourName

Operators can use admin commands in game, such as /gamemode creative or /tp. Use deop YourName to take it away again.

Turn on the whitelist so only people you add can join. In the Console, add each player, then switch it on:

whitelist add PlayerName whitelist on

Use whitelist list to see who is on it and whitelist remove PlayerName to take someone off.

In the Files tab, open server.properties. The common ones are difficulty (peaceful, easy, normal, hard), gamemode (survival, creative, adventure), max-players, pvp (true or false) and motd, the message shown in the server list. Choose Save Content, then Restart.

Leave server-port and server-ip alone: the panel sets them every time the server starts.

1. Make a backup in the Backups tab. Worlds can move up to a newer version but not back down. 2. In the Startup tab, set Minecraft Version (Server Version on Vanilla) to the version you want, for example 1.21.4, or latest. 3. In the Settings tab, choose Reinstall Server. This downloads the new server files and keeps your world. 4. Start the server and check the Console.

Plugins only work on Paper servers. Download the plugin .jar for your Minecraft version from a trusted site such as Modrinth or Hangar. In the Files tab, open the plugins folder, upload the .jar and Restart. Players do not need to install anything.

Most plugins create a folder with their own config file inside plugins after the first start.

Download the mod .jar made for your loader (Fabric, Forge or NeoForge) and your exact Minecraft version. In the Files tab, open the mods folder, upload the .jar and Restart.

Most mods also have to be installed by every player, with the same loader and version. Fabric mods usually need the Fabric API mod too, on the server and for players.

1. On the modpack page (CurseForge or Modrinth), download its server pack and note its Minecraft version and loader. 2. Make sure your server type matches the loader. To switch type, open a ticket. 3. Set the Minecraft version in Startup and reinstall from Settings, as for a version change. 4. Upload the server pack folders, such as mods and config, over SFTP, then Restart.

Modpacks need memory: most want 6 to 8 GB.

1. Stop the server and make a backup. 2. On your computer, zip your world folder (it contains level.dat). 3. In the Files tab, upload the zip, then use Unarchive on it. 4. Delete or rename the old world folder and name yours world, or set level-name in server.properties to your folder name. 5. Start the server.