For a small, occasional group, the fastest way to host Hytale is built into the game: open your single-player world, enable Online Play, and give friends the share code. You usually do not need port forwarding because Hytale attempts direct and relayed connections automatically. If you want a world that remains available while you are offline, need more control, or expect a larger group, run the dedicated server with Java 25. A managed provider is the simplest route to 24/7 availability without configuring your home network.
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The right choice depends on whether you value convenience, persistence, control, or uptime. The procedures below cover all three approaches, including the UDP networking details that commonly prevent friends from joining.
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Choose the hosting method that fits your group
Hytale gives you three practical ways to let other players into a world. Built-in friend join has the least setup and is intended for casual sessions. A self-hosted dedicated server keeps running independently of the game client and exposes more configuration. Managed hosting moves the hardware, networking, maintenance, and availability work to a provider.
| Method | Setup effort | Must the host stay in the game? | Router exposure | World persistence | Player scale | Troubleshooting burden | Recurring cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Built-in Online Play | Very low: enable one setting and share a code | Yes. The world is available while the host has it open | Usually none; direct and relayed routes are attempted automatically | Uses the host’s existing single-player save | Best for a few friends; an official maximum is not stated | Low, mainly friendship, firewall, or connection issues | No separate server fee stated |
| Self-hosted dedicated server | Moderate: Java 25, server files, authentication, firewall, and UDP networking | No. The server process can run while you are not playing | Usually requires UDP port forwarding unless IPv6 or another private-network method works | Persistent server files, configuration, saves, and mods | Suitable for larger groups; an official player maximum is not stated | Moderate to high because you manage the machine and network | No hosting fee, but your electricity and internet costs continue |
| Managed hosting | Low after purchase: commonly one-click installation | No; the provider operates the server | Handled by the provider | Persistent while the service remains active | Plan-dependent; limits and prices vary by provider | Lower local troubleshooting, with provider support for infrastructure | Recurring price varies and is not stated in Hypixel Studios’ guide |
Hypixel Studios’ official guide identifies Nitrado, Apex Hosting, GPORTAL, Shockbyte, and Dathost as “Launch Verified” providers. That designation indicates participation in the launch program; it does not establish a particular plan, price, performance level, or affiliate relationship.
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Use built-in Online Play for a quick private session
Built-in friend join is the best default for two or more people who play together only when the host is available. It avoids installing Java, exposing a port, or maintaining a separate process.
Host a single-player world
- Open Hytale and load the single-player world you want to share.
- Press Esc to open the pause menu.
- Choose Online Play.
- Turn on Allow Other Players to Join.
- If the world should be private, set a password in the same panel.
- Save the setting and select the option to copy the share code.
Generate the code after adding one another as Hytale friends. Friendship enables additional connection methods and can make a join succeed when an otherwise valid code does not.
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- Open Hytale and select Servers.
- Choose Join via Code.
- Paste the host’s share code.
- Enter the password if the host configured one.
- Connect to the world.
Hytale tries a direct route and a relayed route automatically. On most home networks, that means no router changes are necessary. The host still has to keep the world open; closing the world or leaving the session removes the availability that friends are using.
When built-in hosting is the wrong fit
- You want friends to play while you are asleep, at work, or offline.
- You need server-only configuration or a persistent modded setup.
- Your group is large enough that the host’s game client and server workload compete for resources.
- Your network blocks the game’s direct and relay attempts and you do not want to troubleshoot it.
In those cases, move to a dedicated server or managed hosting rather than repeatedly regenerating codes.
Run a self-hosted dedicated Hytale server
A dedicated server runs the simulation separately from the game you use to play. Hypixel Studios states: “The Hytale server can run on any device with at least 4GB of memory and Java 25.” That is a minimum requirement, not a performance guarantee for a particular player count, view distance, mod set, or operating system.
Prepare the computer
- Use a machine with at least 4GB of memory available to the server.
- Install Java 25. The official manual recommends an Adoptium distribution.
- Give the computer a stable network connection and a fixed local address if you plan to keep a router-forwarding rule.
- Make sure you can create firewall rules and keep the machine powered on for the hours friends need it.
Confirm Java before downloading or launching the server:
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java --versionThe output should identify Java 25. If it reports an older release, install Java 25 or adjust the system path before continuing.
Obtain the server files
You can copy the files from the Hytale launcher, use the Hytale Downloader CLI, or bootstrap the installation from HytaleServer.jar. On Windows, the official launcher location is:
%appdata%HytaleinstallreleasepackagegamelatestThe folder contains the Server directory and Assets.zip. Copy the server files to a directory you control, such as a dedicated Hytale folder, rather than running directly from a temporary download location. Keep HytaleServer.jar and Assets.zip together unless you deliberately change the paths in your launch command.
Start the server process
Open a terminal in the directory containing the server JAR and assets archive, then run:
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Authenticate the installation
At the server console, enter:
/auth login deviceThe server displays a device URL and a one-time code. Open that URL in a browser, enter the code, and finish the sign-in flow. Authentication enables Hytale’s service APIs and abuse-prevention systems. Complete it before asking friends to test external connections, because an unauthenticated process may not provide the expected service functionality.
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Open the correct network port
The default dedicated-server port is 5520. Hytale uses QUIC over UDP, so forward UDP 5520, not TCP. If you start the server with a custom --bind port, use that port consistently in the firewall and router rule instead.
- Assign the host computer a stable local IP address, either with a DHCP reservation in the router or a correctly configured static address.
- Create a router port-forwarding rule for the selected UDP port to that local IP address.
- Allow the same UDP port through the computer’s firewall.
- Give friends your public address and port through a private message, not a public post.
On Linux, the official manual includes examples for both iptables and ufw. A typical UFW rule is:
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Let players connect and keep the world persistent
After the process is running, authenticated, and reachable, friends can add the server through Hytale’s server interface using the address and port you provide. The dedicated process continues even when you close your own game client, which is the key difference from Online Play. Stop the process cleanly before shutting down the computer so the server can finish writing its world data.
Hypixel Studios states that one Hytale game license supports up to 500 servers. That is a licensing allowance, not a promise that one consumer PC or network can operate 500 servers at playable performance.
Update without losing configuration
The Hytale Downloader CLI is described in the official manual as the production-friendly update method. Wrapper scripts can stage new server files while preserving configuration, saves, and mods. Keep those data directories separate from replaceable binaries, stop the server before updating, and retain a backup of the world before changing versions. After an update, launch the server, authenticate if prompted, and test a private connection before announcing the new address to the group.
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Why a dedicated process can perform better
Hypixel Studios describes three practical advantages: “Better performance. The server does not also render the game. Uptime when you are offline. More configuration options.” The first advantage comes from separating simulation work from the host player’s rendering workload. The second lets friends play when the owner is not in the game. The third matters when you need server-specific settings, permissions, or mods that are not available through the single-player sharing screen.
Use managed hosting for 24/7 availability
Managed Hytale hosting is appropriate when the group expects an always-on world but nobody wants to maintain a home server. The provider supplies the machine, network connection, maintenance, and monitoring, and commonly offers one-click installation and automatic updates.
What the provider handles
- Hardware and memory allocation for the plan you select.
- Public networking, including the UDP service port.
- Power, data-center connectivity, and routine maintenance.
- Server installation, commonly through a control-panel button.
- Availability while every player is away from home.
You remain responsible for selecting a plan that matches your expected world size and mods, managing player access, and reading the provider’s backup, cancellation, and update policies. Prices, resource limits, and support quality change over time, so check the current plan details directly before paying.
When managed hosting is worth the recurring fee
Choose it when uptime matters more than minimizing monthly cost, your home connection uses CGNAT, or you cannot safely configure a router and firewall. It is also useful for a group whose members live in different time zones and want to join without waiting for one person to start a PC.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Understand Hytale’s network requirements
Port forwarding and UDP
A dedicated server listens on UDP 5520 by default because Hytale uses QUIC. A TCP-only rule will not make the server reachable. If you change the bind port, update all three places: the server argument, the host firewall, and the router forwarding rule.
Double NAT
Double NAT occurs when two routers both translate addresses, such as an ISP gateway connected to your own router. A forwarding rule on only the inner router may never receive an outside packet. The documented remedies are:
- Forward the selected UDP port on both routers.
- Enable UPnP on both routers, if you accept its security trade-off.
- Put the ISP gateway into bridge mode so one router performs NAT.
- Connect the host directly to the main router instead of the downstream router.
CGNAT
Carrier-grade NAT gives your home connection a private address behind the ISP’s shared public address. In that situation, normal inbound port forwarding cannot work because you do not control the upstream translation. Ask the ISP for a public IP address, or use a private overlay such as Tailscale. Managed hosting is another way to avoid the limitation.
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IPv6
When both sides have working IPv6 connectivity, the Joining Friends guide says port forwarding is not needed. You still need to permit the server’s UDP port in the host firewall and ensure the address you share is reachable from the players’ networks.
Tailscale as a fallback
Tailscale is documented as a free personal-use fallback that creates an encrypted private connection between signed-in devices. Install it on the server computer and each player’s computer, sign everyone into the same tailnet, and then regenerate the Hytale share code after both players have signed in. Regenerating the code matters because the available network paths have changed.
Troubleshoot a failed join
The share code is rejected or the world is missing
- Confirm the host loaded the intended world and left Allow Other Players to Join enabled.
- Add one another as Hytale friends before generating a new code.
- Copy the code again instead of retyping it, and regenerate it after changing network conditions.
- Use the host’s Copy Network Report button when a join fails; include that report when asking for technical help.
The dedicated server is running locally but unreachable
- Verify that Java reports version 25 and that the server console shows a successful launch.
- Check that the router forwards UDP, not TCP, to the correct local IP.
- Check Windows Defender Firewall, Linux firewall rules, and antivirus exceptions for the selected UDP port.
- Make sure the router’s forwarding target did not change after a DHCP lease renewal.
- Test from a different network, such as a phone hotspot. A successful local test does not prove that internet routing works.
Friends can connect only sometimes
Intermittent access often points to changing local addresses, double NAT, or a relay path that is temporarily unavailable. Reserve the host’s local IP, resolve double NAT, and generate a fresh share code. If your ISP uses CGNAT, stop changing port-forwarding rules and use a public IP request, Tailscale, or managed hosting instead.
Players connect but performance is poor
Separate the server process from the game client when possible, close unrelated workloads, and watch memory usage. The 4GB figure is only the stated minimum. More players, larger worlds, and mods can require additional memory and CPU; the official material does not publish a universal hardware table or player limit.
Authentication does not complete
Run /auth login device in the server console, open the exact device URL shown there, and enter the current code before it expires. If the browser flow succeeds but the server still behaves as unauthenticated, stop and restart the process, then repeat the device login while watching the console for confirmation.
Operate the server safely
Limit who can join
Use the built-in password for a shared single-player world. For a dedicated server, share the address privately, keep the server software current, and remove access for people who should no longer connect. Never publish your home public IP together with personal information.
Plan for downtime and saves
Built-in Online Play ends when the host closes the world. A dedicated server or managed service is the correct choice for a persistent world. Schedule updates when nobody is playing, stop the process cleanly, and keep copies of important saves before replacing server files.
Quick Recap
Choose by scenario
- Two to a few friends on occasional evenings: use Online Play and a password.
- A persistent world for a regular group: self-host the dedicated server if you can manage Java, UDP forwarding, and firewall rules.
- Players need access around the clock: use managed hosting or leave a dedicated server on a reliable always-on machine.
- Your ISP uses CGNAT and will not provide a public address: use Tailscale for a small private group or managed hosting for a public service.
- You want maximum control and custom configuration: self-host the dedicated server, keeping updates and backups under your control.
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