How to set up a Minecraft server for your friends or community

Setup and configuration

Start with the edition. Java Edition runs on PC and has the largest plugin and mod scene. Bedrock Edition runs on phones, consoles, and Windows. If your group is mixed, a Java server with the Geyser plugin lets Bedrock players join the same world.

Next is the server software. Paper is the usual pick for plugin servers because it is fast and supports Bukkit and Spigot plugins. Fabric and NeoForge or Forge are for modded play, where every player installs the same mods.

Memory depends on players and content. A small vanilla or Paper server for up to ten friends runs well on 2 to 4 GB. Large modpacks often need 6 to 10 GB. View distance matters too, and lowering it from 10 to 8 chunks takes a lot of load off the server.

1. 01Choose Java, Bedrock, or Java with Geyser for crossplay.
2. 02Pick Paper for plugins, or Fabric or NeoForge for mods.
3. 03Set the version every player will use.
4. 04Turn on the whitelist and add your players before you share the address.
5. 05Set view and simulation distance to match your player count.

Mods and plugins

Plugins run only on the server, so players join with a normal client. Common picks are EssentialsX for basic commands, LuckPerms for ranks and permissions, WorldGuard for protected areas, and CoreProtect for rolling back griefing.

Mods change the game itself, so every player needs the same mod list and loader version. Modpacks from CurseForge or Modrinth keep everyone in sync. We test a modpack on the server before launch, since one mismatched mod can stop players from joining.

Discord connection

DiscordSRV links in-game chat with a Discord channel, so members can talk to players without opening the game. It can also post when the server starts or stops and when players join.

Many communities also add a join guide channel with the server address, the version, and the modpack link, and give a Discord role to whitelisted players.

Support after launch

Minecraft updates often, and plugins and mods take time to catch up. We hold back version updates until the plugins you rely on support them, and back up the world before every change.

If the server starts to lag, the usual causes are large farms, too many loaded chunks, or a plugin that misbehaves. A profiler such as Spark shows exactly which one, so the fix is targeted instead of guessed.