The server.properties file controls every core setting of your Minecraft server. It generates automatically on the first server start. Here is what the settings you are most likely to change do, checked against Minecraft 26.3.
Most Important Settings
| Setting | Default | Description |
|---|---|---|
| server-port | 25565 | The port players connect to |
| max-players | 20 | Maximum simultaneous players |
| view-distance | 10 | Render distance in chunks |
| simulation-distance | 10 | Tick distance in chunks |
| difficulty | easy | peaceful, easy, normal, hard |
| gamemode | survival | survival, creative, adventure, spectator |
| online-mode | true | Verify Mojang accounts |
| motd | A Minecraft Server | Server description in server list |
Performance Settings
| Setting | Recommended | Description |
|---|---|---|
| view-distance | 8 to 10 | Lower = less CPU. 8 is fine for most servers |
| simulation-distance | 6 to 8 | Distance where mobs and blocks tick |
| max-tick-time | 60000 | Crash timeout (ms). -1 to disable |
| network-compression-threshold | 256 | Packet compression. 256 is efficient |
| entity-broadcast-range-percentage | 100 | Lower for better network performance |
Gameplay Settings
| Setting | Default | Description |
|---|---|---|
| spawn-protection | 16 | Radius around spawn where only ops can build |
| allow-flight | false | Kick flying players (set true with mods) |
| hardcore | false | Permanent death, locks to hard difficulty |
| force-gamemode | false | Force default gamemode on join |
World Settings
| Setting | Default | Description |
|---|---|---|
| level-name | world | World folder name |
| level-seed | (blank) | World generation seed |
| level-type | minecraft:normal | normal, flat, large_biomes, amplified |
| generate-structures | true | Villages, temples, etc. |
| max-world-size | 29999984 | World border radius |
Settings That Moved to Game Rules
Older guides, including an earlier version of this one, list a few settings that are no longer in server.properties. Since 1.21.9, four of them are game rules, so you can change them while the server runs:
| Old property | Game rule on 1.21.11 and 26.x | Default |
|---|---|---|
| pvp | pvp | true |
| spawn-monsters | spawn_monsters | true |
| allow-nether | allow_entering_nether_using_portals | true |
| enable-command-block | command_blocks_work | true |
Set them in the console with, for example, gamerule pvp false, or in game with /gamerule. Leave out the value, as in gamerule command_blocks_work, to see the current setting. The old enable-command-block defaulted to false, while the game rule defaults to true, so check it after an update if command blocks should stay off. On 1.21.9 and 1.21.10 the rules had camelCase names, such as spawnMonsters. spawn-animals and spawn-npcs were removed in 1.21.2.
Security Settings
| Setting | Default | Description |
|---|---|---|
| online-mode | true | Verify Mojang accounts. Always true for public servers |
| white-list | true since 26.3 (false before) | Only players on the whitelist can join |
| enforce-whitelist | false | Also kick online players who are not on the whitelist |
| rate-limit | 0 | Packets a player can send before being kicked (0 turns it off) |
The new white-list default only applies when the server writes a fresh server.properties. A server you update to 26.3 keeps the value it had. Our whitelist guide shows how to add players.
Warning: Setting online-mode=false disables account verification. Anyone can connect with any username. Only disable this if you use an authentication plugin.
How to Edit
- Stop the server
- Open
server.propertiesin a text editor - Change values after the
=sign - Save the file
- Start the server
Changes only take effect after a server restart.
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