This article explains how to create a Minecraft server on your Windows or Mac computer, using a free program called Hamachi. Note that this process only works with Java editions of the game; you cannot follow the method described here for Windows 10, Pocket, or console versions.
Steps
Part 1 of 5: Preparing to Create the Server
Step 1. Download Hamachi
Go to vpn.net with your computer browser, then click the green button Download now in the center of the page. You will download the Hamachi installation file.
If you are using a Mac and VPN.net offers you to download the file for Windows, click the link Mac under the button Download now, so you can be sure you get the right version of the program.
Step 2. Install Hamachi
Once the program is downloaded, install it according to your operating system:
- Windows: Double click on the Hamachi installation file, select a language and click Come on, check the box "I have read" and click Come on, then again Come on and finally Install. Click Yup if asked during installation, then click end.
- Mac: open the ZIP folder, double click on the Hamachi installation file you extracted, click You open, if necessary, check the download, check the "I have read" box and click Install. Enter the password if prompted, then click end.
Step 3. Download the Minecraft server file
Go to https://minecraft.net/en-us/download/server with your computer browser, then click the link minecraft_server.1.12.2.jar in the center of the page. You will download the Minecraft server Java file.
Step 4. Create a folder on the desktop
Here you will save and run the Minecraft server. To create an empty folder, follow these steps:
- Windows: Right-click on the desktop, select New one, click Folder, type Minecraft Server and press Enter.
- Mac: Click File, click New folder, type Minecraft Server and press Enter.
Step 5. Put the server file in the folder
Drag and drop the server you downloaded onto the new folder icon.
You can also copy the server file by clicking on it, pressing Ctrl + C (Windows) or ⌘ Command + C (Mac), opening the new folder and pressing Ctrl + V or ⌘ Command + V
Part 2 of 5: Creating a Server on Windows
Step 1. Make sure you have the latest versions of Minecraft and Java
The easiest way to update Minecraft is to double-click on the launcher and wait for the update if necessary. For Java, open Internet Explorer, go to this page, click Accept and continue, then follow the directions on the screen.
- If nothing happens, Java is up to date.
- Since almost all modern browsers don't support Java, using Internet Explorer is the best way to ensure there are no errors.
Step 2. Open the Minecraft server folder
You can do this with a double click.
Step 3. Double-click the server file
This will start extracting the archive inside the folder.
Make sure you double-click the server startup file, which has a gear icon on a white background and not the text document
Step 4. Accept the Minecraft server terms of use
When the "eula" file appears, double-click it to open it in Notepad, then delete false from the "eula = false" line and write true. You can then press Ctrl + S to save your changes before closing Notepad.
In the edited "eula" file you should read "eula = true" and not "eula = false"
Step 5. Double click on the server file
You will restart the file extraction.
Step 6. Close the "Minecraft server" window when the upload is complete
When "Done" appears in the line of text at the bottom of the window, click X in the upper right corner. At this point, you are free to configure Hamachi.
Part 3 of 5: Create a Server on Mac
Step 1. Make sure you have the latest versions of Minecraft and Java
The easiest way to update Minecraft is to double click on the launcher and wait for the update if necessary.
Until June 2018, the latest Java update is version 8 update 171. You can download it from the Java website by going to this page and clicking the button Free Java Download.
Step 2. Double-click the Minecraft server file
The extraction of the archive will start in the new folder.
Step 3. Accept the Minecraft server terms of use
When the "eula" file appears, double-click it to open it in TextEdit, then delete false from the "eula = false" line and write true. You can then press Ctrl + S to save your changes before closing TextEdit.
In the edited "eula" file you should read "eula = true" and not "eula = false"
Step 4. Double click on the server file
File extraction will resume where it left off.
Step 5. Close the "Minecraft server" window when the upload is complete
When "Done" appears in the line of text at the bottom of the window, click X in the upper right corner. At this point, you are free to configure Hamachi.
Part 4 of 5: Setting up Hamachi
Step 1. Open Hamachi
You open Start
(Windows) or Spotlight
(Mac), type hamachi and click LogMeIn Hamachi in the search results.
On Mac, Net is a menu item at the top of the screen.
Step 2. Click the "Power" icon
You'll see it at the top of Hamachi's window. Press it and you will activate the program, causing a login window to appear.
Step 3. Log in to Hamachi
Click the link subscribe in the upper right corner of the window, then enter the e-mail in the "email" field, type a password in the field of the same name, rewrite it in the "Repeat password field, then click Create account.
Step 4. Click the Network tab
It is located at the top of the Hamachi window. Press it and a menu will appear.
Step 5. Click Create a new network…
It is one of the items on the menu that has just opened. Press it and a window will appear.
Step 6. Name the server
In the "Network ID" text field, type your preferred name.
If the chosen name is already in use, Hamachi will inform you that it is not available
Step 7. Enter the password for your server
Type the password you want in the field of the same name, then rewrite it in the "Confirm password" text field.
Step 8. Click Create at the bottom of the window
This generates the server.
Step 9. Paste the Hamachi IP address into the server folder
This is how you tell the server to use the program:
- Right-click (or Control-click) the IP address at the top of the Hamachi window.
- Click Copy IPv4 address.
- Rename the "server.properties" text file located inside the Minecraft server folder to "serverproperties".
- Double click the "serverproperties" file, then confirm or click your computer's text editor.
- Click to the right of the "server-ip =" line.
- Press Ctrl + V (Windows) or ⌘ Command + V (Mac).
- Save the file by pressing Ctrl + S or ⌘ Command + S, then exit the text editor.
Step 10. Go online
Right-click (or Control-click) the server name, then click Go online in the drop-down menu.
If you see Go offline in the drop-down menu, the server is already active.
Step 11. Invite your friends to your server
If you want other people to join your server, they will need to download and install Hamachi before following these steps:
- Open Hamachi;
- Click Net;
- Click Join existing network …;
- Enter the server name and password in the "Network ID" and "Password" fields;
- Click Come in.
Part 5 of 5: Connect to your Server
Step 1. Run the server file
Double-click the Java file in the Minecraft server folder. The command window will open.
- Make sure the Hamachi server is running before continuing.
- To give yourself moderator privileges, type / op username (where "username" is your Minecraft username) in the text field at the bottom of the server window, then press Enter.
Step 2. Open Minecraft
Open the game launcher by double clicking on the earth block icon, then click PLAYS at the bottom of the window.
Step 3. Click Multiplayer
This item is in the center of the main menu.
Step 4. Click Add Server
You will find this option at the bottom of the window.
Step 5. Enter your server name
In the "Server Name" text field, type the name as it appears on Hamachi.
Step 6. Paste the server address
Click the "Server Address" text field, then press Ctrl + V (Windows) or ⌘ Command + V (Mac). You should see the IPv4 address you copied earlier appear.
Step 7. Click Done at the bottom of the window
Minecraft will start looking for your server.
Step 8. Select your server
Once you see it appear in the search results, click on its name to select it.
Step 9. Click Join Server at the bottom of the window
Step 10. Wait for the server to load
When finished, you will see your character appear in the world and you can start playing normally.
