Minecraft
Server Properties
Minecraft
Server Properties
A complete guide to the server.properties configuration file
Each input affects the server’s behavior, performance, or gameplay. Below is an overview of the properties, descriptions, and recommendations for whether or not to modify them.
Basic Server Settings
| Property | Description | Recommended Setting |
|---|---|---|
server-port | The port the server listens on (default: 25565). | Keep default unless changing port. |
server-ip | The IP address the server binds to. Leave empty for auto-detection. | Leave empty unless hosting behind NAT. |
motd | Message displayed in the server list. Supports formatting codes. | Customizable to give your server personality. |
online-mode | Verifies player accounts through Mojang (true or false). | true for public servers. Use false only for offline/LAN use. |
max-players | Max concurrent players (default: 20). | Adjust based on hardware and player expectations. |
level-name | World folder name (default: world). | Change if using custom world folders. |
level-seed | Custom world generation seed. | Optional for unique maps. |
World and Gameplay Settings
| Property | Description | Recommended Setting |
|---|---|---|
gamemode | Default gamemode for new players: survival, creative, adventure, spectator. | Survival for most gameplay. |
difficulty | Difficulty level: peaceful, easy, normal, hard. | Normal for balanced play. |
pvp | Enables player vs. player combat (true or false). | True unless PvE only. |
spawn-animals | Allow animal spawning (true or false). | True unless performance issues. |
spawn-monsters | Allow monster spawning (true or false). | True unless peaceful mode. |
spawn-npcs | Enables NPCs like villagers (true or false). | True for most servers. |
hardcore | If enabled, players get only one life (true or false). | False unless hardcore gameplay. |
generate-structures | Enable village and dungeon generation (true or false). | True for richer worlds. |
max-world-size | Limits the size of generated chunks (default: 29999984). | Optional; limit for performance. |
view-distance | Sets chunk rendering distance for players (default: 10). | 8-12 for a balance of visuals and performance. |
simulation-distance | How far entities are updated around players (default: 10). | 6-10 to optimize. |
Player Management and Permissions
| Property | Description | Recommended Setting |
|---|---|---|
whitelist | Use whitelist to control who can join (true or false). | Optional for private servers. |
enforce-whitelist | Prevents non-whitelisted players from joining (true or false). | False unless strict control. |
op-permission-level | Control operator permissions: 1-4. | 2-3 for general admins. |
max-build-height | Limits how high players can build (default: 256). | Increase for creative builds. |
spawn-protection | Radius around spawn point where non-ops cannot modify blocks. | 16 for protection; 0 to disable. |
allow-flight | Allow players to fly (true or false). | True for creative; False otherwise. |
Performance Settings
| Property | Description | Recommended Setting |
|---|---|---|
network-compression-threshold | Compress packets (default: 256). | 256 or lower for slower networks. |
max-tick-time | Max time (ms) for a tick before the server stops (default: 60000). | 60000 unless debugging. |
max-threads | Threads for parallel processing (if supported). | Leave default unless optimizing. |
enable-jmx-monitoring | Enables Java monitoring (true or false). | False unless required for diagnostics. |
use-native-transport | Optimizes performance on certain OS (true or false). | True for most servers. |
rate-limit | Limits packets per second per player (default: 0 = unlimited). | Optional to prevent abuse. |
enable-command-block | Enables command blocks (true or false). | True for servers with custom mechanics. |
Advanced and Experimental Settings
| Property | Description | Recommended Setting |
|---|---|---|
sync-chunk-writes | Controls chunk save behavior (true or false). | True for safety, False for speed. |
allow-nether | Enable access to the Nether (true or false). | True for most servers. |
enable-status | Show server status in the server list (true or false). | True to attract players. |
resource-pack | URL for server resource pack. | Optional for custom textures. |
resource-pack-prompt | Ask players before downloading resource packs (true or false). | True for user control. |
resource-pack-sha1 | SHA-1 hash of the resource pack to ensure integrity. | Optional but recommended. |
Conclusion
Most properties depend on the type of server you’re running (survival, creative, PvP, etc.) and the hardware available. It’s generally recommended to:
- Adjust performance settings based on your server’s hardware.
- Enable features that match your intended gameplay (e.g., PvP, animals, structures).
- Use a whitelist or rate-limiting if you expect a large number of players to prevent abuse.
If you’re running a small or performance-limited server, lowering the view-distance and simulation-distance will help, while settings like online-mode should be left enabled for security.