server.properties Configuration Guide (Manual)
server.properties Configuration Guide
The server.properties file is the central configuration file for vanilla Minecraft and all Bukkit/Spigot/Paper derivatives. It defines fundamental world settings, network flags, and gameplay parameters.
Recommended Key Settings
| Property | Recommended Value | Description |
|---|---|---|
motd | Custom Message | Display message shown in the Minecraft server list. Supports standard formatting codes. |
view-distance | 6 to 8 | Chunk distance sent to connected clients. Keeping this between 6 and 8 saves significant RAM and CPU cycles. |
simulation-distance | 4 to 6 | Tick distance for entity AI, mob spawning, and crops. Lower values improve TPS during active gameplay. |
difficulty | normal or hard | Game difficulty (peaceful, easy, normal, hard). |
gamemode | survival | Default gamemode for new players (survival, creative, adventure, spectator). |
online-mode | true | Authenticates connecting players against Mojang accounts. Keeps servers secure against spoofing and griefing. |
allow-flight | true | Prevents vanilla kicking players who use Elytras or flight abilities granted by plugins. |
max-players | 20 | Maximum simultaneous players allowed on the server. |
spawn-protection | 0 or 16 | Radius in blocks around world spawn protected from non-OP block breaking. |
network-compression-threshold | 256 | Packet compression threshold in bytes. Helps players with high latency connections. |
How to Edit server.properties
- Open your server dashboard and stop the server.
- Go to Files and click
server.properties. - Adjust the values.
- Click Save Content.
- Start the server from the Console tab.