uqc / Make a server / Minecraft / How to make a Minecraft server
How to make a Minecraft server
The easiest way to make a Minecraft server that your friends can join any time: no spare PC, no port forwarding.
Step by step
Pick your edition and version
Java or Bedrock, and the game version your friends play on.
Choose server software
Vanilla for pure Minecraft, Paper for plugins, Fabric or Forge for mods.
Get a hosted server
Pick a plan with a one-click install and it’s ready in a few minutes.
Set it up
Change difficulty, gamemode and PvP in server.properties, then turn on the whitelist.
Share the address
Send your friends the server IP. They add it under Multiplayer (Java) or Servers (Bedrock).
Worth knowing
You can run a server on your own PC with the free server file from Minecraft.net, but it’s only online while your PC is on, it slows the PC down while you play, and you’ll need to port forward so friends can reach it. For a world that’s always there, a hosted server is simpler.
Start small. You can move to a bigger plan later without losing the world.
Questions
Can I make a Minecraft server for free?
You can host one on your own PC, but it’s only online while your PC is and you’ll need to port forward. Free hosts exist, but come with queues and shutdowns.
How much RAM does a Minecraft server need?
A small vanilla world needs very little. Plugins, more players and especially modpacks need more. Start small and upgrade if it lags.
Can Bedrock players join a Java server?
Yes, if you add the Geyser plugin to a Paper server.
Ready to start your server?
The host from my Minecraft guides.