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MinecraftSettings & 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.

Updated 11 min read
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Table of contents

server.properties is the file that controls almost everything about how your Minecraft Java server runs: game mode, difficulty, who can join, performance limits and what players see in the multiplayer list. Minecraft only reads it when the server starts, so any change, however you make it, needs a restart before it does anything.

Most of it you can change without touching the file directly. The Config Editor tab (in the Content group) lists the common settings as labeled controls with a search box and a plain-English explanation for each. For a setting the Config Editor doesn't list, open File Manager, edit server.properties directly and restart. Starting from scratch, or want to see the whole file laid out at once? Build one with the server.properties generator and upload it in File Manager with Replace & overwrite. Still choosing a plan? See Minecraft hosting.

Tip

Hand-editing server.properties in File Manager? Take a backup first in Backups, in case a typo breaks the file.

World and generation

KeyDefaultWhat it doesWhen to change it
level-nameworldFolder the world lives in.Changing it starts a new world; the old folder stays on disk.
level-seed(blank)Seed used to generate a new world.Set it before first boot. Ignored once the world exists.
level-typeminecraft:normalTerrain generator used when the world is first created.Pick flat, large biomes, amplified or single biome before first boot.
generator-settings{}Advanced JSON options for custom world generation.Only for a custom flat or superflat layout; most customers never touch it.
generate-structurestrueVillages, temples, strongholds and other structures generate.Turn off for a structure-free world, like a pure survival island map.
allow-nethertruePlayers can travel to the Nether.Turn off for a Nether-free map or challenge run.
max-world-size29999984Radius in blocks the world border can reach from spawn.Leave alone. Vanilla's own outer limit, rarely worth lowering.
initial-enabled-packsvanillaData packs turned on when the world is first created.Add a pack's name before first boot; it does nothing on an existing world.
initial-disabled-packs(blank)Data packs turned off when the world is first created.Rarely needed. Leave blank unless you're excluding a default pack.

Gameplay

KeyDefaultWhat it doesWhen to change it
gamemodesurvivalMode new players join in.Set creative for a build server, adventure for a custom map.
difficultyeasyMob damage and hunger.Raise it for more challenge, or peaceful to stop hostile mobs entirely.
hardcorefalsePlayers are locked to spectator mode when they die.Only for a permadeath world. Check with your players first.
pvptrueWhether players can damage each other.Turn off for a peaceful build server or a minigame map.
spawn-protection16Radius around spawn only operators can build in.Set to 0 to let everyone build at spawn, or raise it on a busy public server.
allow-flightfalseStops the anti-cheat kicking players who fly.Turn on for flight mods or a creative-only server, or flying players get kicked.
force-gamemodefalsePuts players back into the default game mode every time they join.Turn on to stop players keeping creative mode after an op session.
enable-command-blockfalseCommand blocks work in the world.Turn on for adventure maps or redstone command contraptions.
spawn-monsterstrueHostile mobs spawn.Turn off for a peaceful build server without changing the difficulty.
spawn-animalstruePassive animals spawn.Turn off if you don't want farm animals cluttering the world.
spawn-npcstrueVillagers spawn in villages.Turn off if you don't want villager trading.
Note

Current Minecraft versions are moving some of these into gamerules instead: pvp, allow-nether, enable-command-block, spawn-monsters, spawn-animals and spawn-npcs still work on most versions customers run, but a very new server version may ignore the property and need the matching command instead, for example /gamerule pvp false in the Console.

Players and access

Player slots aren't capped by your plan, only your RAM: see How much RAM does my Minecraft server need? before raising max-players.

KeyDefaultWhat it doesWhen to change it
max-players20How many players can be online at once.Set it to what your hardware can actually carry.
white-listfalseOnly players on whitelist.json can join.Turn on for a private server. Also on the Players tab, see Minecraft whitelist: add players, set ops.
enforce-whitelistfalseKicks already-online players the moment they're removed from the whitelist.Turn on if you want a removal to take effect immediately, not just block rejoining.
online-modetrueVerifies players against Mojang's account database.Never turn off for a public server: anyone can join under any name.
op-permission-level4Permission level an operator gets from /op.Lower it to limit what new ops can do.
function-permission-level2Permission level a data pack function runs commands with.Rarely changed; raise only if a pack's functions need higher-level commands.
player-idle-timeout0Minutes before an idle player is kicked. 0 never kicks.Set a limit to free up a slot from someone who has gone AFK.
broadcast-console-to-opstrueShows console command output to online operators.Turn off if you don't want ops seeing every console line in chat.
accepts-transfersfalseAllows players to arrive via a transfer packet from another server.Only for a network of servers that hand players between each other.
prevent-proxy-connectionsfalseKicks players whose ISP doesn't match Mojang's authentication record.Can cut down proxy or VPN joins, but it can catch real players too.
enforce-secure-profiletrueRequires a Mojang-signed chat key from each player's client.Leave on. Turning it off is mainly for very old or modified clients.

Network and performance

KeyDefaultWhat it doesWhen to change it
view-distance10How far players can see, in chunks.The biggest lever on RAM and CPU. Lower it first if the server is lagging.
simulation-distance10How far mobs, crops and redstone keep ticking.Cheaper to lower than view distance when you need the headroom.
network-compression-threshold256Packets bigger than this get compressed.Leave alone. -1 disables compression and can raise bandwidth use.
max-tick-time60000Milliseconds one tick may take before the watchdog kills the server.Raise it, or set -1, if a slow modpack is being killed for long ticks.
rate-limit0Maximum packets a player can send before being kicked. 0 disables it.Set a limit if a modded client or bot is flooding the server.
entity-broadcast-range-percentage100How far away entities are sent to clients, as a percentage.Lower it to cut lag from crowded farms or bases.
sync-chunk-writestrueFlushes chunk writes to disk immediately.Leave on. Turning it off trades crash safety for a little speed.
max-chained-neighbor-updates1000000Limit on consecutive block-update chains, like long redstone or falling sand.Raise it only for a specific large build that hits the limit.
use-native-transporttrueUses Linux's faster networking path.Leave on. Our servers run Linux, where this gives a real benefit.
pause-when-empty-seconds60Seconds after the last player leaves before the server pauses itself.Raise it to keep farms and redstone ticking while empty, or lower it to save CPU.

Server list

KeyDefaultWhat it doesWhen to change it
motdA Minecraft ServerThe line players see under your server's name in the multiplayer list.Personalize it. Supports color codes, see the tip below.
enable-statustrueWhether the server answers the multiplayer list ping at all.Turn off to hide the server from list pings, including your own client's.
hide-online-playersfalseKeeps the online player list out of the server list ping.Turn on if you don't want random viewers seeing who's online.

The icon players see next to your MOTD isn't a server.properties key: upload a 64 by 64 pixel PNG named exactly server-icon.png to the top folder in File Manager. It shows up next time a client refreshes its server list.

Tip

The MOTD supports Minecraft's color and formatting codes, like §a for green or §l for bold. Build one visually with the MOTD generator instead of memorising codes.

Resource packs

KeyDefaultWhat it doesWhen to change it
resource-pack(blank)Direct download URL to a .zip resource pack.Set it to push a texture pack to every joining player.
resource-pack-id(blank)An ID Minecraft uses to tell resource packs apart.Leave blank unless you're swapping packs and need clients to tell them apart.
resource-pack-sha1(blank)SHA-1 checksum of the pack, in lowercase hex.Set it whenever you set resource-pack, so clients can verify the download.
resource-pack-prompt(blank)Message shown in the accept or decline prompt.Explain why the pack matters, especially if it's required.
require-resource-packfalseDisconnects players who decline the resource pack.Turn on only if your server doesn't work well without it.

RCON, query and JMX

These let a tool outside the panel talk to your server. None of them are in the Config Editor, so turn them on in File Manager and restart.

  • RCON is a password-protected remote console for third-party admin tools. The panel's own Console tab already runs commands live with nothing to set up, so most customers never need it.
  • Query answers short status pings (player count, MOTD) for server-list sites and some map plugins.
  • JMX monitoring exposes Java's own tick-time metrics to a monitoring tool, but needs extra JVM flags at startup. Our launch script sets Java's flags for you and there's no way to add your own, so this setting has no effect on our panel.
KeyDefaultWhat it doesWhen to change it
enable-rconfalseTurns RCON on.Only for a specific external tool. The Console does the same job.
rcon.port25575Port RCON listens on.Match it to an extra port allocation if you need RCON from outside.
rcon.password(blank)Password RCON connections must send.Required once RCON is on. Leave it blank and RCON won't start.
broadcast-rcon-to-opstrueShows RCON command output to online operators.Turn off if you don't want RCON activity visible in chat.
enable-queryfalseTurns on the Query protocol status ping.Only if a server-list site or map plugin asks for it.
query.port25565Port Query answers on.Leave it matching your main port unless a tool needs a different one.
enable-jmx-monitoringfalseExposes Java tick metrics for monitoring tools.Leave off. It needs JVM flags our launch script doesn't let you set.
Warning

Never change server-port or server-ip. The panel rewrites both from your allocation on every start, so an edit is overwritten before Minecraft reads it. If you need RCON or a non-default query port reachable from outside your server, add an extra port on the Settings tab's Network ports card first and match the number here, then set the matching port number in server.properties.

Anti-spam and other settings

KeyDefaultWhat it doesWhen to change it
chat-spam-threshold-seconds10How fast chat messages can arrive before the anti-spam kicks in.Raise it if fast typists or a chat-heavy plugin get kicked unfairly.
command-spam-threshold-seconds10Same limit, for commands.Raise it for a plugin or map that fires lots of commands quickly.
log-ipstrueShows players' IP addresses in the console and log files.Turn off for privacy. You lose IPs from ban and moderation logs too.
bug-report-link(blank)URL added to the client's in-game bug report flow.Leave blank. Only set it if you run your own report form.
enable-code-of-conductfalseShows players a code-of-conduct file, loaded from a codeofconduct folder, before they join.Turn on and add the file yourself if you want players to accept rules first.
management-server-*offA newer HTTP-based remote management API (management-server-enabled plus several related keys).Leave off unless a specific external tool documents using it.

Frequently asked questions

Can I edit server.properties directly instead of using the Config Editor?

Yes. Open File Manager, edit the file, save and restart. The Config Editor is a friendlier way to change the same file for the keys it lists; anything else works the same way by hand.

Why didn't my change do anything?

Minecraft only reads server.properties on startup. Restart the server after any edit, whether you made it in the Config Editor or File Manager.

Can I change the server port in server.properties?

No. The panel rewrites server-port and server-ip from your allocation on every start, so an edit is replaced before Minecraft ever reads it. Extra ports your plan includes are on the Settings tab's Network ports card.

Related guides

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