How to Host a Minecraft Server on your PC

Want to play Minecraft with friends without paying for server hosting? In this step-by-step tutorial, I’ll show you exactly how to make and host your own Minecraft server on your PC — 100% FREE. I’ll walk you through setting up the server files, adjusting settings, port forwarding for multiplayer access, and how your friends can join your server.

✅ This works for Minecraft Java Edition on Windows.

Host: Kevin Stratvert

🔗 LINKS

📚 COMMANDS
- Check if Java is installed:
java -version

- Install Java using Windows Package Manager:
winget install Microsoft.OpenJDK.21

- Run Server for first time to generate EULA:

- Run Server second time:

@ECHO OFF
Pause

- Make yourself an operator
/op (YOUR NAME IN MINECRAFT)

- Get your computer's IPv4 address and default gateway / router address:
ipconfig

⌚ TIMESTAMPS
00:00 - Introduction
00:19 - Download the Minecraft server files
01:28 - Install Java
02:48 - Run the server for the first time & accept EULA
04:16 - Create batch file to launch server
06:57 - Configure your server settings
07:48 - Make yourself an operator
08:14 - Connect to your server from your PC
08:40 - Connect from another PC on same network
09:58 - Set up port forwarding on your router
12:58 - Connect from a PC on a different network
13:35 - Wrap up

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⚖ DISCLOSURE
Some links are affiliate links. Purchasing through these links gives me a small commission to support videos on this channel. The price to you is the same.

#stratvert #minecraft

[paulirina]

This is genuinely the best tutorial/guide ive ever watched on youtube

[Killua-ebuc]

guys if you want tlauncher users or any cracked version to enter in your server go to server properties, right click on it and choose edit in notepad, go for online-mode=true, make it false and save, it will work

[mr_e_eveloution]

From buisness to gaming. Bro wants to be the. Tutorial you're look for!

[krook]

thanks for not telling us what to do when it goes wrong over and over again

[yusufnotfound]

this is your 1000th video.. congrats man

[ivannikolov]

Omg right now im a last year cs student and im so much in shock that i was doing this when i was in my early 10s and had no idea what i was doing. Now i understand everything that is happening and i would have been so happy to have had this video when i was young. Its only 10 years late but i just want to do this just for the fun. Damn time flies.

[Azwethinkweiz]

Kevin, thank you so much for explaining this perfectly. The video even looked good. I did this years ago and couldn't remember exactly how I did it lol. Now my son and I are able to play on the server I created. Thank you!

[najtrows]

I love how upbeat you keep it without sounding patronizing. Very informative! Thanks

[sunbuntm]

this was the best guide for this i've ever seen, thank you

[JeroenCarlos]

Finally, a guide that actually works! Thanks Kevin!!

[xcgx]

A very helpfull and detailed tutorial which left no questions open.
Thank you very much!
The only thing I have to skribble toworrow with are the options in my router menu, which looks quite different 😂

[KiDdaFunk]

Thanks, mate! Been wanting to make a server for the fam and you made it so easy. Great vid!

[PaxtonFinn]

Dang! Thank You so much!!! I've been trying to make a Minecraft server for what feels like ever and i keep failing. You are a life saver. Kevan, Bro, Your a GOD

[aminute]

if you dont want to keep changing your wan ip, you can set up a ddns. most router have this feature. choose a ddns provider and set it up on your router. then your friend can just use type in the ddns instead of your wan ip. your router will update the ddns with its new wan ip. so u only need to provide the ddns to your friend

[mr_lonely_z]

that's amazing to be honest and it works too buuuttt i wanna add mods to the server how can i make that ? hope there is a tutorial for that too <3

[mrgibbs]

0:40 is there a way where i can download the 1.21.4 minecraft server?

[nicolebeck]

"Now you just need friends to play with" 💀 why'd you have to do us like this. Great video, thanks

[Darkghost]

When I got to the 7:58 time stamp I didn’t get I got the unrecognized option and with errors like its error:could not create the Java virtual machine.
error:vA fatal exeception has occurred. And it has me exit the cmd thing

[Rob-o-Bot]

Awesome video, just one question - if I wanted to install mods on the server how would that be done?

[Nunezzz.]

Thank you!! It works now i can have a use for my laptop that i replaced with a pc