Minecraft server.properties Guide

Edit server.properties safely

Stop the server normally before making important configuration changes, especially when you are also changing files or networking settings.

Change one group of settings at a time so you can identify which value caused a startup or gameplay problem.

1. Create a backup or copy of server.properties.
2. Stop the Minecraft server normally.
3. Edit only the settings you understand.
4. Save the file without changing its filename.
5. Start the server and read the console for warnings.
6. Test the changed behavior before editing more values.

Player limit

max-players controls the maximum number of simultaneous players allowed by the server configuration.

Increasing the number does not create additional CPU or RAM. The practical capacity still depends on the world, software, plugins, mods and player activity.

max-players=20

View distance

view-distance controls how far server-supplied chunks can be sent around players. Higher values can increase CPU, memory, disk and network work depending on server activity.

If performance is limited, lowering view distance can reduce workload, but extremely low values also affect gameplay.

view-distance=10

Simulation distance

simulation-distance affects the area where game simulation remains active around players. Entities, random ticks and other simulation work can be influenced by this value.

It is related to view distance but controls a different part of server behavior.

simulation-distance=10

Online mode and account authentication

online-mode controls official account authentication behavior for a normal Java server. Disabling authentication changes the security model of the server.

Do not change it only to work around an unrelated connection error. Understand the consequences for player identity and any proxy architecture before modifying it.

online-mode=true

Whitelist access

A whitelist restricts server access to approved players and is useful for private communities, maintenance or testing.

Enabling the property is only one part of the setup; manage the actual whitelist using the server's supported commands or files.

white-list=true

Server port and hosting allocations

server-port controls the port Minecraft attempts to bind to. In a managed hosting environment, that value normally needs to match an allocation assigned to the server.

Changing it to an arbitrary number does not automatically create firewall rules or a public allocation.

server-port=25565

MOTD and basic presentation

motd controls the text displayed for the server in compatible multiplayer server lists. It does not affect the actual server name in every hosting panel.

Keep formatting and special characters compatible with the server software you use.

motd=My Minecraft Server

Diagnose a bad properties change

If the server stops starting after an edit, compare the changed file with the backup rather than changing several other settings.

Read the console for bind errors, invalid values or other configuration messages and restore the previous value when necessary.

• Port bind errors usually point to networking or allocation issues.
• Performance problems after increasing distances may indicate added workload.
• Unexpected access behavior may relate to whitelist or authentication settings.

Frequently Asked Questions

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