What you need
For this guide you need Minecraft: Java Edition – the version you launch on your PC through the Minecraft Launcher. You also need your own server: we set it up for you, and you then manage it in the Game Panel in your browser.
Your own server has one big advantage over a shared world: it keeps running even when you’re not playing. Your friends can join at any time, and nobody has to leave their PC on for it.
Step 1: Choose the right server software
Before you start, decide how you want to play. That determines which server software runs on your server:
- Vanilla – plain Minecraft, exactly as Mojang ships it. Ideal if you simply want to play together.
- Paper or Purpur – like Vanilla, but with plugins. They add extras such as land claims, shops or teleport commands, without your friends having to install anything.
- Fabric, Forge or NeoForge – for mods that change the game itself, such as new blocks, biomes or machines. Here, every player needs the matching mods too.
- Modpack – a ready-made collection of mods, for example from Modrinth. In the Game Panel you just pick a modpack and install it with one click.
Not sure? Vanilla is all you need to play with friends. If you want plugins later, Paper is a good start – and if you’re unsure, just tell us in your request what you have in mind.
Step 2: Start the server and copy the address
The overview in the Game Panel shows whether your server is running. If it isn’t, start it with one click. Right next to it you’ll find your server address – an IP address or a name, often followed by a port number, for example 203.0.113.42:25565. Copy it and send it to your friends, for example on Discord.
Step 3: Connect to the server
This is how you and your friends connect to the server:
- Start Minecraft and click Multiplayer in the main menu.
- Choose Add Server.
- Enter any name you like and paste the copied address into Server Address.
- Confirm with Done and double-click the server in the list.
Important: the game and the server must run the same Minecraft version. In the Minecraft Launcher, create an installation with the matching version under “Installations”. For modpacks, every player needs the same modpack in the same version – the easiest way is the Modrinth App or the CurseForge app.
Step 4: Only let your friends in
To stop anyone who knows the address from joining, turn on the whitelist. Then only players you’ve approved can get onto the server. Enter these commands in the console in the Game Panel:
whitelist on– turns the whitelist on.whitelist add PlayerName– approves a player. Repeat this for each friend.whitelist list– shows who is approved.
In-game, the same commands work with a slash in front, for example /whitelist add PlayerName – but you need admin rights for that. You grant them in the console with op PlayerName. Only give admin rights to people you trust: admins can, for example, change the game mode or kick other players.
Step 5: Back up your world
A creeper in the storage room, a mod update that breaks something, or a friend with TNT – a lot can happen in Minecraft. In the Game Panel, create a backup with one click under “Backups” and restore it just as easily. Even more convenient: set up a nightly backup under “Automations”. Then your progress is saved every day without you having to think about it.
Tip: Make a backup before every bigger step – for example before installing a new modpack, updating plugins or switching to a new Minecraft version.
Common problems and fixes
“Outdated server” or “Outdated client”
The game and the server are on different versions. In the Minecraft Launcher, choose the version your server is running.
“You are not whitelisted on this server”
The player hasn’t been approved yet, or the name is misspelled. Use whitelist list to check who’s on the list, and add the name exactly as it appears in-game.
Timed out or “Connection refused”
Check in the Game Panel that the server is running, and compare the address – including the port number after the colon. If you still can’t get on, get in touch: we’ll take a look personally.
