Host Minecraft Server for Free with VPS – A Complete Guide for Devs

Hello Devs! Do you want to host a Minecraft server but don’t want to spend a penny? Well, you are in the right place. In this article, we will guide you on how to host a Minecraft server for free using VPS. You don’t need to have any technical expertise or coding knowledge. Follow this step-by-step guide, and you will be able to create your Minecraft server and play with your friends in no time.

What is a VPS?

Before we dive into how to host a Minecraft server for free using VPS, let’s first understand what VPS is.

VPS stands for Virtual Private Server. It is a virtual machine that is sold as a service by hosting providers. VPS provides you with dedicated resources and root access to your server. You can install any application and customize the server as per your needs.

Now that you know what VPS is let’s move on to the next step, creating a Minecraft server.

Step-by-Step Guide to Host Minecraft Server for Free with VPS

Step 1: Choose a VPS Provider

The first step in hosting a Minecraft server is to choose a VPS provider. There are many providers out there, but we recommend using Google Cloud Platform or Amazon Web Services. Both offer a free trial period, which is perfect for hosting your server for free.

Step 2: Create a VPS Instance

Once you have chosen the VPS provider, the next step is to create a VPS instance. Here’s how you can do it:

1. Log in to your VPS provider account.
2. Click on the ‘Create Instance’ button.
3. Choose the server’s location, CPU, memory, and storage type.
4. Scroll down to the ‘Boot Disk’ section and click on ‘Change.’
5. Select ‘Ubuntu 20.04 LTS’ as the boot disk and click on ‘Select.’
6. Click on ‘Create’ to create the VPS instance.

Step 3: Connect to the VPS Instance

Now that you have created the VPS instance, it’s time to connect to it. Here’s how you can do it:

1. Click on the ‘SSH’ button next to your VPS instance.
2. A new window will open.
3. Enter your username and password (which you created during VPS instance creation).
4. You are now connected to your VPS instance.

Step 4: Install Java

Minecraft requires Java to run. If Java is not already installed on your VPS instance, you need to install it. Here’s how you can do it:

1. Run the following command to update your server:

sudo apt update

2. Run the following command to install Java:

sudo apt install default-jre

Step 5: Download and Install Minecraft Server

Now it’s time to download and install the Minecraft server. Here’s how you can do it:

1. Create a new directory for the Minecraft server:

mkdir minecraft_server

2. Navigate to the new directory:

cd minecraft_server

3. Download the Minecraft server software:

wget https://launcher.mojang.com/v1/objects/886945bfb2b978778c3a0288fdcadfafd6b38f54/server.jar

4. Run the server:

java -Xmx1024M -Xms1024M -jar server.jar nogui

Step 6: Configure Minecraft Server

The Minecraft server is now installed, but we need to configure it. Here’s how you can do it:

1. Open the ‘eula.txt’ file:

nano eula.txt

2. Change ‘false’ to ‘true’ in the ‘eula’ line.
3. Save and close the file.
4. Now, open the ‘server.properties’ file:

nano server.properties

5. Change ‘server-ip=’ to ‘server-ip=127.0.0.1’ (without quotes).
6. Save and close the file.

Step 7: Start Minecraft Server

You have configured the Minecraft server, and now it’s time to start it. Here’s how you can do it:

1. Start the Minecraft server:

java -Xmx1024M -Xms1024M -jar server.jar nogui

2. The server will take a few seconds to start.
3. Once it’s started, you will see the server log in the terminal.
4. You have successfully started the Minecraft server!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

That’s it, Devs! You have successfully hosted a Minecraft server for free using VPS. Now you can invite your friends to play with you. If you have any questions, feel free to ask us in the comments section below.