How to Host a 24/7 Minecraft Server for Free

Greetings Dev,

If you are an avid Minecraft player, you would know the importance of having a reliable server to play on. While there are paid hosting services, not everyone can afford to shell out money for it. However, did you know that there are ways to host a 24/7 Minecraft server for free? In this article, we will guide you through the steps to set up and host your own Minecraft server without spending a dime.

Step 1: Requirements

Before we begin, let’s look at the requirements to host your own Minecraft server. First and foremost, you will need a computer with a stable and fast internet connection. You will also need to download the Minecraft server software from the official website. Make sure your computer meets the minimum requirements to run the software.

Next, you will need to create an account on a hosting service that offers free virtual servers such as Google Cloud Platform, Amazon AWS or Microsoft Azure. These services provide free virtual servers for a limited time, which is enough for hosting a Minecraft server.

Once you have the necessary requirements, let’s move onto the next step.

Step 2: Setting up the Server

After downloading the Minecraft server software, create a new folder on your computer and move the software to it. Rename the file to something recognizable, such as “Minecraft Server”.

Next, open the software and configure the server settings. You can change the server name, game mode, difficulty level, and more. Once you’re done, save the changes and close the software.

Now, let’s move onto setting up the virtual server on the hosting service you chose.

Step 3: Creating a Virtual Server

Log into your account on the hosting service’s website and navigate to the “Create a new virtual server” section. Select the free option and choose the operating system you want to use. For the purposes of this tutorial, we will use Ubuntu.

Once you have created the virtual server, you will receive an email with the login credentials. Use these details to log into the server using the SSH protocol.

Now that you have access to the virtual server, let’s move onto installing the necessary software.

Step 4: Installing Java and Screen

In order to run the Minecraft server on the virtual server, you will need to install Java and Screen. These are essential software that will allow you to run the server in the background.

First, let’s update the packages on the server by running the following command:

sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get upgrade

Next, install Java by running this command:

sudo apt-get install default-jre

After installing Java, install Screen by running this command:

sudo apt-get install screen

Once you have installed these software, let’s move onto setting up the Minecraft server on the virtual server.

Step 5: Uploading the Minecraft Server

Now that you have access to the virtual server and have installed the necessary software, it’s time to upload the Minecraft server to it. Use an FTP client such as FileZilla to connect to the virtual server and upload the Minecraft server folder.

Once the server is uploaded, navigate to the folder in the terminal using the following command:

cd /path/to/folder

Once you’re in the folder, run the following command to start the server:

screen -S minecraft java -Xmx1024M -Xms1024M -jar minecraft_server.jar nogui

This will start the server in the background. To detach from the screen and leave the server running, press “Ctrl + A” followed by “D”.

Congratulations, you have successfully hosted a Minecraft server on a virtual server for free!

FAQ

Hosting a Minecraft server for free may seem daunting, but it’s achievable with some effort and patience. We hope this article has been helpful in guiding you through the process. Happy gaming!