How To Make A Minecraft Server

Minecraft is a popular sandbox game for many reasons. It's easy to pick up and play, has endless possibilities, and allows you to create anything you want.

However, the biggest reason Minecraft is so mainstream is because of the ability to play with other people. This is not to confuse with online games such as Call of Duty, where you and your friends can play preloaded levels together. Online Minecraft lets you and your friends create a world from scratch with no limitations. You need to establish a server so you can play online with friends.

Please note: We recommend getting a parent's permission before setting up a private server. Parts of this tutorial can cause security risks, you should you have a parent with you and do not download anything extra.

What is a Minecraft Server? Things to Consider Before Hosting a Minecraft Server Steps for Creating a Minecraft Server Enjoy Your Multiplayer Minecraft Server What is a Minecraft Server?

A Minecraft server allows multiple people to play together in the same Minecraft world. This can be done in many different ways so it is important to fully understand your options.

A third-party like Apex Hosting or Hostinger can let you rent a server. You pay a monthly fee to use it. However, it does almost everything for you. This can be as low as $5, depending on the service you use.

You can run your server yourself. This saves you paying a monthly fee as well as giving you complete control over how your server is handled. This article focuses on making your own Minecraft server without using a third-party.

Minecraft also offers personal multiplayer servers called Realms that you can use with your friends. Your Minecraft world will always be online, even if you log off.

Recommended: Coding programs for kids that are free

Things to Consider Before Hosting a Minecraft Server

Benefits of Using Hosting Your Own Minecraft Server

- You are able to have complete control over the entire server at all times. You can get anything done as fast as you can. There's no need to rely solely on someone else to do the work. - You have the ability to upgrade your computer however you desire to increase performance. Server hosting companies often charge higher prices for higher specs. However, if you have the latest generation processor and the most powerful graphics card your server will be the best. It can be a lot of fun to set up and configure networks. You will learn about different network features that are not available elsewhere. It will not cost you more than what it costs to run your computer. Hosting companies can be expensive, but hosting your server yourself will only cost what it takes to keep the computer running. Hosting your own Minecraft server can be very rewarding, but it does have a few drawbacks you should understand before attempting it yourself.

You will need the correct hardware to run your server. This includes either a PC running on the Windows 7 operating system or a Mac running on MacOS 10.4 or higher. Although it is possible to host your own server using a Chromebook, this tutorial does not cover that. - You will need an active internet connection as well as access to your router. - Your computer specs that are needed heavily depend on what type of server you run and how many players are on at any given time. A server with many players will require more RAM and a faster processor. The same applies to adding mods on your server. If you only use vanilla (meaning there are no mods), you can manage with a few gigs. You can get away with a few gigs of RAM if you only play vanilla (meaning no mods), but once you start adding mods, you'll need to double or triple the RAM you dedicate to your server. - Because you will need to run the server remotely, you will need a reliable internet connection that can support multiple users. No one wants to log onto a Minecraft server only to lag and get booted every 15 minutes for a modem restart. Note that although a computer is needed to run the server, your friends can play on your server from any platform as long as they are using the exact same Minecraft edition that you are running. If you run a Minecraft Java Edition 1.6.4 server, your friends will need Minecraft Java Edition 1.6.4 installed on their devices. - This server's operation is entirely your responsibility. If anything goes wrong, it's your problem. You can rely on players to fix any bugs or issues they have. If there are disputes among players, you will often be the one to handle them. It is not enough to just download a program and turn on your computer. You will need configuration of your router and network. Learn about port-forwarding. You may also need to use command-line to edit configuration files. Cyber attacks can be made on your computer and personal information by following the above guidelines. This could expose your network to security risks like DDoS attacks. If your IP address falls in the wrong hands someone can find sensitive data about you, such as your address! If you decide to go this route, please be careful and ensure that you follow the steps carefully. If you're looking to set up your own server, but don’t want to host it, read our article about Apex server hosting. Java Classes for Teens

Steps for Creating a Minecraft Server

1. Get Started with Java: Download the latest version

Still here? Great! Let's begin making our own Minecraft server.

You can begin by creating a new folder to hold all of your downloads. You can put this anywhere you'd like, but I find it easiest to create a new folder on your desktop.

In our examples, we will be placing everything inside a folder called "My Awesome Server" directly on the desktop. To create a folder on you desktop, right-click anywhere on your desktop and select "New Folder". Then you can rename the folder to something of your choosing.

After creating your folder, you will need to download the files required to host your server. Let's begin by making sure you have the most recent version of Java installed on your computer. You can do that by clicking here or going to https://www.java.com/en/download/. This link will take you to the correct download, regardless of whether you are using a Mac computer or a PC.

Add the installer into the folder that we created in the preceding step. Double-click the installer and follow the prompts.

2. Download the Server.jar File

Once you have the latest version of Java downloaded, you need to download the server.jar file.

You might notice that the version number of the images/gifs you are using is different from what is shown. That's okay, the steps should be the same.

You might get a warning message from your computer that this file may contain harmful components. This is a normal warning for any file in the.jar format. These should be a warning if you don't know the source. That being said, I think we can trust Minecraft on this one.

If you're given the option, save this file into the "My Awesome Server" folder. You can copy and paste the file or drag it into the folder after it is done.

3. Create Your Server Configuration Data Files

Once you have your server.jar folder in your "My Awesome Server", double-click or right-click it to open it and create your configuration files.

To prevent your server from crashing immediately, you will need to agree to an EULA agreement (End User License Agreement). Open the EULA file (it could be called eula.txt, depending on your computer) and change eula=false from eula=true. Next, go to File > Save or press CTRL+S to save the document.

4. Run Your Server

Double-click your server.jar file. This will create a few new files and allow your server to start.

If your goal was to make your own Minecraft server to play with friends on the same internet connection as you then you have reached the end. Congratulations!

For friends who are connected via the same internet, log onto Minecraft. Click the Multiplayer tab to find the server you created. You must also be using the same version Minecraft.

However, if you wish to play with your friends using an internet connection other than yours (such as a home), then you still have some work to do. In that case, continue on....

5. Port forwarding

Warning: This section can pose security risks and is the most difficult part of the tutorial. You should always have a parent accompany you to this step.

Port forwarding is required in order to allow your friends to connect with your server when they are connected via a different internet connection than yours. Unfortunately, this step will be different depending on which router you are using. strongcraft

I will list the steps that it takes to get my Xfinity router set-up for port forwarding, but you will have to research your own router and follow its steps.

Navigating to the Port Forwarding section at Xfinity's website is the first thing I did. I found it by searching for "How to Port Forward My Xfinity Router", so I suggest a similar search with your router's name.

The next step was for me. There were many configurations I could use, including Minecraft. So I went ahead and selected that. If you don’t have that option, the key thing to remember is to use port 25565 to access Minecraft.

Any other port number will not work. You will need to block my IP address. This is the part you want to protect from people you don't know or trust. Depending on the router you have, they may reserve an IP address for your account (Xfinity did this for my). If that's the case, this is the IP Address you will provide to your friends. If they don't reserve one, you will need your own IP address.

Once you have completed Port Forwarding, your friends should be able to log into Minecraft and click the Add Server button. They can name the server whatever they want (it does not have to match your name) then type in your IP address. If you don’t know your IP number, you can use Google to search "What’s my IP Address" and it should be the first result.

The :25565 may be required at the end to add the server. If the server doesn't recognize it, you can try it without.

6. Configuring Server Properties

Now that you have your server up and running, it is time to make changes. You'll find a file called "My Awesome Server". Right now your computer won't know how to open the file. You should see a list if you right-click it and select Open with

This can be opened in any text-editor you like, but Notepad works well if it isn't already attached to another. There will be a long list with different server properties once you open it. You can edit each one to your liking.

Here is a list of all properties and their meanings. But let's start with the most common.

difficulty - This takes either an integer or string property that defines the difficulty level for your server. Integer values can be 0, 1, 2 or 3. String values represent peaceful, normal, easy, or hard. hardcore - this takes a boolean (true or false) value of how your players are handled if they were to die in game. If you set this value to true, players who die in game will automatically be put into spectator mode. level-seed: This value is set to true by default. It will automatically generate an seed when you start your server. If you have found a seed that you like online, you can write it here and get a copy. max-players - this sets the maximum number of players allowed on your server at one time. This is useful if your computer struggles to run when there are many users logged on simultaneously. motd – This sets the Message Of The Day that all players see when they log on to your server. It can be useful for providing useful information to all at once. pvp: This is a function that allows players and their friends to kill each other when it's set to true. Here's what my server.properties file looks like when opening it up using windows notepad.

More Minecraft Resources

Minecraft teaches kids programming The Best Minecraft Texture Packs A Parent's Guide to Minecraft - For Kids 10 Best Minecraft Mods for Kids How to Install and Download Minecraft Mods How to Play Minecraft With Friends Enjoy Your Multiplayer Minecraft Server

And there you have it! You are now running your own Minecraft server and you can have all your friends join it as you wish.

There are many things you can do with your own server such as manage game settings, customizing your own white-list, adding your own mods, and allocating however much memory that you have to spare. We recommend starting small before you go too crazy.

Minecraft can quickly consume resources many people don’t have at their homes. Your computer may struggle with everything you want. It is important to keep your IP address private and not share it with anyone you do not know or trust.

If you found the article helpful, please let us know by posting a Discord message.

We'd also love for you to come and hang out with us on our Minecraft server! Our subdomain (server address) is mc.codewizardshq.com. First, you will have to verify your information using Discord by sending a DM to CWHQ Minecraft Server#9605 where your pin code will be provided.