How to Make a Minecraft Server for Friends (Java & Bedrock, 2026)
Every way to make a Minecraft server for your friends: LAN, Realms, hosting it on your own PC, or a free or paid host. What each option needs, step-by-step setup, how friends join, and how to keep the server private.
In this guide
First decide: Java or Bedrock?
Minecraft comes in two editions, and they can't join each other's servers without extra software:
• Java Edition: PC (Windows, macOS, Linux). Supports mods, plugins and the biggest server ecosystem. • Bedrock Edition: phones, tablets, Xbox, PlayStation, Switch and the Windows version from the Microsoft Store.
If everyone plays on PC with Java, make a Java server. If everyone is on Bedrock, make a Bedrock server. If your group is mixed, make a Java server and add GeyserMC so Bedrock players can join too; our crossplay guide explains how.
Also agree on a Minecraft version. Everyone's game must match the server's version (Java players can pick an older version in the launcher; Bedrock players usually have to be on the latest version).
Your four options at a glance
• Open to LAN: free and instant, but only for people on the same home network, and the world is only available while the host is playing. • Realms: Mojang's own paid service. Very easy, always available, but no plugins on Java, no mods, and limited control. • Your own PC: free and fully under your control, but your PC must stay on, you need to set up port forwarding, and many home connections can't accept incoming connections at all. • A server host: runs on someone else's hardware, with an address you share with friends. Free tiers exist with limits; paid plans stay on all the time.
Most groups of friends who play from different houses end up with Realms or a host. Hosting it yourself is a good learning project, but it fails more often than people expect because of router and ISP problems.
Option 1: Open to LAN (same house only)
On Java, open your singleplayer world, press Esc, choose Open to LAN, and start. Friends on the same Wi-Fi or network see the world under Multiplayer. On Bedrock, LAN games show up in the Friends tab for players on the same network when the world has multiplayer enabled.
LAN doesn't work over the internet by itself. Friends in other houses need one of the other options.
Option 2: Host it on your own PC
This is the classic method for Java. You'll need a PC that can stay on while friends play, ideally with 8 GB of RAM or more so the game and server don't fight for memory.
1. Install Java 21 (needed for Minecraft 1.20.5 and newer).
2. Download the server jar: the official one from minecraft.net, or Paper from papermc.io if you want plugins and better performance.
3. Put it in its own folder and start it once. It stops and creates eula.txt.
4. Open eula.txt and change eula=false to eula=true.
5. Start it again. The world generates and the server listens on port 25565.
6. On your router, forward TCP port 25565 to your PC's local IP address.
7. Give friends your public IP address.
# Start a server with 4 GB of memory (run in the server folder)
java -Xms4G -Xmx4G -jar server.jar nogui- If port forwarding doesn't work even though you set it up correctly, your internet provider may use CGNAT. Our port forwarding guide explains how to check and what to do.
- Sharing your home IP with people you don't know well exposes your home connection to attacks. Only share it with friends you trust.
Option 3: Use a server host
A host runs the server in a data center. You get a control panel to start the server, change settings and upload files, and an address to give your friends. Nobody's PC has to stay on, and there is no router setup.
Free hosts are fine for small groups, but they have limits: less memory, and servers that stop when empty or need to be started from a website. Paid hosts keep the server always on and give more memory for plugins, mods and bigger groups. When you compare hosts, look at how a free server starts again after it stops, whether you get file access (SFTP), and the renewal price, not just the first-month price.
Step by step: a friends server on Enzonic
This is how it works on Enzonic. Other hosts are similar.
1. Create an account at https://panel.enzonic.com and open https://panel.enzonic.com/create-server. The free tier doesn't need a credit card. 2. Choose the software: Paper for a Java server with plugins, Vanilla for a plain Java server, or Bedrock if everyone plays on Bedrock. 3. Choose the region closest to most of your group: Europe, North America or Asia. 4. Pick the free tier or a plan, and create the server. 5. Start it from the panel and wait for the console to say it's done loading. 6. Copy the address from the panel and send it to your friends. You also get a free subdomain, and you can attach your own domain later.
On the free tier, the server sleeps after 15 minutes with nobody online. When a friend connects, it starts by itself: they wait in a lobby for about 20 seconds and are then moved into the world. Nobody has to press a start button. Free servers are one per account and subject to capacity.
Paid plans start at $3.79/mo for 4 GB and stay on all the time. Payments can be refunded within 72 hours.
How your friends join
• Java: open Multiplayer, choose Add Server, paste the address, and join. If the address includes a port (like example.net:25570), paste the whole thing.
• Bedrock on phones, tablets and Windows: open Play, then Servers, choose Add Server, and enter the address and port separately.
• Bedrock on consoles: consoles can't add custom servers directly. Players need a workaround such as BedrockConnect; the GeyserMC guide covers this.
If a friend sees "Outdated client" or "Outdated server", their game version doesn't match. Java players can create a launcher profile with the server's version.
Keep it a friends-only server
• Leave online-mode=true in server.properties so only real, logged-in Minecraft accounts can join.
• Don't post your address publicly. Server scanners do find open servers, so for a private group, a whitelist is the strongest option.
• Turn on the whitelist with /whitelist on and add each friend with /whitelist add Name.
• Make yourself operator with /op YourName from the console, and only give operator to people you trust.
• Make backups before big changes, such as updating the Minecraft version.
On Enzonic you can manage the whitelist, operators and bans from the panel's player management page. The whitelist is currently not available on the free tier, so on a free server keep the address within your group. You can also invite a friend as a subuser with an invite link, so they can start the server or change settings without your password.
Adding plugins or mods later
Once the basics work, most groups want more: claims and homes, a map, or a modpack. Plugins need Paper or Purpur. Mods need Fabric, Forge or NeoForge, and every player must install the same mods. See our guides on installing plugins and installing a modpack server.
If the server starts to lag as you add more, check the memory and CPU graphs before upgrading. Our RAM guide explains how much a server really needs.
Make a Minecraft server for friends on a host: step by step
- Choose the edition and version Pick Java, Bedrock, or Java with GeyserMC for a mixed group, and agree on one Minecraft version.
- Create the server Sign up with a host, open the create page, choose Paper, Vanilla or Bedrock and the region closest to your group, and create the server.
- Start it and copy the address Start the server from the panel, wait until it has finished loading, and copy its address.
- Make yourself operator In the console, run op YourName so you can manage the server in game.
- Share the address with friends Java players use Multiplayer, Add Server. Bedrock players use Servers, Add Server with the address and port.
- Keep it private Keep online-mode on, don't post the address publicly, and use a whitelist where available.
Frequently asked questions
How can I make a Minecraft server for free?
Host it on your own PC, or use a free host. Enzonic's free tier gives 3.5 GB RAM with no credit card; it sleeps when empty and starts when a player connects.
Can my friends join if my PC is off?
Not if the server runs on your PC. To play while you're offline, use Realms or a server host.
Can Java and Bedrock players play together?
Yes, on a Java server with GeyserMC and Floodgate installed. Bedrock players then join with their Microsoft account.
How many friends can join?
Minecraft doesn't set a small limit; max-players in server.properties does. Memory and CPU are the real limits, so larger groups need more RAM.
Why can't my friends connect to the server on my PC?
Usually the port isn't forwarded, a firewall blocks Java, or your provider uses CGNAT, which blocks incoming connections even with port forwarding.
Is Realms or a server host better?
Realms is simplest but has no plugins or mods on Java and limited control. A host gives full file access, plugins, mods and more memory options.