Guides · Sep 27, 2026

How to Set Up a Minecraft Server on an Ubuntu VPS

Install Java, run a Paper Minecraft server on Ubuntu, open the firewall and keep it running 24/7 with systemd, in about 15 minutes.

This guide runs a Paper server: a fast, plugin-friendly drop-in replacement for the vanilla Java server. It assumes Ubuntu 24.04; if you haven't yet, spend ten minutes on securing your server first.

1. Install Java 21

Current Minecraft versions need Java 21:

sudo apt update
sudo apt install -y openjdk-21-jre-headless
java -version

2. Create a user and folder for the server

sudo adduser --system --group --home /opt/minecraft minecraft
sudo -u minecraft -s
cd /opt/minecraft

3. Download Paper

Copy the download link for the latest build from papermc.io/downloads, then:

curl -o paper.jar "PASTE_THE_DOWNLOAD_LINK_HERE"
echo "eula=true" > eula.txt
exit

Setting eula=true means you accept the Minecraft EULA.

4. Run it as a service

Create /etc/systemd/system/minecraft.service. Set -Xmx to about 1 GB less than your plan's RAM (3G on Ripple, 7G on Wave):

[Unit]
Description=Minecraft server
After=network.target

[Service]
User=minecraft
WorkingDirectory=/opt/minecraft
ExecStart=/usr/bin/java -Xms1G -Xmx3G -jar paper.jar --nogui
Restart=on-failure

[Install]
WantedBy=multi-user.target

sudo systemctl daemon-reload
sudo systemctl enable --now minecraft
sudo journalctl -u minecraft -f   # watch it start; Ctrl+C to stop watching

5. Open the port

sudo ufw allow 25565/tcp

Now join from Minecraft using your server's IP address. Add plugins by dropping .jar files into /opt/minecraft/plugins and restarting with sudo systemctl restart minecraft.

Tips

• Set white-list=true in server.properties for a private server.
• Want Bedrock players too? Add the Geyser and Floodgate plugins and open UDP port 19132.
• Your whole server is backed up daily. Restore from the Backups tab if a plugin breaks your world.