How to Make a Minecraft Server for Free (+16 FAQs Answered)

Minecraft is an open-world game that provides an avenue for players to exercise their creativity. The game allows players to build everything they can think of and interact with other players.

Improving your social skills is just one benefit of playing with friends. The problem with this setup is you can’t control who you’re interacting with unless you’re hosting your own server, which can be pricey.

Fortunately, there’s a way around paying a lot of money. We’ll tackle how to make a Minecraft server for free and provide you with enough working knowledge to do it effortlessly.

Once you’ve created your own servers, you’re in control of who gets connected, making it safer for you or your gamer child.

How to Make a Minecraft Server for Free in 2022

Minecraft is an excellent way of improving social skills, problem-solving abilities, and creativity when you interact with other gamers.

However, when you play on a public server, you can’t control who connects with you. That’s why many people create their own Minecraft servers. You can pay to host your own server, but there’s also a way to bend the rules a bit and do it for free.

1. How do I make my own server on Minecraft?

The process of creating your own Minecraft server is pretty straightforward. Here are the essential steps you need to take:

  • Get Minecraft Java Edition
  • Secure the Latest Version of Java
  • Download the Minecraft server.jar file from the Minecraft website
  • Create a folder that’ll hold all your Minecraft files
  • Copy the server.jar file to your folder
  • Right-click the icon and click open to run the server.jar file
  • Open the EULA text file
  • Change the line “eula=false” to “eula=true,” and save it
  • Open the server.jar again to launch the server

You now have a server officially launched and ready to use.

2. Is making a free Minecraft server illegal?

Hosting a Minecraft server isn’t illegal, but it violates the user agreement with the video game developer Mojang. However, this isn’t a cause for concern because Mojang doesn’t enforce the agreement.

Furthermore, several players have already created their own servers, and no one has ever experienced any problems with the developer.

3. Can you host a Minecraft server 24/7 free?

You can host a Minecraft server for free via game host server specialists. Some offer free plans and require gamers to create an account, but others regularly require the renewal of the server. The only catch with hosting servers for free is that the configuration is often limited.

4. How to make a Minecraft server for free with mods?

Adding modifications allows gamers to alter aspects of Minecraft, such as including new items, blocks, and creatures. This ability to customize the game increases replay value. Gamers are inclined to create modded Minecraft servers to control and modify the game.

You can easily find a tutorial on how to make a Minecraft server for free with mods, but here’s a gist of the steps:

  • Download the Forge server from the official website
  • Launch the .jar file and install the Forge server
  • Open the EULA text file
  • Change the line “eula=false” to “eula=true,” and save it
  • Check out the CurseForge website that indexes all Minecraft mods
  • Download the mods you want to install by dropping the mod .jar file into the mods folder in the main server directory
  • Port forward and open Minecraft port 25565 to grant access to players outside of the internal server network

The details of this process depend on your IP and router, so you’ll need to research port forwarding guides.

5. How to make a Minecraft server for free using Aternos?

Aternos is one of the most commonly used portals for hosting Minecraft servers. Here’s a quick guide to creating servers using Aternos.

  • Go to Aternos’s website and create an account
  • Click the “Play” button at the bottom right of the screen
  • Log in to your account
  • Click the “Create” button on the homepage
  • The website will bring up a server profile, and another “Create” button will appear
  • Click the “Create” button

If you plan to play and host the latest version of Minecraft on the original version of the game, you don’t need to make any changes.

6. How to make a Minecraft server for free in TLauncher?

TLauncher is one of the most popular versions of cracked Minecraft, with more than one million downloads. Unfortunately, gamers who use it can’t play on regular Minecraft servers. The workaround for this issue is to create a cracked server.

  • Go to Aternos’ website and click the “Play” button at the bottom right of the screen
  • Create an account
  • Click the “Create a server” button
  • Click the “Create” button
  • Scroll down and click “Configure your server”
  • Enable the crack feature
  • Start your server
  • Click the ”Connect” button and copy your IP
  • Go back to your Minecraft launcher and paste the IP into the server address
  • Click the “Join Server” button

7. How to make a free server in Minecraft Java Edition?

You can host your own Minecraft server in Java and invite your friends to play and build together. Here’s how:

  • Install the latest version of Java or update the one you have
  • Download the Java Edition server from the Minecraft website
  • Create a dedicated folder for your server
  • Open the file you downloaded
  • Find the EULA text file and open it
  • Change the line “eula=false” to “eula=true” and save it
  • Send your internal IP address to your friends on the same network and your external IP address for everyone else to share your server

8. How to make a 24-hour Minecraft server for free?

For most players, Minecraft is an enjoyable game when played with friends. Several providers offer options for Minecraft server hosting. Here are the usual steps you need to take to make a 24-hour Minecraft server:

  • Confirm you have the system requirements for hosting
  • Choose a provider that offers free server hosting
  • Agree to terms of service
  • Create an account
  • Create a server
  • Agree to the EULA
  • Copy the IP and paste it to Minecraft Server Address
  • Join the server

9. How to make a multiplayer Minecraft server for free?

Creating a multiplayer Minecraft server for free is a straightforward process. Here’s the step-by-step guide.

  • Download the latest version of Java
  • Download the server files from the Mojang site
  • Copy the jar file into a new folder
  • Double click the file to run it
  • Right-click inside your folder and select New > Text Document.
  • Name the document “Run”
  • In the text document, paste the line “1 cmd /k java -Xms1G -Xmx1G ‐jar”, followed by the name of the version of the server you’re using
  • Save as “Run.bat”
  • Open the EULA and change the line “eula=false” to “eula=true”
  • Double-click the “Run.bat” file

You can maximize this Minecraft server hosting free of charge by allowing multiple players to join. Here’s what you need to do.

  • Run Minecraft and click multiplayer on the main menu
  • Click add server
  • Enter a server name
  • Type “localhost” in the server address
  • Click “Done”
  • Click “Join Server”
  • Look up your router and research how to port forward for your router model
  • Open the “Server.properties” file
  • Update the maximum number of players by changing the number in the line “max-players=20”

10. How to make a Minecraft server for free on mobile?

The easiest way to play Minecraft with friends is to create realms, but it costs about $10 per month. Many gamers opt to have their own Minecraft Pocket Edition server instead, through Aternos.

  • Go to the official Aternos’ website
  • Click the “Play” button
  • Click the button for server creation
  • Choose your username
  • Enter your email address and preferred password
  • Click the “Start your server” button
  • Copy the IP for your server; it looks like “username.aternos.me”
  • Click the “Start” button
  • Go to Minecraft, paste your IP in the server address field, and join the server

A possible disadvantage of Aternos is that the server shuts down after a few minutes of inactivity.

11. How to make a free private Minecraft server

Usually, when gamers create a Minecraft server, it’s limited to people in the same network or individuals with access to the IP. The server is already private and limited to your friends. Just follow the process for creating a Minecraft server using Mojang or any other server hosting provider.

12. How to make a public Minecraft server for free?

You can create a public Minecraft server for free using this simple process.

  • Download the server .jar file, and save it to a new folder
  • Open a new text file
  • Copy the command “java -Xmx1024M -Xms1024M -jar minecraft_server.1.16.4.jar nogui.”
  • Replace the line “minecraft_server.1.16.4” with the server version you downloaded
  • Save the text file as run.bat and run it
  • Open the file eula.txt
  • Change the line “eula=false” to “eula=true,” save, and close the file
  • Run the run.bat file
  • Open Minecraft, click multiplayer, and enter “localhost” in the server address field
  • Find your internal and external IP addresses
  • Port forward and open Minecraft port 25565

13. How to make a Minecraft server for free without Hamachi?

Follow these steps to make a Minecraft server without Hamachi.

  • Make sure your device has a stable internet connection and at least 2GB of RAM
  • Create a folder labeled “Minecraft,” and in it, create another folder named “Servers” 
  • Create a third folder for your server in the “Servers” folder and name it appropriately
  • In the last folder, create a text file called “server.properties”
  • Open the text file, and copy and paste this text:

#Minecraft server properties

allow-nether=true

enable-query=false

enable-rcon=false

allow-nether=true

level-name=world

enable-query=false

enable-commands=false

force-gamemode=false

spawn-monsters=true

level-seed=-7460029247852292661 port=25565 server-port=25565 max-players=20

  • Save the file
  • Continue with this process for free Minecraft server hosting 24/7 by creating a new text file and save as “run.bat”
  • Enter this code in the text file:

java -Xmx1024M -Xms512M -jar minecraft_server.jar nogui pause

  • Double-click the run file to start the server. 
  • If you encounter an error, edit the file by deleting the “pause” line and entering this code:

@echo off

java -Xmx1024M -Xms512M -jar minecraft_server.jar nogui

  • Open your Minecraft game, go to multiplayer, and click direct connect

14. How to make a Minecraft server for free without port forwarding?

If you want to host a Minecraft server without port forwarding, do the following:

  • Turn off port forwarding and delete any Minecraft shortcuts
  • Create a run.bat file and paste this code:

@echo off

java -Xmx1024M -Xms512M -jar minecraft_server.jar nogui

  • Open your control panel and go to “System and Security”
  • Click on “Administrative Tools” and then on “Services”
  • Find “IPSEC Service,” set it to Manual, and start the device
  • Go back to services and find “QoS Packet Scheduler”
  • Set it to “Automatic” and start the service
  • Restart your PC and open Minecraft

15. How to make a Minecraft server for free on Windows 10?

For players using Windows 10, the process is fairly similar to all discussed above:

  • Download the latest version of Java for Windows 10
  • Open the .exe file and click “Install”
  • Restart your computer
  • Download the Minecraft server jar file
  • Move the file from the “Downloads” folder to a new folder
  • Double-click on the jar file
  • Open the EULA text file and change the line “eula=false” to “eula=true,” and save it
  • Double-click on the jar file
  • Allow the server in the firewall
  • Launch Minecraft and select multiplayer
  • Add a server
  • Search your IP address on Google
  • Copy and paste the IP address to the server address on Minecraft

16. How to make a Minecraft server for free with plugins

When you host a Minecraft server, you might want to add plugins. If you already have a server running, here’s what you need to do:

  • Download the plugins you want
  • Move the plugin jar files and any other files to the plugins directory
  • Run the server
  • Enter “stop” in your server console
  • Run the server

Key Takeaways


Minecraft is one of the most popular open-world games today. It has engaged over 100 million players globally because of its value in terms of creativity and social skills. Gamers from around the world can interact and build together.

However, some players prefer to play strictly with their friends, and they can only do this if they host their own servers.

That’s where the tutorial on how to make a Minecraft server for free comes in. Anyone can create their servers with a step-by-step and easy-to-follow guide using different hosting providers.

Follow the instructions we provided, and you shouldn’t have any issues even if you have no background in tech.