Minecraft Server Guides
Updated · MCJarHub
Practical, tested instructions for running a Minecraft: Java Edition server — from the first start to updating, fixing errors and choosing software.
Setup guides
Install and run each kind of server, step by step.
- How Much RAM Does a Minecraft Server Need? — Minecraft server RAM rules of thumb for small servers, modpacks and proxies, how to set -Xms and -Xmx, and…
- How to Install a Fabric Server — Set up a Fabric server: the official launcher downloads the vanilla jar on first start, then accept the EULA…
- How to Make a Minecraft Server (Java Edition, 2026) — Make a Minecraft Java server step by step: pick the software, install the right Java, download the jar…
- How to Run a Minecraft Server Jar — Run a Minecraft server jar: the java -jar command, -Xms/-Xmx memory, nogui, start.bat for Windows, start.sh…
- How to Set Up a Forge Server — Install a Forge server with the official installer: --installServer, run.sh or run.bat, memory in…
- How to Set Up a NeoForge Server — Install a NeoForge server: official installer with --installServer, start with run.sh or run.bat, set RAM in…
- How to Set Up a Paper Server — Install a PaperMC server step by step: Java version, the right Paper build, start script with Aikar's flags…
- How to Set Up a Velocity Proxy — Set up a Velocity proxy: add servers in velocity.toml, enable modern forwarding with forwarding.secret and…
- How to Update a Minecraft Server Safely — Update a Minecraft server without losing the world: back up, check plugins and mods, install the new Java…
- Minecraft 26.x Version Numbers Explained — No Minecraft 1.22 or 1.26: after 1.21.11 Mojang switched to year-based versions (26.1, 26.2, 26.3)…
- Spigot BuildTools Guide — Build Spigot or CraftBukkit with SpigotMC's BuildTools: download link, the --rev command, Java per Minecraft…
Fix common errors
Server won't start? Find the error message and the fix.
- Fix "**** FAILED TO BIND TO PORT!" on a Minecraft Server — FAILED TO BIND TO PORT means port 25565 is already used or server-ip is wrong. Find the process with netstat…
- Fix "A Java Exception has occurred" When Opening a Server Jar — "A Java Exception has occurred" is a Windows popup that hides the real error. Run the jar from a command…
- Fix "UnsupportedClassVersionError" on a Minecraft Server — UnsupportedClassVersionError means your Java is too old for the server jar. Decode class file 52–69 to Java…
- Fix "You need to agree to the EULA in order to run the server" — A new Minecraft server stops on first start until you accept the EULA: set eula=true in eula.txt and start…
- Minecraft Server Jar Not Opening or Not Creating Files — Server jar does nothing, opens as a zip or closes instantly? Start it from a terminal, read the real error…
Comparisons
Which server software fits your server — with data, not marketing.
- Best Minecraft server software: which one fits your server? — Best Minecraft server software by use case: vanilla, plugins (Paper, Purpur), mods (Fabric, NeoForge…
- Fabric vs Forge vs NeoForge (and Quilt) — Fabric vs Forge vs NeoForge for a modded server: supported Minecraft versions, how each server is installed…
- Minecraft 26.x vs 1.21.11: which version should your server run? — Should your server run Minecraft 26.x or 1.21.11? Live data on which server software supports each, Java 25…
- Paper vs Spigot vs Purpur — Paper vs Spigot vs Purpur with live data: latest builds, Java, jar size, downloads and plugin compatibility.…
- Velocity vs BungeeCord vs Waterfall — Velocity vs BungeeCord vs Waterfall: status, default ports, plugin APIs, forwarding and Java. Waterfall is…
Server software by category
Plugin servers, modded, hybrids and proxies explained.
- Hybrid servers: Forge/NeoForge mods and Bukkit plugins together — Hybrid Minecraft servers run Forge/NeoForge mods and Bukkit plugins together: Mohist, Arclight and Magma…
- Minecraft plugin servers (Bukkit/Paper API) — Every Minecraft plugin server: Paper, Purpur, Spigot, CraftBukkit, Folia, Pufferfish, Leaf and Leaves, with…
- Minecraft proxy servers: Velocity, BungeeCord and Waterfall — What a Minecraft proxy does and which to use: Velocity, BungeeCord and Waterfall with default ports, plugin…
- Modded Minecraft servers: Fabric, NeoForge, Forge and Quilt — Modded Minecraft servers: Fabric, NeoForge, Forge and Quilt compared by supported versions, install method…