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How to Set Up a Minecraft Server in 2026 (Step-by-Step Guide)

Bernis ·

Setting up your own Minecraft server lets you play with friends on your own terms — your rules, your mods, your world. This guide walks you through the entire process from choosing server software to getting your first players connected.

Step 1: Choose Your Server Software

The first decision is which server software to run. Here are the most popular options:

  • Paper — The most popular choice. A fork of Spigot with significant performance improvements. Supports all Bukkit and Spigot plugins. Recommended for most servers.
  • Vanilla — The official Minecraft server from Mojang. No mod or plugin support, but guaranteed compatibility.
  • Forge — Required for running Forge mods. Choose this if you want modded gameplay with technical mods like Create or magic mods like Botania.
  • Fabric — A lightweight mod loader that’s become popular for its performance. Great for optimization mods and newer mod ecosystems.
  • Purpur — A Paper fork with even more configuration options and gameplay tweaks built in.

For most people, Paper is the right choice. It runs plugins, performs well, and is actively maintained.

Step 2: Get a Server

You have two options: self-host or use a hosting provider.

Self-hosting means running the server on your own computer. This works for playing with a few friends on the same network, but has downsides: your server is only online when your computer is on, your home internet may not handle multiple players well, and you need to configure port forwarding.

Using a hosting provider like FadeHost means your server is always online, has dedicated resources, DDoS protection, and you don’t need to worry about networking. With FadeHost, you can create a server in seconds — just pick your software, allocate RAM, and you’re ready to go.

Step 3: Configure Your Server

Once your server is running, you’ll want to configure the basics:

server.properties

This is the main configuration file. Key settings to change:

  • server-name — Your server’s name shown in the server list
  • max-players — Maximum number of players (default 20)
  • difficulty — peaceful, easy, normal, or hard
  • gamemode — survival, creative, adventure, or spectator
  • pvp — true or false
  • motd — The message shown in the server list (use our MOTD Generator to create a colorful one)
  • online-mode — Keep this true for security (verifies player accounts with Mojang)

Allocating RAM

RAM is the most important resource for a Minecraft server:

  • Vanilla with up to 20 players: 2 GB
  • Plugin server (Paper/Spigot): 2-4 GB depending on plugins
  • Light modpacks: 4-5 GB
  • Heavy modpacks (All The Mods, etc.): 6-8 GB+

Step 4: Install Plugins or Mods

If you’re running Paper or Spigot, you can install plugins by placing .jar files in the plugins/ folder. Popular first plugins:

  • EssentialsX — Basic commands (/home, /tpa, /warp, etc.)
  • LuckPerms — Permission management
  • WorldEdit — In-game world editing tools
  • Vault — Economy API used by many plugins

For Forge or Fabric servers, place mod .jar files in the mods/ folder. Make sure all players have the same mods installed on their client.

Step 5: Connect and Play

Share your server’s IP address (and port if it’s not the default 25565) with your friends. They can connect by:

  1. Opening Minecraft and clicking Multiplayer
  2. Clicking Add Server
  3. Entering the server address
  4. Clicking Join Server

If you’re using FadeHost, your server address is shown on the control panel dashboard. You can also set up a custom domain to make it easier to remember.

Tips for Running a Great Server

  • Keep backups — Enable automatic backups so you never lose your world. FadeHost includes scheduled backups with one-click restore.
  • Update regularly — Keep your server software and plugins up to date for security and performance.
  • Set rules — Establish clear rules for your community and use plugins to enforce them.
  • Monitor performance — Watch your server’s RAM usage and TPS (ticks per second). TPS below 18 means your server is struggling.

Ready to get started? Create your Minecraft server on FadeHost and be playing with friends in under a minute.