How to Host Minecraft Server Without Port Forwarding

Welcome Dev! If you are a Minecraft enthusiast and you want to create your very own Minecraft server, you might have come across the term “port forwarding”. Port forwarding is a process that allows devices from outside your network to access your server. However, not all of us are tech-savvy enough to deal with port forwarding. In this article, we will show you how to host a Minecraft server without port forwarding.

What is Port Forwarding?

Before we dive into the process of hosting a Minecraft server without port forwarding, let’s first discuss what port forwarding is. In simple terms, port forwarding is a process that allows external devices to access your internal network. When a device from outside your network wants to access your server or computer, it sends a request to your router. Your router then forwards that request to the appropriate device on your network. This process is called port forwarding.

Port forwarding is commonly used when hosting multiplayer games or running servers. However, it can be a daunting task for those who are not well-versed in networking. Luckily, there is a way to host a Minecraft server without port forwarding.

Method 1: Using a Hosted Solution

One of the easiest ways to host a Minecraft server without port forwarding is to use a hosted solution. This method involves using a third-party service that hosts your server for you. Here’s how you can do it:

Step 1:

Choose a hosted solution that suits your needs. Some of the popular hosted solutions include Apex Minecraft Hosting, Shockbyte, and Server.pro.

Step 2:

Sign up for the service and choose a plan that fits your requirements. The cost of the plans may vary depending on the number of players and the amount of RAM you need.

Step 3:

Once you have signed up for the service, you will be given a control panel to manage your server. Use the control panel to configure your server settings and upload your Minecraft world.

Step 4:

Invite your friends to play on your server by sharing the server address with them. The server address will be provided by the hosted solution.

Using a hosted solution is a great way to host a Minecraft server without port forwarding. However, it comes with a cost. You will have to pay a monthly fee to keep your server running. If you want to host a server for a longer period of time, this may not be the ideal solution.

Method 2: Using a Virtual Private Server (VPS)

If you want to host a Minecraft server without port forwarding and you have some technical knowledge, you can use a Virtual Private Server (VPS). A VPS is a virtual machine that runs on a physical server. Here’s how you can host a Minecraft server using a VPS:

Step 1:

Choose a VPS provider that suits your needs. Some of the popular VPS providers include DigitalOcean, Linode, and Vultr.

Step 2:

Sign up for the service and choose a plan that fits your requirements. The cost of the plans may vary depending on the amount of RAM and storage you need.

Step 3:

Once you have signed up for the service, you will be given access to a control panel. Use the control panel to create a new virtual machine and choose your desired operating system.

Step 4:

Connect to your virtual machine using SSH. If you are using Windows, you can use an SSH client like PuTTY.

Step 5:

Install Java on your virtual machine. You will need Java to run the Minecraft server.

Step 6:

Download the Minecraft server software and upload it to your virtual machine.

Step 7:

Edit the server configuration file to customize your server settings. You can change the server name, set the maximum number of players, and more.

Step 8:

Start the Minecraft server using the command line. You can use the command “java -Xmx1024M -Xms1024M -jar minecraft_server.jar nogui” to start the server.

Step 9:

Invite your friends to play on your server by sharing the IP address of your virtual machine. You can find the IP address in the control panel of your VPS provider.

Using a VPS is a more cost-effective way to host a Minecraft server without port forwarding. However, it requires some technical knowledge and can be daunting for beginners. If you are not comfortable with using a VPS, you can always use a hosted solution.

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