How to Make a Paper Minecraft Server (Java Edition)

What Paper is and why people use it

Paper is a high-performance Java Edition server. It is a drop-in replacement for CraftBukkit and Spigot, which means every plugin written for those works on Paper, and it fixes a lot of the lag and bugs found in the plain Mojang server. Most survival, skyblock, minigame and roleplay servers you see on MCServerShare run Paper or something built on it.

If you want a server that is stable, fast and has the biggest plugin library, Paper is the best place to start.

What you need

• A computer or host that stays on. For a few friends, a spare PC is fine. For a public server, a hosting company or VPS is better (see our port-forwarding guide for why).
• RAM: 4 GB assigned to the server is a comfortable start for a small survival world. Give it more only if you have it free; never assign all of the machine's memory.
• A fast CPU matters more than a lot of cores, because Minecraft's main game loop runs on one core.
• An SSD, so the world loads and saves quickly.
• The right version of Java (see the next section).

Step 1: Install the correct Java

Paper's documentation says it requires Java 21 for Minecraft 1.20 through 1.21.11, and Java 25 for the 26.1 builds and newer. Newer Minecraft versions keep raising the minimum, so always check the Java line on the Paper download page for the version you pick.

1. Download a current build of Java (JDK or JRE) from a trusted vendor such as Eclipse Temurin (Adoptium).
2. Install it, then open a terminal or command prompt and run the command below to confirm the version.

java -version

If the version shown is older than the one your Paper build needs, the server will refuse to start. On a machine with several Java versions, make sure the right one is first on your PATH.

Step 2: Download Paper

Only download Paper from papermc.io. Copies from other sites can contain malware.

1. Create an empty folder for the server, for example C:\minecraft\paper or /home/you/paper.
2. Go to papermc.io/downloads and choose the Minecraft version you want. If you are unsure, pick the newest stable release.
3. Download the server jar and save it in your new folder. Renaming it to paper.jar keeps the commands below simple.

Step 3: First start and the EULA

Open a terminal in the server folder and run the command below. -Xms and -Xmx set the starting and maximum memory (4G means 4 gigabytes). --nogui disables the small Mojang control window, since you will use the console.

java -Xms4G -Xmx4G -jar paper.jar --nogui

1. The first run creates files and then stops, saying you must agree to the EULA.
2. Open eula.txt in a text editor, read Mojang's Minecraft EULA (linked inside the file), and change eula=false to eula=true. By doing this you agree to Mojang's terms; that choice is yours to make.
3. Run the command again. After a minute the console prints Done and the server is running.

Make a start script

So you do not retype the command every time, save it as a script in the server folder.

@echo off
java -Xms4G -Xmx4G -jar paper.jar --nogui
pause

#!/bin/bash
java -Xms4G -Xmx4G -jar paper.jar --nogui

Step 4: Configure server.properties

Stop the server by typing stop in the console, then open server.properties. These are the settings most owners change.

server-port=25565
motd=A friendly survival server
max-players=20
online-mode=true
white-list=false
difficulty=normal
gamemode=survival
view-distance=10
simulation-distance=8

• server-port is the port players connect on. 25565 is the default and means players do not need to type a port.
• motd is the message shown under your server name in the multiplayer list. This is also where you put your MCServerShare verification code.
• online-mode=true makes Mojang check every account. Keep it true: turning it off lets anyone pretend to be anyone, including your admins.
• white-list=true means only approved players can join. Use /whitelist add name in the console.
• view-distance and simulation-distance have the biggest effect on lag. Lower them first if the server struggles.

Step 5: Join your own server

1. Start the server and wait for the Done message.
2. In Minecraft Java Edition, choose Multiplayer > Add Server.
3. Type localhost as the address and join. If you are on a different machine on the same network, use that machine's local address instead.
4. Give yourself operator rights by typing op yourname in the server console.

Step 6: Let other people join

Joining from your own computer proves the server works. For other people to reach it you need to open the port and share your address. That is a different topic with a few pitfalls (routers, firewalls, home IP safety), so we cover it in a separate guide.

Step 7: Add plugins

• Good first plugins: LuckPerms (permissions), EssentialsX (home, warp, kit and economy commands), a land-claim or protection plugin, and a backup plugin or script.
• Download plugins only from official pages such as Modrinth, Hangar, SpigotMC or the developer's own GitHub releases.
• Never use cracked or leaked paid plugins. They are a common way servers get backdoors.
• Check that each plugin supports your Minecraft version before installing it.

1. Stop the server.
2. Put the plugin's .jar file in the plugins folder that Paper created.
3. Start the server. Most plugins create a configuration folder you can edit.

Backups and updates

• Back up the whole server folder before every update and before installing or removing major plugins. Stop the server first, or the copy can be corrupted.
• To update Paper, stop the server, make a backup, replace paper.jar with the newer build and start again. Read the release notes first.
• Do not move a world to an older Minecraft version. Worlds only go forward.
• Test updates on a copy of your world before doing them on the live server.

Common problems

• "Unsupported class file major version" or a Java error on startup: you are using the wrong Java version.
• The server stops straight away: the EULA is not set to true yet.
• Players cannot connect from outside: the port is not open. See the port-forwarding guide.
• Constant lag: lower view-distance, remove plugins one at a time to find a heavy one, and check you have enough free RAM.

List it on MCServerShare

When your server is reachable, create a free account and list it. Put the verification code from your dashboard in your MOTD to earn the Verified badge, and set up vote rewards with a Votifier plugin if you want players to vote daily.

Frequently asked questions