Minecraft Snapshot 23w40a Server Jar Download
Also known as snapshot, pre-release, release candidate.
Minecraft Snapshot 23w40a is a weekly development snapshot of Minecraft: Java Edition leading up to 1.20.3, published by Mojang on 4 Oct 2023. Its dedicated server jar is 46.2 MB and requires Java 17 or newer. The final Minecraft 1.20.3 was released on 4 Dec 2023.
Download
Download server.jar46.2 MB
Downloads from piston-data.mojang.com — Official — Mojang.
- SHA-1 · published by Mojang
0f51a81705f4694b92f5273ffa2c52c45f27b7f8
How to verify this file on Windows, macOS and Linux.
Version facts
| Published by Mojang | |
|---|---|
| Channel | Preview (weekly) |
| Required Java | Java 17 or newer · Temurin 17 |
| File size | 46.2 MB |
| Licence / terms | Minecraft EULA |
| Upstream project | www.minecraft.net |
What changed
Newest upstream commits:
- #1 · 4 Oct 2023 When a player is blocking with a shield, the arm with the shield now follows the direction the player is looking at, when viewed from third person perspective
- The Data Pack version is now 19
- A few minor changes to chat component serialization
- Plain-text chat components (text, no sibilings, no stylings) are now always serialized as string instead of {"text': "blah"}
- Chat components now serialize to NBT when sent over network
Compatibility
No plugins or mods — the unmodified game exactly as Mojang ships it (data packs still work).
Players need a Minecraft: Java Edition Snapshot 23w40a client on the same version.
Minecraft Snapshot 23w40a in other server software
Known issues & safety notes
- Preview builds are experimental: they can corrupt or irreversibly upgrade worlds, and most plugins and mods do not support them yet. Test on a copy of your world.
How to set up Minecraft Snapshot 23w40a
- Install Java 17 or newer (e.g. Eclipse Temurin) and check it with
java -version. - Download
server.jarfrom Mojang (button above) into an empty folder. - Start it once with the script below; it creates
eula.txtand stops. - Set
eula=trueineula.txtto accept the Minecraft EULA, then start again. Players join on port25565.
Linux / macOS — start.sh
#!/bin/sh
# start.sh — Minecraft 23w40a
cd "$(dirname "$0")"
JAVA_MAJOR=$(java -version 2>&1 | awk -F'"' '/version/ {split($2, v, "."); print (v[1] == "1") ? v[2] : v[1]}')
if [ "$JAVA_MAJOR" -lt 17 ] 2>/dev/null; then
echo "Java 17 or newer is required (found Java $JAVA_MAJOR)."
exit 1
fi
java -Xms4G -Xmx4G -jar server.jar nogui
Windows — start.bat
@echo off REM start.bat — Minecraft 23w40a REM Needs Java 17 or newer: run "java -version" to check. java -Xms4G -Xmx4G -jar server.jar nogui pause
Rule of thumb: 2–4 GB for a few friends, 6–10 GB for a public server with plugins. Set -Xms equal to -Xmx and leave 1–1.5 GB for the operating system. How much RAM?
Docker
docker run -d -p 25565:25565 -e EULA=TRUE -e TYPE=VANILLA -e VERSION=23w40a --name mc itzg/minecraft-server
Uses the community itzg/minecraft-server image, which downloads the file itself.
Upgrading
FAQ
What Java version does Minecraft Snapshot 23w40a need?
Minecraft Snapshot 23w40a needs Java 17 or newer. Running it on an older Java fails with an UnsupportedClassVersionError mentioning class file version 61.0.
Is Minecraft Snapshot 23w40a safe for my survival world?
Only on a copy. Preview versions are experimental and upgrade worlds irreversibly; keep a backup and don't switch a live world to a snapshot, pre-release or release candidate.
Is this the Minecraft game or an APK?
No. This is the Java Edition dedicated server — software for hosting a world. It is not the game client and there is no Android APK. Phone and console players use Bedrock Edition.