To create a Minecraft server on Ubuntu, install a Java runtime, download the official Java Edition server JAR, run it once to generate its files, accept the EULA, configure server.properties, and keep the process running under a service manager. For internet play, allow the server’s TCP port (25565 by default) through Ubuntu’s firewall and forward that port from your router to the Ubuntu computer.
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This guide covers Minecraft: Java Edition. Bedrock Dedicated Server is a separate download and its Linux build requires Ubuntu 22.04 LTS or later; Bedrock clients cannot join a Java server without an additional compatibility bridge.
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Choose the edition and where the server will run
Java Edition server software runs on Linux, including Ubuntu, and the official server download is free. The machine can be your everyday desktop, a spare mini PC, a dedicated home server, or a virtual private server (VPS). The installation commands are nearly the same, but the networking work differs:
- Home computer or mini PC: no recurring hosting bill, but the computer must remain powered on. You must configure the home router and avoid exposing your public IP unnecessarily.
- VPS: usually stays online in a provider’s data center and avoids inbound connections to your home network. You pay a recurring fee and must configure the provider’s cloud firewall as well as Ubuntu.
- Managed service: the provider handles most Linux administration. Minecraft Realms is the official convenience alternative, with automatic backups for up to 10 players, but it is not an Ubuntu-hosted server.
Use the Java server only for Java Edition players. The official Bedrock Dedicated Server is a different product with separate files and requirements.
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Requirements before installation
- An Ubuntu installation with administrator access through
sudo. - A supported Java Runtime Environment (JRE) for the exact Minecraft server release you plan to run.
- Storage for the JAR, generated world folders, logs, and backups.
- A stable network connection. Internet players also need a reachable public address and a router or cloud firewall you can administer.
- A plan for who receives operator privileges and whether a whitelist will be enabled.
Minecraft’s official documentation intentionally describes Java as “compatible” rather than guaranteeing one major version forever. Check the current server download or release notes immediately before installation and again before every upgrade.
Install and verify Java
Refresh Ubuntu’s package index and install a headless Java runtime. The package named default-jre-headless follows Ubuntu’s current default; if the server release requires a different major version, install that version’s Ubuntu package instead.
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sudo apt install default-jre-headlessConfirm what Ubuntu will use:
java -versionRecord the major version shown. If the server exits with an UnsupportedClassVersionError, the installed Java is too old (or, less commonly, a conflicting Java binary is being selected). Install the major version required by that server release, then run java -version again. Do not assume that the version used by one Minecraft release remains correct for later releases.
Create a dedicated account and server directory
Running the server as root gives a game process more access than it needs. A separate account and directory keep world data, configuration, and logs together while limiting the damage from a compromised plugin or misconfigured command.
sudo adduser --system --home /srv/minecraft --group minecraft
sudo mkdir -p /srv/minecraft
sudo chown -R minecraft:minecraft /srv/minecraft
sudo -u minecraft -H bashThe last command opens a shell as the service account. If you prefer to stay in your administrator shell, prefix individual file operations with sudo -u minecraft instead. From this point, work in the server directory:
cd /srv/minecraftThe path /srv/minecraft is a practical Linux convention, not a Minecraft requirement. You can use another directory if you apply consistent ownership and service settings.
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Download the official Java server JAR
Open Minecraft’s official Java server download page and download the JAR for the release you want. Save it in /srv/minecraft. Naming it server.jar makes service commands stable when you upgrade; keeping the versioned filename can make rollback easier. If you rename the file, use the same name in every launch command and service definition.
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Run the server once to generate its files
From the server directory, start a headless instance. The values below are an example starting point, not a guaranteed memory requirement:
java -Xms1G -Xmx2G -jar server.jar noguiThe first launch creates eula.txt, server.properties, a world directory, and other files, then stops because the EULA has not been accepted. Memory needs vary with the Minecraft version, simulation distance, mods or plugins, world activity, and player count. Leave enough RAM for Ubuntu and other services; increasing -Xmx does not automatically improve performance.
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Accept the EULA
Read the license terms on the official Minecraft site. If you agree, change the generated setting from false to true:
sed -i 's/^eula=false$/eula=true/' eula.txtCheck the result before starting:
grep '^eula=' eula.txtThe output must be eula=true. If it remains false, the server will stop again and report that the EULA must be accepted.
Review server.properties
Open the configuration file:
nano server.propertiesThese settings are the ones most private servers change first:
| Setting | Purpose | Practical guidance |
|---|---|---|
server-port |
TCP port on which Java clients connect | The default is 25565. If you change it, use the same number in Ubuntu’s firewall, router forwarding, cloud firewall, and player connection address. |
gamemode |
Default game mode for new players | Choose the mode appropriate for your group; existing player data may retain its own mode. |
difficulty |
World difficulty | Set it before inviting players if you want a predictable survival experience. |
max-players |
Maximum simultaneous players accepted by the server | This is a configuration ceiling, not a performance guarantee. Capacity depends on hardware, world activity, version, and mods or plugins. |
motd |
Message shown in the multiplayer list | Use it to identify the server and communicate basic rules. |
| Whitelist settings | Restricts joining to named players | Enable a whitelist for a private group, then add players by name from the server console. |
Save the file and close the editor. The server reads many properties at startup; restart after changing a setting if the console does not apply it immediately.
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Start it for testing
Run the same command again from /srv/minecraft:
java -Xms1G -Xmx2G -jar server.jar noguiWatch the console for a message indicating that the server has finished loading. On the same Ubuntu machine, launch Java Edition and connect to localhost. This test isolates server configuration from router and internet problems. To stop safely, type stop in the Minecraft console and wait for it to save the world.
Keep the server running after logout and reboot
A terminal test ends when the shell closes. For a real server, use a supervisor such as systemd or run the process in a persistent terminal multiplexer. Systemd is convenient for automatic startup and status checks.
Create a systemd unit
As an administrator, create /etc/systemd/system/minecraft.service and paste this unit, changing the JAR name or memory values if necessary:
[Unit]
Description=Minecraft Java server
After=network-online.target
Wants=network-online.target
[Service]
User=minecraft
Group=minecraft
WorkingDirectory=/srv/minecraft
ExecStart=/usr/bin/java -Xms1G -Xmx2G -jar server.jar nogui
Restart=on-failure
RestartSec=10
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WantedBy=multi-user.targetSave the file, reload systemd, start the service, and enable it for future boots:
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sudo systemctl enable --now minecraftCheck whether it is running:
sudo systemctl status minecraft
sudo journalctl -u minecraft -fLogs go to journald, so you do not need to make the server directory writable by root. Use sudo systemctl restart minecraft after a configuration change and sudo systemctl stop minecraft before maintenance. For world copies or upgrades, allow the server to save and stop cleanly; the console’s stop command is the safest method when you have an interactive console.
Use tmux when you need an interactive console
If you need to issue Minecraft commands directly, install tmux and keep the process in a detachable session:
sudo apt install tmux
sudo -u minecraft -H tmux new -s minecraft
cd /srv/minecraft
java -Xms1G -Xmx2G -jar server.jar noguiDetach with the tmux key sequence shown by tmux, then reconnect with sudo -u minecraft -H tmux attach -t minecraft. A tmux session does not by itself restart the server after a crash or reboot, so systemd is preferable for unattended operation.
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Open the network path
Ubuntu firewall (UFW)
If UFW is enabled, permit only the port selected in server.properties. For the default Java port:
sudo ufw allow 25565/tcp
sudo ufw statusThe official default is TCP 25565. Do not open unrelated ports just to make Minecraft work. If you selected another port, replace 25565 everywhere with that value.
Home-router port forwarding
For players outside your home, create one port-forwarding rule in the router:
- Give the Ubuntu host a stable LAN address, preferably with a DHCP reservation.
- Forward TCP port 25565 on the router’s internet (WAN) side to TCP port 25565 on that Ubuntu LAN address.
- Keep the Ubuntu firewall rule enabled.
- Test from a different network, such as a phone using cellular data. Testing from inside the same LAN may fail on routers that lack NAT loopback even when internet access works.
If your internet provider uses carrier-grade NAT, you may not receive a publicly reachable IPv4 address. In that case, ordinary port forwarding cannot accept unsolicited connections; ask the provider about a public address or use a VPS or managed service instead.
VPS or cloud firewall
On a VPS, there is no home-router rule. Add an inbound TCP rule for the selected port in the provider’s cloud firewall or security group, then allow the same port with UFW on Ubuntu. Both layers must permit the connection.
Connect players safely
A player on the server machine connects to localhost. A player on the same home network normally uses the Ubuntu host’s private LAN address. A remote player uses the host’s public address followed by :25565 when the default port is in use; if you changed the port, they must use that number.
Keep the whitelist enabled for a private group. Grant operator status only to people who need administrative commands, because an operator can alter the world and server settings. Minecraft’s help documentation warns that advertising a home public IP creates a security risk to the home network. Share the address only with the people who need it, and avoid publishing it in a public forum.
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Back up worlds and configuration
Stop the server before copying live world data. At minimum, back up:
worldworld_netherworld_the_endserver.propertieswhitelist.json,ops.json, and any other access-control files present
Copy the directories to storage outside the live server directory, retain more than one dated version, and test a restore in a separate directory. A backup that has never been restored is not verified. Include the server JAR version and Java version in your backup notes so you can reproduce the environment.
Upgrade without damaging a world
- Tell players the maintenance time and stop the server with the console
stopcommand. - Make and verify a backup of all world and configuration directories.
- Check the official release information for the new JAR and its compatible Java requirement.
- Keep the old JAR until the new installation has loaded successfully; rename files rather than deleting them immediately.
- Replace or add the new JAR, update the systemd unit if its filename changed, and start the server.
- Read the console and journal for conversion warnings or errors before allowing players back in.
World formats and mods can have release-specific migration rules. Never treat an upgrade as a reason to skip the backup.
Troubleshoot the common failures
The server says the EULA has not been accepted
Open /srv/minecraft/eula.txt as the minecraft user and confirm the exact line is eula=true. Make sure you edited the file in the same directory used by WorkingDirectory; editing a second copy elsewhere has no effect.
Unable to access jarfile
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sudo -u minecraft ls -l /srv/minecraftCorrect the unit or rename the JAR, then run sudo systemctl daemon-reload and restart the service. Check ownership if the file exists but cannot be read.
UnsupportedClassVersionError
Run java -version under the same account and inspect the server release notes for the required major version. Install the compatible Ubuntu Java package and ensure the service points to the intended /usr/bin/java.
Players on the internet cannot connect
- Confirm the service is running with
sudo systemctl status minecraft. - Confirm something is listening on the selected port with
sudo ss -ltnp | grep 25565. - Check
server-port, UFW, and the VPS cloud firewall or router forwarding rule. - Verify the player is using the public address, not the Ubuntu host’s private LAN address.
- Test from an external network and check whether the ISP uses carrier-grade NAT.
Local players connect but remote players do not
The Java process and local firewall are probably working. Concentrate on router forwarding, the Ubuntu host’s changing LAN address, the public address supplied by the ISP, and any upstream firewall. A router reboot can change the host’s private address unless you reserved it.
The server feels laggy
There is no universal RAM-per-player figure. Measure the actual workload and consider the Minecraft version, simulation distance, entity-heavy farms, mods or plugins, CPU speed, storage latency, and concurrent players. Lowering simulation or view distance and removing expensive plugins can help; adding heap beyond what the machine can use may increase garbage-collection pauses instead.
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| Option | Strengths | Trade-offs | Administration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu at home | Full control, local hardware, no separate hosting bill | Power and internet outages, router forwarding, public-IP exposure, home bandwidth limits | You maintain Ubuntu, Java, backups, firewall, and upgrades |
| Ubuntu VPS | Continuous data-center availability, no inbound connection to your home LAN, selectable region | Recurring cost, provider dependence, cloud-firewall configuration, possible latency or resource limits | You still maintain the server software and Linux stack |
| Managed service or Realms | Less Linux work; Realms includes automatic backups and supports up to 10 players according to official help | Not an Ubuntu server; less control over the operating environment and customization | Provider handles most infrastructure |
Choose a home host when control and cost matter more than guaranteed uptime. Choose a VPS when 24/7 availability or avoiding home port forwarding is worth the recurring expense. Choose a managed option when administration and backup simplicity matter more than running your own Ubuntu instance.
Quick Recap
Final checklist
- Java Edition server JAR downloaded from the official Minecraft site.
- Java version checked against the exact server release.
- Dedicated non-root account owns
/srv/minecraft. - First launch completed and
eula=truerecorded. server.propertiesreviewed, including port, whitelist, difficulty, game mode, and player limit.- Persistent startup configured with systemd or another supervisor.
- Only the selected TCP port opened in UFW and, where applicable, the router or cloud firewall.
- Players given the correct local or public address.
- Whitelist, operator permissions, backups, and upgrade procedure tested.
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