How to Make Your Own Minecraft Server

Quick Answer: You can make your own Minecraft server in two main ways. The easy way is to rent a server from a Minecraft hosting company, and they set it up for you. The free way is to run the Bedrock Dedicated Server on your own PC, which is a free program from Minecraft that lets your computer host a world for your friends. Both ways let you and your friends play in a world that stays on. This guide explains the free way in plain steps, what you need, and how to let your friends join.

Why make your own server? A server gives you control. You pick the rules, the world, and who can join. You can play minigames, build a town with friends, or run a survival world that no one can turn off. It is more work than joining a friend’s world, but it is your place, and it is always there when you want to play. If you have not played with friends yet, read our guide on how to play Minecraft with friends first. It covers the basics.

Two Ways to Make a Server

Way	How it works	Good for
Bedrock Dedicated Server (free)	You run a free program on your own PC	Players who have a PC and want full control
Rented hosting	A hosting company runs the server for you	Players who want it set up fast, with no PC left on

The rest of this guide covers the free way, the Bedrock Dedicated Server. It is made by the same people who made Minecraft, for Bedrock players. If you pick rented hosting instead, the company will send you the steps after you sign up. If a hosting company shows you a price, check the price on their site before you pay. Do not trust a host that asks you to pay through a strange link or a chat app.

What You Need First

• A PC that you can leave on while friends play. The server only works while the PC is on.
• A copy of Minecraft Bedrock on your phone or PC, to join and test it.
• A steady home internet link. The server sends the world to every player, so a weak link means lag.
• The Bedrock Dedicated Server program, from the official Minecraft site. Get it only from there, never from a random download site.

Tell your friends the plan. A server is only fun with people on it. Decide the rules before you start. Will it be Survival or Creative? Can anyone join, or just your friends? Write the rules down and share them. If you want the basics of servers, read our Minecraft Server Setting guide. It fits well with this one.

Minecraft Bedrock Server Setup in Plain Steps

1. Go to the official Minecraft site on your PC. Find the Bedrock Dedicated Server download and get it. Only use the official site.
2. Make a new folder on your PC for the server. Put the downloaded file in it.
3. Open the file. It unpacks the server files into that folder.
4. Look for the file called server.properties. Open it with a plain text editor.
5. Change the server name to something your friends will know. Save the file.
6. Start the server by opening the program called bedrock_server. A black window will open. Leave it open while friends play.
7. Open Minecraft on your phone or PC and test it. Tap Play, then Servers, then Add Server. Type your PC’s address and the port the server shows, then join.

Take it slow. If the server does not start, check that the files all unpacked into one folder, and that no other program is using the same port. If it starts but friends cannot join, the cause is often your home router. You may need to open the port in your router settings, which is called port forwarding. Every router is different, so check your router’s own help pages for the steps. If that sounds like too much, rented hosting may suit you better. It costs money, so check the price on the host’s site first.

How Your Friends Join Your Server

1. Give your friends your server address and port number. Keep it private. Only share it with people you trust.
2. Ask them to open Minecraft, tap Play, then Servers, then Add Server.
3. They type the address and port, give it a name, and tap Save.
4. They tap your server in the list and join. You will see them arrive in the world.

Your friends need the Bedrock game to join a Bedrock server. Java players cannot join it. If a friend cannot join, check that you typed the same address and port, that the server window is still open on your PC, and that your PC is on the same home network, or that your router lets outside players in. Test it with one friend first, before you invite a big group. If you want to play minigames on a server, read our Minecraft Minigames Guide and try Bedwars with your group.

Keep Your Server Safe and Fun

• Only invite people you know. A public address brings strangers, and some will break things.
• Make a backup of the world often. Copy the world files to a safe folder. Our backup guide shows you the idea, and the same habit works for server worlds.
• Set a few clear rules and share them before people join. No breaking other people’s builds, and no taking items from their chests.
• Turn the server off when no one is playing. It saves power and keeps the world safe.
• If something goes wrong, stop the server, copy the world files first, then work out the fix. Never fix a live server with players in it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Last checked: 11 November 2026

Written by the Minecraft APK team. We test every guide on a real Android phone and check the file before we share it.