Help Centre
Minecraft guides
Every Minecraft guide from Play Your Way: setup, fixes and how-tos for your Minecraft server, written in plain English.
Getting Started
Server Management
Settings & Admin
Minecraft server.properties explained
Every Minecraft server.properties setting explained: the default, what it does, when to change it, and which ones the panel manages for you.
Minecraft whitelist: add players, set ops
Turn on the Minecraft whitelist so only your friends can join, add players by username and give trusted players operator (op) commands.
Mods & Plugins
Can Fabric mods run on Forge? We tested it
No: on our Forge 1.21.1 server, Fabric mods were skipped without a word. Install Fabric, Forge or NeoForge mods and fix the errors we saw.
Install a Minecraft modpack on your server
Back up your Minecraft server, install a Modrinth modpack from the panel, and get your players onto the same pack release.
Install Minecraft plugins on Paper or Purpur
Add Minecraft plugins to a Paper or Purpur server from the panel's store or by upload, change their settings, and fix one that stops the server starting.
Let Bedrock players join your Java server
Turn on the Crossplay tab so Bedrock players can join your Minecraft Java server, then whitelist them and fix the common join errors.
Modpack mods to download from CurseForge
Some CurseForge modpack mods can only be downloaded from CurseForge's site. Find them in the Modpacks tab, download each one and upload it in a click.
Files & Backups
How to manage your server files
Browse, edit and upload your server files in the File Manager, pack or unzip archives, and use SFTP for anything over the 100 MB browser upload limit.
Move your Minecraft world from Aternos
Download your Minecraft world from Aternos, match its software and version on your new server, then import it with its Nether, End and plugins.
Move your Minecraft world from Minehut
Download your Minecraft world, plugins and player lists from Minehut, then bring them onto your server here with the same software and version.
Upload your singleplayer Minecraft world
Turn a Java Edition singleplayer save into your Minecraft server world: zip it the right way, import it from the panel and keep a way back.
Performance
How much RAM does my Minecraft server need?
Size your Minecraft server's RAM for your players, software and mods, see what we measured on our own servers, and why it rarely shows as fully used.
Minecraft server players per GB of RAM
A per-gigabyte rule of thumb for Vanilla, Paper, Fabric, Forge and heavy modpacks, why view distance matters more than player count, and when to upgrade.
Troubleshooting
Failed to initialize server: players folder
Minecraft server stops with DETECTED OLD PLAYER DIRECTORY IN THE WORLD SAVE? Move the leftover players folder out of your world, then start it again.
Failed to load properties from file: fix server.properties
Minecraft server missing its server.properties file? Restart it once, then check the port and bring back any settings that went to defaults.
Fix No key dimensions in MapLike (level.dat)
We broke level.dat on purpose to test this: rename level.dat_old to get the world back in under a minute, or restore a backup if both are bad.