A private Minecraft server is the simplest way to play together without depending on whoever happens to be hosting. The world runs around the clock, everyone joins when it suits them and nobody has to keep their game open for others. Here is everything you need to get started.
Option 1: hosted server
The fastest route. You buy a plan from a hosting provider, pick your Minecraft version and share the IP address with your friends. Advantages:
- Online in less than five minutes.
- No technical knowledge required.
- DDoS protection, backups and a web panel are included.
- The server stays up even when your PC is off.
At HostValues, a server for four to six friends starts with the Silver plan (2 GB) for less than two euros a month.
Option 2: LAN or Open to LAN
Free, but limited. The host opens their singleplayer world through "Open to LAN" in the pause menu. Downsides:
- Only players on the same network (or connected through a VPN like Radmin or ZeroTier) can join.
- The world is only available while the host is playing.
- No plugins, no management tools, no automatic backups.
Option 3: self-hosting on your own PC
Download the server jar from minecraft.net, start it with Java and share your IP address. Downsides:
- Your PC has to stay on, and the game may stutter under the extra load.
- You need to forward port 25565 on your router, which is a security consideration.
- No DDoS protection.
- Your upload speed determines the experience for everyone else.
How much RAM for a friend group?
| Players | Vanilla | With plugins |
|---|---|---|
| 2 to 5 | 1.5 to 2 GB | 2 to 3 GB |
| 5 to 10 | 2 to 3 GB | 3 to 4 GB |
| 10 to 20 | 3 to 4 GB | 4 to 6 GB |
Paper is more efficient than vanilla. With Paper, a group of five often fits in 2 GB. For a detailed breakdown, read how much RAM your Minecraft server needs.
How to connect
- Open Minecraft and click "Multiplayer".
- Click "Add Server".
- Enter the IP address of your server (you will find it in the game panel).
- Click "Done" and double-click to connect.
First settings to change
- Whitelist: turn it on to prevent strangers from joining. Only whitelisted players can connect.
- Gamemode: survival, creative or adventure. Set it in
server.properties. - Difficulty: defaults to normal. Set it to hard if your group wants a challenge.
- Spawn protection: by default, a radius around spawn is protected from building. Set this to 0 if you do not need it.
Useful plugins for a friend server
You do not need a hundred plugins. A small group benefits from just a few:
- EssentialsX: adds /home, /tpa and /spawn so players can teleport to each other.
- CoreProtect: logs every block placement and removal, which helps when something goes wrong.
- GeyserMC: lets Bedrock Edition players join your Java server. Useful if some of your friends play on console or mobile.
Can Java and Bedrock players play together?
Yes, with the GeyserMC plugin. Install it on your Paper server and Bedrock players can connect using the server IP and port 19132. No changes needed on their end.
Can I upload my singleplayer world?
Yes. Zip the world folder on your PC and upload it via SFTP to the server. Rename the folder to "world" and restart. The panel file manager works too if you prefer a browser-based upload.
Is a free server good enough?
Free servers (Aternos, Minehut) have waiting queues, limited RAM and no uptime guarantee. They are fine for a quick test, but for a group that plays regularly a small paid plan is a better investment. Read more in the downsides of free Minecraft servers.
A friend server starts at less than two euros a month. Online in five minutes, no technical knowledge needed.
