The dependable way to run a Minecraft Bedrock Dedicated Server (BDS) in Docker is to use itzg/minecraft-bedrock-server, accept the EULA, persist /data on a host directory or named volume, and manage the container with Docker Compose. For BDS 1.26.50 and newer, the image’s current NetherNet example publishes TCP port 19132 and UDP ports 19140-19155. A persistent /data mount keeps worlds and configuration when the container is recreated; a separate, tested backup process protects that data from host or operator mistakes.
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What the itzg Bedrock image does
itzg/minecraft-bedrock-server is a container wrapper around Mojang’s Bedrock server software. The BDS package is not embedded in the Docker image. At startup, the container downloads or upgrades the server software from Mojang, then launches it with settings generated from environment variables and files in /data. Consequently, an image update and a Mojang server release are separate events: restarting the same image can still install a newer BDS release when VERSION=LATEST.
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The container will not start the game server until you set EULA=TRUE. The /data directory is the important state boundary. It contains the expanded server, server.properties, worlds, allow-list data and other runtime files. Mounting it to storage outside the writable container layer is what lets you replace, upgrade or recreate the container without losing the world.
Requirements before you deploy
- A Linux, Windows or macOS machine with Docker Engine and the Compose plugin (the command is
docker compose). - Enough disk space for the Bedrock package, logs and your worlds. The official material does not publish a universal storage estimate, so monitor the mounted filesystem rather than relying on a fixed number.
- A fixed LAN address or a known public address for the Docker host if players will connect from other devices.
- Router and host-firewall access for the transport and ports required by the BDS version you select.
- A backup destination that is not the same disk as the live world if you need protection from disk failure.
Create a project directory and keep the Compose file and the data directory together when using a bind mount:
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mkdir -p ~/bedrock-server/data
cd ~/bedrock-serverRecommended Docker Compose deployment
For BDS 1.26.50 and later, the official itzg example uses NetherNet. Replace 192.168.1.10 below with the Docker host’s LAN or public address as appropriate for your network.
services:
bds:
image: itzg/minecraft-bedrock-server
environment:
EULA: "TRUE"
SERVER_UDP_PORTS: "192.168.1.10:19140-19155:19140-19155"
GAMEMODE: survival
DIFFICULTY: normal
ports:
- "19132:19132/tcp"
- "19140-19155:19140-19155/udp"
volumes:
- ./data:/data
stdin_open: true
tty: trueSave this as compose.yaml. The host-side path ./data is relative to the directory containing that file. A named volume is also valid, but non-root operation can require you to create the volume first and set its ownership to the UID/GID used by the container. A bind mount makes inspection and copying straightforward.
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- From the project directory, run
docker compose up -d. - Follow startup and download messages with
docker compose logs -f. The first run can take longer because the BDS package is fetched from Mojang. - Wait for the log to indicate that the server is ready before testing a client connection.
- Stop it cleanly with
docker compose down. This removes the container but leaves./dataintact. Start it again withdocker compose up -d.
Do not use docker compose down -v with a named volume unless you intentionally want Docker to delete that volume. A bind-mounted directory is not removed by Compose, but it can still be deleted manually, so protect it with filesystem permissions and backups.
Ports and NetherNet transport
In the current README, BDS 1.26.50 and newer use NetherNet by default. The example maps TCP 19132 for the initial connection and UDP 19140-19155 for gameplay. The SERVER_UDP_PORTS value tells the image how the host address and UDP range correspond to the container range; it must match the address players use to reach the Docker host.
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| Mapping | Purpose in the current example | Protocol |
|---|---|---|
19132:19132 |
Initial Bedrock connection | TCP |
19140-19155:19140-19155 |
NetherNet gameplay range | UDP |
Open only the ports required by the transport used by your BDS release. If you run another BDS version or choose another transport, follow that version’s image instructions rather than assuming the NetherNet range applies. Publishing a port in Compose does not open a router or operating-system firewall automatically. For internet access, forward the same external ports at the router and permit them on the host firewall.
Persisting worlds and configuration
The /data mount is what survives container replacement. At minimum, it should contain the worlds directory and configuration files such as server.properties. Never rely on data written only inside the container’s writable layer: docker compose down, a manual container removal, or a redeployment can discard it.
Bind mount versus named volume
| Choice | Advantages | Operational cautions |
|---|---|---|
./data:/data |
Easy to inspect, copy, checksum and send to another host; naturally included in filesystem backup jobs. | The host path must have permissions compatible with the container process, and accidental edits can change live configuration. |
| Named volume | Docker manages the storage location and Compose keeps the declaration portable. | Backups require a volume-aware procedure; pre-create and chown the volume when running as a non-root UID/GID. |
Change settings in compose.yaml and recreate or restart through Compose. Editing files inside a running container makes the change harder to reproduce and can be lost during replacement.
Configure gameplay with environment variables
The image translates supported environment variables into Bedrock server properties. Common controls include:
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| Variable | Effect | Example |
|---|---|---|
GAMEMODE |
Default game mode for the world. | survival |
DIFFICULTY |
World difficulty. | normal |
LEVEL_NAME |
World or level name used by the server. | family-world |
MAX_PLAYERS |
Connection limit configured in server properties. | 10 |
ONLINE_MODE |
Whether Bedrock account authentication is required. | true |
VIEW_DISTANCE |
View distance setting. | 32 |
TICK_DISTANCE |
Simulation tick distance. | 4 |
Permission and access controls are separate from basic gameplay settings. OPS, MEMBERS and VISITORS accept player identifiers. Private servers can use ALLOW_LIST and ALLOW_LIST_USERS, or maintain allowlist.json in /data. Verify the exact syntax supported by the image version before deploying a change.
Run commands without entering the console
The image includes a send-command helper. Replace the placeholder with the Compose container name or ID:
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Choose a version and upgrade safely
VERSION=LATEST is the default. On each container startup, the image checks for a newer Bedrock release and downloads it when available. VERSION=PREVIEW selects the latest preview; a specific version can be pinned when you need reproducible deployments or must avoid a temporary compatibility problem.
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- Decide whether this server should track the latest release, preview builds or a pinned version.
- Set or change
VERSIONincompose.yaml, not only inside the running container. - Stop or restart with Compose so the existing
/datamount is reused. - Before an upgrade, copy
/dataand confirm that the backup can be read. - Start the service and inspect
docker compose logs -ffor download, migration or world-loading errors. - If the new release causes a problem, stop the service, restore the previous data copy if necessary, pin the known-good BDS version, and start again.
Because the server software is downloaded only at startup, changing an image tag alone does not install a new BDS package until the container is restarted.
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A useful backup captures the complete mounted /data tree, not just the Docker image. The worlds directory is essential, but configuration, permissions and allow-list files are needed to reproduce the server accurately. The official material does not publish a tested recovery time, recommended frequency, retention schedule or disaster-recovery benchmark, so choose those values for your world and document them.
Manual filesystem backup with a bind mount
For a short maintenance window, stop the server so files are quiescent, archive the directory, then start it again:
cd ~/bedrock-server
docker compose stop
tar -czf bedrock-data-$(date +%Y-%m-%d-%H%M).tar.gz data/
docker compose startStore the archive on another disk or host. A local archive on the same disk protects against accidental deletion but not disk failure, theft or filesystem corruption. Check that the archive can be listed with tar -tzf; a backup that has never been read is not a verified restore point.
Named-volume backup
For a named volume, stop the service and use a temporary container to stream the volume into an archive on the host. The volume name shown by docker volume ls must replace BEDROCK_VOLUME:
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docker compose stop
docker run --rm -v BEDROCK_VOLUME:/data:ro -v "$PWD":/backup alpine tar -czf /backup/bedrock-data.tar.gz -C /data .
docker compose startTest the resulting archive before relying on it. The image documentation mentions kaiede/minecraft-bedrock-backup as a separate backup component, but it does not define a complete retention, destination or restore policy for that component. Treat it as an optional tool that requires independent configuration review, not as automatic disaster recovery.
Restore procedure
- Stop the BDS service with
docker compose stop. - Move the damaged or unwanted
datadirectory aside instead of deleting it immediately. - Extract the verified archive into a new empty directory, preserving the
worldstree and configuration files. - Fix ownership and permissions if the container runs as a non-root user.
- Point the Compose volume at the restored directory and run
docker compose up -d. - Watch the logs, connect with a test account, and confirm the expected world, players and settings before reopening access.
Security and access controls
- Use an allow-list for private servers and grant operator, member and visitor permissions deliberately.
- Publish only the TCP and UDP ports required by your selected BDS transport.
- Apply firewall rules on the Docker host and, for internet servers, on the router. The image does not provide host firewalling.
- Keep the Compose file and backups readable only by administrators; they can reveal server settings and world data.
- Do not treat
ONLINE_MODEor an allow-list as a replacement for network-layer controls.
The image does not claim to provide a tested internet-hardening profile. Authentication, firewalling, rate limiting and monitoring remain responsibilities of the host and surrounding network.
Docker Compose or a one-off docker run?
| Concern | Compose | One-off docker run |
|---|---|---|
| Repeatability | Environment, ports and mounts live in a reviewable file. | Options are embedded in shell history and are easier to omit on recreation. |
| Upgrades | Change VERSION or another variable, then restart the same service. |
You must reconstruct the full command accurately. |
| Storage | Volume declaration is explicit and reusable. | Mount flags must be repeated every time. |
| Logs and lifecycle | docker compose logs, up, stop and down provide a consistent workflow. |
Container names and flags vary between manual invocations. |
| Rollback | Pin a known-good version and restore a matching data copy from the file. | Rollback depends on remembering the previous command and image settings. |
The itzg documentation recommends a management layer such as Docker Compose or Kubernetes for long-running servers because it supports incremental reconfiguration and image upgrades.
Quick Recap
Troubleshooting checklist
The container exits immediately
- Check
docker compose logsfor an EULA error and confirm the value is exactlyTRUE. - Verify that the host can reach Mojang’s download service; the BDS package is fetched at startup.
- Inspect the mounted directory permissions, especially when using a named volume or a non-root UID/GID.
Players cannot connect
- Confirm the client and server use compatible BDS versions.
- Check that TCP
19132and the required UDP range are published, allowed by the host firewall and forwarded by the router. - Verify that
SERVER_UDP_PORTScontains the address players actually use, not an outdated LAN address. - For releases or transports other than the current NetherNet example, apply the port instructions for that version.
The world disappeared after recreation
- Inspect the Compose volume declaration and confirm it still points to the original host directory or named volume.
- Look for the
worldsdirectory under the mounted/datapath. - Do not run commands that remove volumes unless deletion is intentional; restore from a verified archive if the data was removed.
A setting did not change
- Confirm the variable name and value in
compose.yaml. - Recreate or restart the service so the image regenerates the relevant server property.
- Check whether a manually edited file in
/dataoverrides the generated value, and keep the desired setting in one authoritative place.
Operational checklist
- Keep
EULA=TRUEand all gameplay settings in version-controlled Compose configuration. - Persist
/dataoutside the container layer. - Choose
LATEST,PREVIEWor a pinnedVERSIONdeliberately. - Back up the entire data tree before upgrades and verify archives by reading or test-restoring them.
- Store at least one copy off the Docker host.
- Document the exact restore steps and the network ports for your BDS version.
- Review logs after every startup and version change.
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