Edit the settings in server.properties
Published on 3 October 2026
server.properties holds the basic settings of your Minecraft server, such as the player limit, difficulty and the whitelist. On Java, the easiest way to change them is under Configs in the game panel. They take effect after a restart.
Where is server.properties?
The file sits in your server’s main folder and is created on the first start, so start your server once before you go looking.
How do you edit server.properties?
- Go to Configs, under the Minecraft heading, and pick
server.propertiesat the top. - Find the setting with the search box. Names are shown in capitals, such as
MAX-PLAYERS. - On/off settings have a switch and save straight away. Type other values and save them with Save.
- Restart your server.
Prefer the file itself? Open server.properties in File managers, change the line and click Save content.
What do the main settings do?
| Setting | Default | What it does |
|---|---|---|
motd | A Minecraft Server | The text under your server in the server list. |
max-players | 20 | How many players can be on at once. |
difficulty | easy | Peaceful, easy, normal or hard. |
gamemode | survival | The game mode for new players. |
white-list | true | Only whitelisted players can join. |
view-distance | 10 | How far players can see, in chunks. |
simulation-distance | 10 | How far around players the world keeps running. |
spawn-protection | 16 | The protected area around spawn. |
online-mode | true | Checks that players have a genuine account. |
How do you turn off PvP?
Since Minecraft 1.21.9, PvP is no longer in server.properties: it’s a game rule now. Type gamerule pvp false in the console to stop players hurting each other, and gamerule pvp true to switch it back on.
Which view distance should you pick?
A lower view-distance and simulation-distance saves memory and processing. If your server struggles with lots of players, try 8 or 6, and measure the effect with Spark.
And on Bedrock?
Bedrock has no Configs page. Open server.properties in File managers, edit it and restart. Change the server name, game mode, difficulty and cheats under Startup instead: the game panel resets those to the Startup values on every start.
What are the common mistakes?
- Editing
server-portorserver-ip. The game panel sets these for your server on every start, so your change simply disappears. - Turning off
online-mode. Then anyone can log in under any name, including yours. - Setting a seed for an existing world.
level-seedonly works for a new world; see Reset your Minecraft server.
