This wikiHow teaches you how to create a Minecraft server on a Windows or Mac computer using a free program called Hamachi. Note that this process can only be run on the Java edition of Minecraft on a desktop computer. This method will not work on Windows 10, console, or Pocket Edition Minecraft editions.
Step
Part 1 of 5: Preparing to Create a Server
Step 1. Download Hamachi
Run a web browser on the computer and visit https://www.vpn.net/, then click the button Download now green in the center of the page. The computer will download the Hamachi installation file.
If you are using a Mac computer, then VPN.net asks you to download the Windows file, just click the link Mac located under the button Download now to force the computer to download the Mac version.
Step 2. Install Hamachi
After Hamachi is successfully downloaded, install this program according to the operating system you are using:
- Windows - Double click the Hamachi installation file, select a language and click Next, check the box " I have read " and click Next, choose Next, then click Install. You will be prompted to click Yes at some point during the installation. Next, click Finish when requested.
- Mac - Open the ZIP folder, double click the extracted Hamachi installation file, click Open, verify the download if necessary, then check the box " I have read ", and click Install. Type in the password when prompted, then click Finish when requested.
Step 3. Download the Minecraft server file
Run a web browser on the computer and visit https://minecraft.net/en-us/download/server, then click the link minecraft_server.1.12.2.jar in the middle of the page. Your computer will download the Minecraft Java server file.
Step 4. Create a folder on the desktop
This folder will be used as the location to locate and run the Minecraft server. Do the following things to create a new folder::
- Windows - Right-click on the desktop, click New, choose Folders, type Minecraft Server, then press Enter.
- Mac - Click File, choose New Folder, type Minecraft Server, then press Return.
Step 5. Place the Minecraft server files into that folder
Click and drag the Minecraft server file you downloaded to the new folder icon, then drop the file there.
You can also copy the file by clicking on it, then pressing Command+C (Mac) or Ctrl+C (Windows), and opening the newly created folder. Next, press Command+V (Mac) or Ctrl+V (Windows)
Part 2 of 5: Creating a Server on a Windows Computer
Step 1. Make sure you have the latest versions of Minecraft and Java installed
The easiest way to install the latest Minecraft is to double-click the Minecraft launcher and wait for the game to update itself if necessary. In Java, start Internet Explorer and visit https://java.com/en/download/installed.jsp, click Agree and Continue, then follow the instructions given on the screen.
- If nothing happens, then Java is up to date.
- Most modern browsers don't support Java, so you should use Internet Explorer to avoid errors.
Step 2. Open the folder containing the Minecraft server
Do this by double clicking the folder.
Step 3. Double-click the server file
Doing so will start extracting the server files into that folder.
Make sure you double-click the server launcher file, which is a gear on a white background, not a text document
Step 4. Agree to the Minecraft server terms of use
Once the "eula" file is displayed, open it in Notepad by double-clicking it, then remove false from the " eula=false " line and replace it with true. Next, press Ctrl+S to save changes, then close Notepad.
The edited "eula" file will now say " eula=true " instead of " eula=false"
Step 5. Double-click the server file again
Doing so will continue the process of extracting the server files.
Step 6. Close the "Minecraft Server" window when it has finished loading
If the words "Done" appear at the bottom line of the text in the window, click X which is in the top right corner. At this point, you can configure Hamachi.
Part 3 of 5: Creating a Server on a Mac Komputer
Step 1. Make sure you have the latest version of Minecraft and Java installed
The easiest way to install the latest Minecraft is to double-click the Minecraft launcher and wait for the game to update itself if necessary.
As of June 2018, the latest Java is version 8 with update 171. You can download it on the Java site by visiting https://java.com/en/download/ and clicking the button Free Java Download.
Step 2. Double-click the Minecraft server file
Doing so will start extracting the server files into a new folder.
Step 3. Agree to the Minecraft server terms of use
Once the "eula" file appears, open it in TextEdit by double-clicking it, then remove false from the " eula=false " line and replace it with true. Next, press Command+S to save changes, then close TextEdit.
The edited "eula" file will now say " eula=true " instead of " eula=false"
Step 4. Double-click the server file again
Doing so will allow your computer to continue extracting files into that folder.
Step 5. Close the "Minecraft Server" window when it's finished loading
If the words "Done" appear at the bottom of the text in the window, click X in the top left corner to close it. At this point, you can configure Hamachi.
Part 4 of 5: Configuring Hamachi
Step 1. Run Hamachi
open Start
(Windows) or Spotlight
(Mac), type in hamachi, and click once or twice LogMeIn Hamachi that appears in the search results.
On Mac, Network is a menu item at the top of the screen.
Step 2. Click the "Power" icon
It's at the top of the Hamachi window. Doing so will activate Hamachi and a login window will be displayed.
Step 3. Sign up for Hamachi
Click the link Sign up which is in the upper right corner, then type your email in the "email" text box, enter your password in the "password" text box, retype the password in the "retype password" box, then click Create account.
Step 4. Click Network
It's at the top of the Hamachi window. A drop-down menu will be displayed.
Step 5. Click Create a new network…
This option is in the drop-down menu. A pop-up window will appear.
Step 6. Name the server
In the " Network ID " text box, type the name you want to use for the server.
If you select a server name that is already in use, Hamachi will remind you that the name has been taken by someone else
Step 7. Type in the password for the server
Enter the desired server password in the "Password" text box, then retype the password in the "Confirm password" text box.
Step 8. Click Create at the bottom of the window
Your server will be created.
Step 9. Paste the Hamachi IP address into the server folder
With this action, the server will be instructed to use Hamachi:
- Right-click (or Control-click) the IP address at the top of the Hamachi window.
- Click Copy the IPv4 address.
- Rename the file " server.properties " located in the Minecraft server folder to " serverproperties ".
- Double-click the "serverproperties" file, then confirm or click a text editing program on your computer.
- Click to the right of the " server-ip= " text line.
- Press Command+V (Mac) or Ctrl+V (Windows).
- Save the file by pressing Command+S or Ctrl+S, and then closing your text editing program.
Step 10. Connect the computer to the internet
Right-click (or Control-click) the server name, then click Go online in the drop-down menu.
If the button appears Go offline in the drop-down menu, it means that the server is online.
Step 11. Ask friends to join your server
If you want to join the server, your friend will need to download and install Hamachi. To join a server, ask them to do the following:
- Run Hamachi.
- Click Network.
- Click Join an existing network….
- Type in the server name and password, in the "Network ID" and "Password" text fields, respectively.
- Click Join.
Part 5 of 5: Connecting to the Server
Step 1. Run the file server
Double-click the Java server file in the Minecraft Server file. The file server command window will open.
- Make sure you have the Hamachi server running before proceeding.
- To give yourself moderator rights, type /op username (replace " username " with your Minecraft username) into the text field at the bottom of the server command window and press Enter.
Step 2. Run Minecraft
Open the Minecraft launcher by one or two clicks on the Minecraft icon which is a grass block, then click PLAY at the bottom of the window.
Step 3. Click Multiplayer in the middle of the main menu
Step 4. Click Add Server
This option is at the bottom of the window.
Step 5. Type in the server name
In the " Server Name " text box, type the server name as shown in Hamachi.
Step 6. Paste your server address
Click the " Server Address " text box, then press Command+V (Mac) or Ctrl+V (Windows). The previously copied IPv4 addresses will be displayed here.
Step 7. Click Done located at the bottom of the window
Doing so will start the Minecraft game looking for your server.
Step 8. Select the server
Once the server appears in the search results, select it by clicking on it once.
Step 9. Click Join Server
It's at the bottom of the window.
Step 10. Wait for the server to load
If the server is loaded, you will be placed as a player in the world. At this point, you can start playing the game as usual.
