How to Set Up a Minecraft Server on a Windows VPS: Step-by-Step Technical Guide

Connect to the VPS via RDP using the credentials provided by Hostini. On Windows Server, open Microsoft Edge and download the Java 21 LTS installer:

https://adoptium.net/temurin/releases/?version=21

Select: OS = Windows, Architecture = x64, Package Type = JDK, Version = 21 LTS. Download the .msi file.

Run the installer as administrator. On the “Custom Setup” screen, check the options:

• Add to PATH
• Set JAVA_HOME variable
• Associate .jar files

Without these three checked, you’ll have to configure them manually later. Finish with Next > Install.

Verify the installation by opening PowerShell (not CMD) and running:

java --version

The output should show openjdk 21.x.x and the Temurin name. If “java is not recognized” appears, the PATH was not updated — restart the RDP session (Disconnect, reconnect) and try again.

Create the folder C:\Minecraft (or anywhere — just avoid Program Files, which has write restrictions). Inside it, download the server JAR:

For Vanilla, go to https://www.minecraft.net/en-us/download/server and copy the link for the current version’s server.jar.

For Paper, go to https://papermc.io/downloads/paper, choose the version (e.g., 1.21.4) and download the latest stable build (paper-1.21.4-XXX.jar).

Rename it to server.jar to simplify commands.

Accept the EULA. Create the file eula.txt in the same folder with the content:

eula=true

Without this, the server exits on the first run with the message “You need to agree to the EULA”. The meaning: you accept the Minecraft terms of use. Without acceptance, there’s no server.

Create a start.bat file in the C:\Minecraft folder with the content:

@echo off
java -Xms2G -Xmx4G -XX:+UseG1GC -XX:+ParallelRefProcEnabled -jar server.jar nogui
pause

The important flags:

• -Xms2G: initial 2 GB heap
• -Xmx4G: maximum 4 GB heap (adjust based on VPS RAM; leave ~1 GB free for the OS)
• -XX:+UseG1GC: G1 garbage collector, better for low latency
• nogui: runs in console mode (no Mojang graphical window)

The rule of thumb: never pass more than (total_RAM - 1GB) in -Xmx. On a 4 GB VPS, the healthy ceiling is -Xmx3G.

Run start.bat by double-clicking it. On the first run, the server generates the configuration files and the world, then exits (if EULA was not accepted) or stays running waiting for connections.

Stop the server by typing stop in the console and pressing Enter. Do not close the window with X — that can corrupt the world save.

Edit the generated server.properties. The most relevant fields:

server-port=25565
max-players=20
view-distance=10
simulation-distance=6
online-mode=true
motd=Test server
difficulty=normal
gamemode=survival

view-distance controls how many chunks the server sends to each client — values above 12 multiply traffic and CPU. Start with 10 and adjust as needed. simulation-distance (chunks with active mobs and ticks) should always be ≤ view-distance.

Open PowerShell as Administrator and create the inbound rule:

New-NetFirewallRule -DisplayName "Minecraft Java" -Direction Inbound -Protocol TCP -LocalPort 25565 -Action Allow

If you’re also going to run Bedrock, add:

New-NetFirewallRule -DisplayName "Minecraft Bedrock" -Direction Inbound -Protocol UDP -LocalPort 19132 -Action Allow

Download NSSM at https://nssm.cc/download. Extract the ZIP and copy nssm.exe (win64 version) to C:\Windows\System32 or to C:\Minecraft.

In PowerShell as Administrator:

cd C:\Minecraft
nssm install MinecraftServer

In the NSSM window:

• Path: C:\Program Files\Eclipse Adoptium\jdk-21.x.x-hotspot\bin\java.exe
• Startup directory: C:\Minecraft
• Arguments: -Xms2G -Xmx4G -XX:+UseG1GC -jar server.jar nogui

In the “Details” tab, set Display name = “Minecraft Java Server”. In the “I/O” tab, point stdout and stderr to C:\Minecraft\logs\service-out.log and service-err.log. Click “Install service”.

Start the service:

Start-Service MinecraftServer

Check the status:

Get-Service MinecraftServer

The Status column should show “Running”. To follow the log in real time:

Get-Content C:\Minecraft\logs\service-out.log -Wait -Tail 50

On the VPS itself, test the local connection. Open another PowerShell and run:

Test-NetConnection -ComputerName localhost -Port 25565

TcpTestSucceeded : True confirms the server is listening. Then, from your personal computer:

Test-NetConnection -ComputerName YOUR_PUBLIC_IP -Port 25565

If TcpTestSucceeded is True externally, the server is accessible. Open Minecraft, click “Multiplayer” > “Add Server”, enter the VPS public IP and connect.

Create C:\Minecraft\backup.ps1:

$date = Get-Date -Format "yyyy-MM-dd-HHmm"
$backupPath = "C:\Backups\minecraft-$date.zip"
Compress-Archive -Path "C:\Minecraft\world","C:\Minecraft\world_nether","C:\Minecraft\world_the_end" -DestinationPath $backupPath
Get-ChildItem "C:\Backups\minecraft-*.zip" | Sort-Object CreationTime -Descending | Select-Object -Skip 7 | Remove-Item

This script compresses the three worlds (overworld, nether, end) and keeps only the 7 most recent backups. Schedule it in Task Scheduler to run daily at 04:00 (low-traffic hours).