Making A Minecraft Server For Free

Are you dreaming of creating your own Minecraft world where you and your friends can build, explore, and adventure together? Running your own Minecraft server gives you complete control over your gaming experience, from the rules and plugins to who gets to join. In this comprehensive guide, I’ll walk you through everything you need to know about making a Minecraft server for free!

Downloading Server Software: Choosing the Right Option

The first step in creating your Minecraft server is choosing and downloading the appropriate server software. You have several excellent options, each with its own advantages:

Official Mojang Server

The vanilla server from Mojang is the official, unmodified Minecraft server software. It’s the simplest option and ensures complete compatibility with the base game.

Pros:

• Directly from Mojang, ensuring 100% compatibility
• Simplest to set up
• Always up-to-date with the latest Minecraft version

Cons:

• Limited customization options
• Less efficient with server resources
• No built-in plugin support

You can download the official server JAR file from Minecraft’s official website.

Spigot

Spigot is one of the most popular modified server options, offering improved performance and plugin support.

Pros:

• Better performance than the vanilla server
• Supports plugins via the Bukkit API
• More configuration options

Cons:

• Slightly more complex setup
• May have slight delays in updates after new Minecraft versions

Download Spigot through BuildTools or find pre-built versions on various Minecraft server sites.

Paper

Paper is a high-performance fork of Spigot, designed to improve server performance even further.

Pros:

• Significantly better performance than both vanilla and Spigot
• Compatible with most Spigot/Bukkit plugins
• Includes additional bug fixes and optimizations

Cons:

• May occasionally have compatibility issues with some plugins

Download Paper from their official website.

Purpur

Purpur is a fork of Paper that adds even more customization options and performance enhancements.

Pros:

• Includes all Paper optimizations plus additional improvements
• Highly customizable game mechanics
• Unique features not found in other server software

Cons:

• May have compatibility issues with some plugins
• Less documentation available compared to more established options

Download Purpur from their GitHub page.

Real-life Example

When I created my first server for a group of 10 friends, I initially started with the vanilla server. We quickly ran into performance issues when everyone was online and building complex redstone contraptions. After switching to Paper, our server ran much more smoothly even with multiple players exploring different areas simultaneously. The difference was night and day!

First Run and Configurations

Once you’ve downloaded your preferred server software, it’s time to set it up and configure it to your liking.

Initial Setup

1. Create a new folder on your computer for your server files
2. Place the downloaded server JAR file in this folder
3. Create a start script to launch the server:

For Windows, create a file named start.bat with the following content:

@echo off
java -Xmx2G -jar server.jar nogui
pause

For Mac/Linux, create a file named start.sh with:

#!/bin/bash
java -Xmx2G -jar server.jar nogui

Make sure to replace server.jar with the actual name of your JAR file.

4. Run the start script. The first run will fail, but it will generate an eula.txt file
5. Open eula.txt and change eula=false to eula=true to accept the Minecraft End User License Agreement
6. Run the start script again to properly start your server

Essential Configurations

After the first successful run, several configuration files will be created. The main one is server.properties, which contains all the basic settings for your server.

Allowing Cracked Minecraft Clients

While I don’t recommend this for security reasons, some server owners choose to allow “cracked” (non-premium) Minecraft clients to connect. To do this:

1. Open server.properties
2. Set online-mode=false

Warning: This opens your server to potential security risks and is technically against Minecraft’s terms of service.

Setting Up a Whitelist

A whitelist is essential for controlling who can join your server:

1. In server.properties, set white-list=true
2. To add players to the whitelist, use the in-game command: /whitelist add [username]
3. You can also edit the whitelist.json file directly

Giving Yourself Operator (OP) Status

As the server owner, you’ll want administrative powers:

1. While the server is running, access the server console
2. Type: op [your_username]
3. You should now have OP status when you join the server

Installing Essential Plugins

If you’re using Spigot, Paper, or Purpur, you can enhance your server with plugins. Here are some essential ones:

• EssentialsX: A comprehensive plugin that adds commands for teleportation, homes, warps, and much more
• WorldEdit: Powerful in-game world editing tools
• GriefPrevention: Protects players’ builds from being destroyed by others
• Vault: A required dependency for many economy and permission plugins

To install plugins:

1. Download the plugin JAR files from a reputable source like SpigotMC
2. Place them in the plugins folder in your server directory
3. Restart your server
4. Configure the plugins using their respective config files in the plugins/[PluginName] folders

Real-life Example

When I set up a server for a small community, we used the EssentialsX plugin to create a spawn area with teleportation points to different game zones. We set up kits for new players that included basic tools and food to get started. This dramatically improved the new player experience and kept people engaged from their first login.

Opening Your Server to the World Using Ngrok

If you want to play with friends over the internet without the technical hassle of port forwarding, Ngrok is an excellent solution.

Setting Up Ngrok

1. Create a free account at ngrok.io
2. Download and install Ngrok
3. Authenticate Ngrok with your authtoken:ngrok authtoken YOUR_AUTH_TOKEN
4. Start your Minecraft server first
5. In a separate command window, run:ngrok tcp 25565 (25565 is the default Minecraft port)

Ngrok will provide you with a forwarding address (like 0.tcp.ngrok.io:12345) that you can share with your friends.

Benefits and Limitations

Benefits:

• No need to modify your router settings
• Works even behind strict firewalls
• Changes IP dynamically, providing some security

Limitations:

• Free Ngrok sessions last only 2 hours before you need to restart
• The address changes each time you restart Ngrok
• Limited to 4 connections on the free plan

Real-life Example

I once used Ngrok for a spontaneous Minecraft building competition with friends scattered across different countries. Within minutes, everyone was connected and building together, despite most players being behind university networks that wouldn’t allow traditional port forwarding.

Port Forwarding: The Traditional Approach

For a more permanent solution, port forwarding allows direct connections to your server.

Basic Port Forwarding Steps

1. Find your computer’s local IP address (usually starts with 192.168.x.x)
2. Access your router’s admin panel (typically by entering 192.168.0.1 or 192.168.1.1 in your browser)
3. Log in with your router credentials
4. Find the port forwarding section (may be under “Advanced Settings”)
5. Create a new port forwarding rule:
   • External Port: 25565
   • Internal Port: 25565
   • Protocol: TCP (or Both TCP/UDP)
   • Internal IP: Your computer’s local IP address
6. Save the settings
7. Find your public IP address (Google “what is my IP”)
8. Share your public IP with friends to connect

Security Precautions

Port forwarding opens a direct connection to your computer from the internet, so security is essential:

• Enable a firewall on your computer to limit access only to the Minecraft port
• Set up a strong whitelist to control who can join
• Keep your server software updated to patch security vulnerabilities
• Consider using a dedicated machine for your server, not your main computer
• Never share access to your router’s admin panel

Potential Security Concerns

• DDoS attacks: Your home internet connection could be targeted
• IP exposure: Your home IP address becomes known to players
• Unauthorized access: Improperly secured servers can be compromised

If these concerns worry you, consider the alternatives in the next section.

Free Alternatives: Hosted Solutions

If running a server on your own computer isn’t ideal, several free hosted solutions exist:

Aternos

Aternos is a popular free Minecraft server hosting service:

Pros:

• Completely free with no hidden costs
• Supports mods, plugins, and various server types
• User-friendly web interface
• No technical knowledge required

Cons:

• Servers shut down when no players are online
• Queue system during peak times
• Limited customization compared to self-hosting
• Occasional performance issues

Sign up at Aternos.org.

Hamachi (LogMeIn Hamachi)

Hamachi creates a virtual private network (VPN) that makes it seem like you and your friends are on the same local network:

Pros:

• No port forwarding required
• Relatively simple to set up
• Secure connection between players

Cons:

• Limited to 5 players on free plan
• Everyone needs to install and configure Hamachi
• Can cause connection issues with other applications

Download from LogMeIn.

Radmin VPN

Radmin VPN is a modern alternative to Hamachi with fewer limitations:

Pros:

• Free for up to 50 players
• Lighter on system resources than Hamachi
• Generally better connection stability

Cons:

• Everyone still needs to install the software
• Can interfere with some network settings
• Less widely used, so fewer tutorials available

Download from Radmin’s website.

Real-life Example

My nephew and his school friends used Aternos for months to run a collaborative building server. The service automatically saved snapshots of their world, which came in handy when someone accidentally set off too much TNT near their main castle! Despite occasional waiting times in the queue, they found it much easier than trying to set up their own server.

Finding People to Play With

A server needs players! Here’s how to find people to join your Minecraft community:

Reddit Communities

Several subreddits are dedicated to finding Minecraft servers and players:

• r/MinecraftBuddies: Focused on finding players for smaller, private servers
• r/mcservers: For advertising your server to potential players
• r/Minecraft: The main Minecraft subreddit, good for general advice

When posting:

• Clearly state the type of server and gameplay style
• Mention the version and any major plugins/mods
• Explain your server rules and community values
• Include age requirements if applicable

Discord Communities

Discord is an excellent place to build and grow your server community:

• Join the official Minecraft Discord to meet potential players
• Look for Minecraft server listing Discord servers
• Create your own Discord for your server to build community

Safety Considerations

When inviting strangers to your server, keep these safety tips in mind:

What to Watch Out For:

• Griefers: Players who join just to destroy others’ creations
• Inappropriate behavior: Monitor chat for bullying or harassment
• Profanity and mature content: Establish clear rules about appropriate language
• Personal information sharing: Discourage players from sharing personal details

Best Practices:

• Start with a small, trusted group before expanding
• Implement protection plugins like CoreProtect to roll back any grief damage
• Use a moderation plugin to filter chat and manage problem players
• Consider an age-appropriate server policy to create a safer environment
• Set clear rules and enforce them consistently

Real-life Example

I once joined a small SMP (Survival Multiplayer) server advertised on r/MinecraftBuddies that grew into an amazing community. The owner carefully vetted new members through brief Discord interviews, which kept out troublemakers. They also used plugins to log all player actions, which meant griefing was quickly addressed and reversed. This careful approach to community building created one of the most positive gaming experiences I’ve had.

Conclusion

Creating and running your own free Minecraft Java server is incredibly rewarding. Whether you choose to host it on your own computer or use a service like Aternos, you now have all the knowledge you need to create a customized Minecraft experience for you and your friends.

Remember that the most important aspect of any server is the community you build. Take the time to create a welcoming environment with clear rules, and you’ll soon have a thriving world full of creativity and adventure.

For more information about Minecraft servers, we also wrote a post about Minigames servers.

Happy crafting!

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Did you find this guide helpful? Have you created your own Minecraft server using these methods? Share your experiences in the comments below!