How to Run a Minecraft Server: Realms, Your Own PC, a VPS or a Dedicated Server

Updated: 29 September 2026 · Applies to: Minecraft: Java Edition server 26.3 (Java 25); Minecraft Realms

A Minecraft server lets you and your friends play in the same world. The official server software is free from minecraft.net. What you choose is where it runs: on Mojang's Realms service, on your own computer, or on a server that stays online all the time. This page compares the options and covers the basics that apply everywhere.

Your options

• Minecraft Realms: Mojang's paid hosting, set up from inside the game. Realms for Java Edition costs $7.99 a month for you plus 10 players at the same time. Easy, but no plugins or server software of your choice.
• Your own PC or Mac: free apart from electricity. The server is only online while the computer is on, your home upload speed limits the players, and friends outside your home need a port forwarded on your router. Guides: Windows and Mac.
• A VPS: online 24/7 with a fixed public IP address, and you choose the software (Vanilla, Paper, modpacks). A Minecraft VPS from Ucartz starts at $10 a month with 4 GB of RAM, our game VPS plans include DDoS protection, and we install Vanilla or Paper on request. Guide: Linux.
• A dedicated server: a whole machine for big communities, several servers or heavy modpacks.

What every Java Edition server needs

• Java 25. Minecraft has required Java 25 since version 26.1. With an older Java the server stops with UnsupportedClassVersionError.
• RAM. About 2 GB is enough for a small group on a vanilla server; Mojang's own example start command gives the server 4 GB. Plugins, mods, many players and large view distances need more.
• The EULA. The first start creates eula.txt; set eula=true to accept Minecraft's licence and start again.
• TCP port 25565 open in the firewall (and forwarded on your router when hosting at home).

The start command is the same on every system:

java -Xms1G -Xmx2G -jar server.jar nogui

-Xmx sets the most memory the server may use. nogui runs it without the small server window.

New in 26.3: the allowlist is on by default

New servers now start with white-list=true in server.properties, so nobody can join until you add them. In the server console:

whitelist add PlayerName
op YourName

Setting white-list=false lets anyone join, which is not recommended for a server on the internet.

Everyday tasks

• Stop the server with the stop command, so the world is saved.
• Settings such as max-players, difficulty, gamemode and motd are in server.properties. Edit them while the server is stopped. PvP and similar options are game rules now, set with /gamerule.
• Back up the world folder regularly, with the server stopped.
• Update by stopping the server, backing up the world, replacing server.jar with the new version and starting it again. Players need the same game version as the server.

Java or Bedrock?

Everything above is for Java Edition (PC and Mac players). Players on consoles, phones and the Windows Bedrock version need a Bedrock Dedicated Server, which is a separate free download from minecraft.net. Java and Bedrock players can't join each other's servers without extra software.

Official documentation: Minecraft server download and Minecraft Realms.