To run a Minecraft server on Windows, download the official Java Edition server JAR, install a compatible Java Runtime Environment (JRE), launch the JAR from its own folder, accept the EULA, and then configure the world and network settings. Players on your home network can connect locally; players elsewhere need the server port forwarded through your router and allowed through Windows Firewall. The official server software is free, but it works only with Minecraft: Java Edition.
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This guide covers the complete first setup, the files the server creates, safe internet exposure, connection addresses, common failures, and when a hosted alternative is a better fit.
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What the Windows server software is—and what it is not
The official Minecraft server download is a Java archive file (a JAR) that runs on Windows through a compatible Java Runtime Environment. It is intended for Minecraft: Java Edition only; Bedrock Edition clients cannot use this Java server as their game server.
The software itself is free to download. You supply the Windows computer, Java installation, storage, network connection, maintenance and backups. Mojang/Minecraft cautions that self-hosting changes your home-network configuration and that private servers are operated at your own risk. The company does not provide support for home networks or privately made servers.
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- DELUXE COLLECTION — Includes Minecraft: Java & Bedrock Edition, three Bedrock add-ons, three exclusive Character Creator items, and 700 Minecoins.
- CREATE YOUR WORLD — Build whatever you imagine in an infinite world that’s unique in every playthrough.
- EXPLORE AND CRAFT — Discover biomes, resources, and mobs, then craft your way through a sandbox world filled with surprises.
- SURVIVE THE ADVENTURE — Face mysterious foes, travel across exciting landscapes, and venture into perilous dimensions.
- PLAY TOGETHER — Play cross-platform with friends in Bedrock Edition on console, mobile, and PC, or join community servers in Java Edition on PC, Mac, and Linux. Online console multiplayer requires a platform-specific subscription (sold separately).
Check the requirements before downloading
Use a 64-bit Windows installation
Make sure the computer is running a 64-bit version of Windows and can remain powered on while people play. Windows 10 is the minimum stated by Minecraft for online play and continued launcher updates as of March 2025. That statement applies to the game client and launcher; it is not a dedicated-server hardware recommendation.
Install a compatible Java Runtime Environment
A compatible JRE is required to launch the server JAR. The server will not start merely because Minecraft is installed: Windows must be able to find the java command in Command Prompt. If java is not recognized, install a compatible runtime and add its installation directory to the Windows PATH environment variable, then open a new Command Prompt and test again.
Do not mistake client requirements for server sizing
Minecraft’s newer Java Edition client guidance lists a 64-bit system, a four-core processor, 8 GB of RAM with a discrete GPU or 12 GB with integrated graphics, and a Vulkan 1.3-capable GPU with at least 2 GB of VRAM for its 1080p/30 FPS minimum target. Those are client requirements. They should not be presented as a dedicated-server specification or as a guaranteed player-capacity formula.
No official RAM-per-player figure is provided in the cited Minecraft material. Player count, view distance, world activity and other settings affect load, so avoid treating an invented “RAM per player” table as an official sizing rule.
Download the official Java server JAR
- Open Minecraft’s official Java Edition server-download page.
- Download the current server JAR offered there. Keep the original filename; later commands must match it exactly.
- Create a dedicated folder, for example
C:Minecraft Server. Do not run the server from your Downloads folder, because keeping the JAR and its generated files together makes permissions, backups and upgrades easier. - Copy the downloaded JAR into the new folder.
The server page identifies this software as Java Edition-only. A Java Edition player can use the resulting server; a Bedrock Edition player cannot join it simply by installing the JAR.
Verify Java and perform the first launch
Open Command Prompt in the server folder
Open Command Prompt, change to the folder, and verify Java:
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- CREATE YOUR WORLD — Build whatever you imagine in an infinite world that’s unique in every playthrough.
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- PLAY TOGETHER — Play cross-platform with friends in Bedrock Edition on console, mobile, and PC, or join community servers in Java Edition on PC, Mac, and Linux. Online console multiplayer requires a platform-specific subscription (sold separately).
cd "C:Minecraft Server"
java -versionThe version command should print the installed Java runtime rather than an error such as “java is not recognized.” If it fails, correct the JRE installation or PATH before continuing. Close and reopen Command Prompt after changing PATH so Windows reloads the environment.
Start the JAR
Run the file by substituting its exact filename:
java -jar <jar filename>For example, if the downloaded file is named server.jar, the command is java -jar server.jar. The first launch creates the server’s configuration files, including eula.txt and server.properties. The initial process may stop and ask you to accept the EULA; that is expected.
Accept the EULA and launch again
- Stop the server process if it is still running and open
eula.txtin a text editor. - Change the line
eula=falsetoeula=true. - Save the file without changing the spelling of the key or value.
- Return to Command Prompt in the server folder and run
java -jar <jar filename>again.
Changing the value records your acceptance of Minecraft’s End User License Agreement. Do not delete the line or replace it with a different value; the server checks it at startup.
Configure the world in server.properties
The first successful startup creates server.properties. Stop the server cleanly before editing it, change one setting at a time, save the file, and restart so the server reads the new values. The exact available keys can vary with the server version; the following are the core settings highlighted by Minecraft’s setup guidance.
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1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors| Setting | What it controls | Practical use |
|---|---|---|
gamemode |
The default game mode for players | Choose the mode your group wants for a new or existing world. |
difficulty |
The world’s difficulty | Set the challenge level before inviting players. |
pvp |
Whether player-versus-player damage is enabled | Disable it for cooperative play or enable it for competitive play. |
max-players |
The configured maximum number of players | Set a limit appropriate to the computer and connection; Minecraft does not publish an official RAM-per-player formula. |
level-seed |
The seed used when generating a world | Enter a chosen seed before creating a new world. Changing it does not regenerate an existing world. |
motd |
The message displayed for the server | Use it to identify the world or communicate a short rule. |
server-port |
The TCP port on which the Java server listens | The official default is 25565. If you change it, players and firewall/router rules must use the new value. |
Keep a backup of server.properties and the world folder before making major changes. A typo can prevent startup or leave players connecting to a different port than expected.
Make a repeatable Windows start routine
For a manual start, open Command Prompt in the server folder and run the same JAR command each time. Leave that window open while the server is running; its console displays startup messages and player events. To stop safely, use the server console’s stop command rather than closing the window abruptly, allowing the world to save before Windows shuts down the process.
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If you create a Windows batch file, keep the command pointed at the actual JAR filename and place the batch file in the server folder. Do not add memory limits copied from another guide as though they were official recommendations: the cited Minecraft material does not specify a universal amount of server RAM per player.
Connect from the same home network
Host computer
On the computer running the server, connect to localhost. This tests the server without depending on your router’s local-address behavior.
Other computers on the LAN
A friend on the same home network should enter the server computer’s local network address and the configured port. If you kept the default, the address uses port 25565. The exact local address is assigned by your router and can change unless you reserve it, so confirm the current address in Windows when troubleshooting.
LAN testing is the safest way to verify the JAR, EULA, world and basic firewall configuration before exposing anything to the internet.
Let friends connect from outside your home
Forward the Java port in your router
- Confirm the value of
server-portinserver.properties. The default is25565. - Give the Windows server computer a consistent local address, using your router’s address-reservation feature if available.
- In the router’s port-forwarding section, create a rule that forwards the configured Minecraft port to that computer’s local address.
- Save the router rule and restart or apply it if the router requests that.
Router menus and terminology differ by manufacturer, so there is no single universal click path. Forward only the port the server needs; do not expose unrelated Windows services.
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One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchAllow the server through Windows Firewall
Windows Firewall must allow the Java server process or the configured server port for the network profile you are using. If Windows displays a permission prompt when Java first runs, allow access on the appropriate private network. If you later change server-port, update the firewall rule as well.
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Give players the correct address
Internet players use the host’s public IPv4 address followed by the port, such as public-address:25565 when the default port is unchanged. The host itself should continue using localhost. Never publish your public address in an open forum or advertise it broadly: Minecraft warns that exposing a home public IP is a security risk to the home network. Share it only with people you trust, and reconsider self-hosting if you cannot confidently manage router and firewall exposure.
Diagnose an unreachable public server
- Confirm the server is running and that it works locally with
localhost. - Check that the player is using the same port shown in
server.properties. - Verify the router forwards that port to the current Windows computer, not an old local address.
- Review Windows Firewall after every port or network-profile change.
- Test from a genuinely external connection, such as a friend’s network; testing your own public address from inside the LAN can produce misleading results on some routers.
Security and maintenance responsibilities
Protect the network boundary
A self-hosted server changes your home-network configuration. Keep Windows, Java and the Minecraft server software current, use a strong Windows account password, and avoid running unrelated services on the same exposed computer. Give the public address only to intended players. The official guidance explicitly places private-server operation at the owner’s risk.
Back up the world and configuration
Stop the server before copying the world folder so files are not changing during the backup. Keep more than one copy, including one that is not permanently attached to the server computer. Back up server.properties, eula.txt and any other configuration alongside the world so you can reconstruct the setup after a disk failure or bad edit.
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Plan for updates
Before replacing the JAR with a newer release, stop the server and make a complete backup. Keep the old JAR until you have confirmed that the new version starts and that your world loads. Java compatibility, configuration keys and player-client versions can change over time, so read the current official download and setup instructions when upgrading.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Self-hosting compared with Minecraft Realms
Minecraft identifies Realms as a hosted alternative for people who do not want to administer a home server. It provides automatic backups and supports up to 10 players. The trade-off is less direct control over the Windows machine and server files than self-hosting.
| Consideration | Windows self-hosting | Realms |
|---|---|---|
| Setup effort | Install Java, download the JAR, accept the EULA, edit settings and configure networking. | Hosted setup avoids local Java, router and firewall administration. |
| Control | Direct access to server.properties, the world and server files. |
Managed environment with less access to underlying files. |
| Maintenance | You handle Java, Windows, server updates and backups. | The service handles hosting operations and includes automatic backups. |
| Network exposure | Requires router forwarding and Windows Firewall configuration for internet players. | No home port-forwarding step is required. |
| Capacity | Set max-players; practical capacity depends on your hardware and connection, and no official RAM-per-player figure is supplied. |
Supports up to 10 players according to Minecraft’s setup guidance. |
| Cost model | The official server software is free, but you provide the computer, electricity, internet connection and maintenance. | Hosted access is a service rather than a self-run Windows process; current pricing should be checked separately. |
Choose self-hosting when file-level control and hands-on administration matter more than convenience. Choose a hosted option when automatic backups, reduced network exposure and less maintenance are more important.
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Common startup and connection problems
“java is not recognized”
Windows cannot find a Java executable. Install a compatible JRE, add its location to PATH if required, open a new Command Prompt, and rerun java -version. Do not troubleshoot the Minecraft JAR until that command succeeds.
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The server stops and says the EULA is not accepted
Open eula.txt, change only eula=false to eula=true, save it, and launch the exact JAR command again. Editing a different folder’s EULA file will not affect the JAR you are running.
Players on the LAN can connect, but internet players cannot
The server itself is working, so focus on the boundary between the internet and your PC: verify the public address and port, router forwarding target, Windows Firewall permission and the configured server-port. Test from outside the home network.
The server works on the host but not on another computer in the house
Check that the other player is using the server computer’s current local address rather than localhost, which refers to their own computer. Confirm Windows Firewall allows the connection on the active private network.
A new JAR will not start after an upgrade
Run java -version, read the startup error, and confirm that the JAR filename in your command is correct. Restore the prior backup if the world or configuration is affected, then consult the current official server instructions for the new release’s Java requirement.
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Final checklist
- Java Edition client and server are being used; Bedrock clients are not supported by this JAR.
- A compatible JRE is installed and
java -versionworks in a new Command Prompt. - The JAR,
eula.txt,server.propertiesand world files are in a dedicated folder. eula=trueis saved before the second launch.- The configured game settings and
server-portare correct. localhostworks on the host before remote testing.- LAN access works before router forwarding is attempted.
- The router forwards the configured port to the server computer, and Windows Firewall permits it.
- The public address is shared privately, not posted publicly.
- The world and configuration are backed up before updates or major edits.
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