How to Host Your Own Minecraft Server 24/7 for Free

Hello Dev! Are you tired of playing Minecraft on public servers with hundreds of other players? Do you want to have more control over your gaming experience? Hosting your own Minecraft server is the solution! In this article, we will guide you through the steps to host your own Minecraft server 24/7 for free. Let’s get started!

Part 1: Requirements

Before we dive into the process of hosting your own Minecraft server, there are a few things you need to prepare:

1. A Computer

You will need a computer to host your Minecraft server. It can be any computer, but we recommend using a dedicated computer that can be left on 24/7. This will ensure your server is always available for you and your friends.

2. A Good Internet Connection

To host a Minecraft server, you need a good internet connection. The faster your connection, the better your server performance will be. Make sure your internet plan allows for enough upload and download speeds to support your server.

3. Minecraft Java Edition

You need to own a copy of Minecraft Java Edition to host a Minecraft server. You can purchase it from the official Minecraft website.

4. Port Forwarding

In order for players to join your Minecraft server from outside your home network, you need to set up port forwarding on your router. This will allow traffic to pass through your router to your server. If you are unsure how to set up port forwarding, check out our FAQ section.

Part 2: Set Up Your Minecraft Server

Now that we have all the requirements, let’s set up your Minecraft server:

1. Download the Minecraft Server Software

To download the Minecraft server software, go to the official Minecraft website and click on the “Download” tab. Scroll down to the “Minecraft server” section and select the latest version of the server software for your operating system.

2. Set Up the Server Software

Once you have downloaded the server software, open the file to run it. This will create some files and folders in the same directory as the server file.

Open the server.properties file with a text editor. This file contains settings for your server, such as server name, game mode, and difficulty level. You can customize these settings to your liking.

3. Run the Server

To run the server, open the server file again. This will launch the Minecraft server software. You will see some command prompt windows running. Once the server has finished loading, it will display the message “Done”.

4. Configure Your Firewall

If you have a firewall enabled on your computer, you need to allow traffic through it to your Minecraft server. You can do this by adding an exception to your firewall settings. If you are unsure how to do this, check out our FAQ section.

Part 3: Port Forwarding

1. Find Your Router’s IP Address

To access your router’s settings, you need to know its IP address. To find your router’s IP address, open a command prompt window and type “ipconfig”. Look for the “Default Gateway” value, which should be your router’s IP address.

2. Access Your Router’s Settings

Open a web browser and type your router’s IP address in the address bar. This should bring up your router’s settings page. You may need to enter a username and password to access the settings.

3. Set Up Port Forwarding

In your router’s settings, look for the “Port Forwarding” or “Virtual Server” section. Add a new port forwarding rule for port 25565 (the default Minecraft server port) and point it to the IP address of the computer running your Minecraft server.

4. Test Your Port Forwarding

To test your port forwarding, you can use an online port scanner tool. Enter your public IP address (you can find this by typing “what is my IP” into Google) and port 25565. If the tool reports that the port is open, your port forwarding is working correctly.

Part 4: Manage Your Minecraft Server

Now that your Minecraft server is up and running, you need to manage it:

1. Customizing Server Settings

You can access and change your server settings by editing the server.properties file. You can change things like server name, game mode, and difficulty level. Remember to save the file and restart the server for changes to take effect.

2. Whitelisting Players

To prevent unwanted players from joining your server, you can add them to the server’s whitelist. Open the whitelist.json file and add the player’s Minecraft username. Save the file and restart the server for changes to take effect.

3. Backing Up Your Server

To prevent data loss in case of a server crash, we recommend backing up your server regularly. You can do this by copying the entire server folder to a backup location on your computer or an external hard drive.

Part 5: FAQ

1. How much RAM do I need to host a Minecraft server?

The amount of RAM you need depends on how many players will be joining your server. For a small server with fewer than 10 players, 1-2 GB of RAM should be sufficient. For a larger server with up to 50 players, you should have at least 4 GB of RAM.

2. How do I set up port forwarding?

To set up port forwarding, you need to access your router’s settings page and add a new port forwarding rule for port 25565 (the default Minecraft server port) and point it to the IP address of the computer running your Minecraft server. For more detailed instructions, consult your router’s user manual or search online for your router’s model number and “port forwarding”.

3. How do I allow traffic through my firewall?

To allow traffic through your firewall, you need to add an exception for Minecraft server traffic. This can usually be done by adding a new rule to your firewall settings that allows traffic for port 25565. Consult your firewall software’s user manual for detailed instructions.

Conclusion

Congratulations, Dev! You have successfully set up your own Minecraft server 24/7 for free. Now you can enjoy a more personalized Minecraft experience with your friends. We hope this article has been helpful for you. If you have any questions or feedback, please let us know in the comments below. Happy gaming!