Articles on: Minecraft

Minecraft Server Configuration Guide (server.properties)

The server.properties file is the core configuration file for your Minecraft server. This comprehensive guide will help you understand and optimize every setting to create the perfect server experience.

Accessing server.properties

Using Loafhosts Config Editor (Recommended)

Log into your Loafhosts panel
Select your Minecraft server
Click Configs in the left sidebar
Select server.properties from the dropdown menu
Edit settings directly in the visual editor
Click Save when finished
Restart your server to apply changes

Using File Manager

Go to Files in your panel
Navigate to your server root directory
Find and edit server.properties
Save changes and restart server

Essential Server Settings

Server Identity

server-name

Default: A Minecraft Server
Description: Your server's display name
Example: LoafHosts Community Server
Impact: Shown in server list and to players

motd

Default: A Minecraft Server
Description: Message of the Day shown in server list
Example: Welcome to LoafHosts! §6Join Now!
Tip: Use color codes (§0-§9, §a-§f) for colored text

server-port

Default: 25565
Description: Port for server connections
Change only if: Running multiple servers or port conflicts
Note: Requires port forwarding changes if modified

Gameplay Settings

Difficulty

difficulty

Options: peaceful, easy, normal, hard
Default: normal
Description: Game difficulty level

Difficulty	Hunger	Mob Damage	Effects
peaceful	No depletion	No hostile mobs	Regeneration
easy	Slow depletion	Low damage	Standard
normal	Normal	Medium damage	Standard
hard	Fast depletion	High damage	Extra challenges

hardcore

Default: false
Description: Enable hardcore mode (permadeath)
Options: true / false
Note: Players banned on death if enabled

Game Mode

gamemode

Options: survival, creative, adventure, spectator
Default: survival
Description: Default mode for new players

force-gamemode

Default: false
Description: Force players to join in default gamemode
Options: true / false
Use when: Want consistent gamemode for all players

World Settings

World Generation

level-name

Default: world
Description: Name of your world folder
Change to: Create new world with different name
Note: Changing this creates a new world

level-type

Options: default, flat, largeBiomes, amplified, buffet
Default: default
Description: World generation type
Popular choices:
- default - Standard world generation
- flat - Superflat world
- largeBiomes - Larger biomes (4x size)
- amplified - Extreme terrain height

seed

Default: (blank - random seed)
Description: World generation seed
Example: -1234567890
Use: Reproduce specific world generation

generate-structures

Default: true
Description: Generate villages, temples, etc.
Options: true / false
Disable for: Flat creative builds

level-seed

Description: Same as seed parameter
Format: Any number or text

World Borders

max-world-size

Default: 29999984
Description: Maximum world radius (in blocks)
Range: 1 to 29999984
Note: Limits how far players can explore

Player Settings

Player Limits

max-players

Default: 20
Description: Maximum concurrent players
Recommendation: Based on your RAM:
- 2GB RAM → 10 players
- 4GB RAM → 20 players
- 8GB RAM → 50+ players
Note: More players = higher resource usage

player-idle-timeout

Default: 0 (disabled)
Description: Minutes before kicking idle players
Example: 10 (kick after 10 minutes)
Use: Free up slots on busy servers

Spawn Protection

spawn-protection

Default: 16
Description: Radius around spawn where only ops can build
Set to 0: Disable spawn protection
Measured in: Blocks from spawn point

Server Performance

View Distance

view-distance

Default: 10
Description: Chunk loading radius around players
Range: 3-32 chunks
Impact: Higher = more lag but better visibility

Recommendations:

4GB RAM: 6-8 chunks
8GB RAM: 10-12 chunks
16GB RAM: 12-16 chunks

simulation-distance

Default: 10
Description: Distance for mob spawning and crop growth
Range: 3-32 chunks
Tip: Keep lower than view-distance for performance

Network Settings

network-compression-threshold

Default: 256
Description: Packet compression threshold (bytes)
Range: -1 to 32767
-1 = disable compression
Lower values: More compression, more CPU usage
Higher values: Less compression, more bandwidth

max-tick-time

Default: 60000 (60 seconds)
Description: Milliseconds before watchdog stops server
Increase for: Modded servers or heavy world generation
Example: 180000 for modpacks

World Mechanics

Allow Flight

allow-flight

Default: false
Description: Allow flying in Survival mode
Options: true / false
Enable for: Servers with flying plugins
Note: Recommended true for plugin servers

PvP Settings

pvp

Default: true
Description: Enable player vs player combat
Options: true / false
Set false for: Peaceful cooperative servers

Nether & End

allow-nether

Default: true
Description: Enable Nether dimension
Options: true / false
Disable to: Save resources on small servers

Mob Behavior

spawn-npcs

Default: true
Description: Spawn villagers
Options: true / false

spawn-animals

Default: true
Description: Spawn passive mobs (cows, pigs, etc.)
Options: true / false

spawn-monsters

Default: true
Description: Spawn hostile mobs
Options: true / false

max-entity-cramming

Default: 24
Description: Max entities in one block before damage
Range: 0+ (0 = disabled)
Impact: Prevents mob farms from overloading

Command & Administration

Enable Command Block

enable-command-block

Default: false
Description: Allow command blocks to function
Options: true / false
Enable for: Servers using command block contraptions

function-permission-level

Default: 2
Description: Permission level for functions
Range: 1-4
Levels:
- 1 - Bypass spawn protection
- 2 - Use cheat commands
- 3 - Manage players
- 4 - Full control

Operator Settings

op-permission-level

Default: 4
Description: Default op permission level
Range: 1-4
Recommendation: Keep at 4 for full admin control

enable-status

Default: true
Description: Enable server status in server list
Options: true / false
Keep true for: Server list visibility

Connection Settings

Whitelist

white-list

Default: false
Description: Enable whitelist (only listed players can join)
Options: true / false
Enable for: Private servers
Manage: Use /whitelist add <player> command

enforce-whitelist

Default: false
Description: Kick non-whitelisted players immediately
Options: true / false
Enable when: Whitelist is enabled

Connection Limits

max-connections-per-ip

Default: 3
Description: Max connections from same IP
Increase for: LANparties or shared IPs
Decrease for: DDoS protection

rate-limit

Default: 0 (disabled)
Description: Max packets per second per connection
Use: Set to 300-600 for DDoS protection
Warning: May kick legitimate players with lag

Resource Pack

resource-pack

Default: (blank)
Description: URL to server resource pack
Example: https://example.com/pack.zip
Use: Force custom textures/sounds

resource-pack-prompt

Default: (blank)
Description: Custom message when prompting pack download
Example: Please download our custom resource pack!

require-resource-pack

Default: false
Description: Kick players who decline resource pack
Options: true / false

resource-pack-sha1

Description: SHA-1 hash of resource pack
Use: Verify pack integrity

Advanced Settings

Enable JMX Monitoring

enable-jmx-monitoring

Default: false
Description: Enable JMX monitoring for performance tracking
Options: true / false
Enable for: Performance analysis and monitoring

Query Settings

enable-query

Default: false
Description: Enable GameSpy4 protocol for server queries
Options: true / false
Enable for: Server status websites

query.port

Default: 25565
Description: Port for query protocol
Usually: Same as server-port

RCON (Remote Console)

enable-rcon

Default: false
Description: Enable remote console access
Options: true / false
Security: Only enable if needed

rcon.port

Default: 25575
Description: Port for RCON connections

rcon.password

Default: (blank)
Description: Password for RCON access
Important: Use strong password!

broadcast-rcon-to-ops

Default: true
Description: Broadcast RCON commands to ops
Options: true / false

Console Settings

broadcast-console-to-ops

Default: true
Description: Send console messages to ops
Options: true / false

Optimization Recommendations

For Small Servers (1-10 players)

max-players=10
view-distance=8
simulation-distance=6
network-compression-threshold=256

For Medium Servers (10-50 players)

max-players=50
view-distance=10
simulation-distance=8
network-compression-threshold=512
max-tick-time=60000

For Large Servers (50+ players)

max-players=100
view-distance=8
simulation-distance=6
network-compression-threshold=512
max-tick-time=60000
player-idle-timeout=15

For Creative Servers

gamemode=creative
allow-flight=true
spawn-protection=0
generate-structures=false
spawn-monsters=false

For Survival Servers

gamemode=survival
difficulty=normal
pvp=true
allow-flight=false
hardcore=false

Troubleshooting

Server Lag:

Reduce view-distance and simulation-distance
Lower max-players if at capacity
Increase network-compression-threshold

Players Can't Join:

Verify white-list is false or player is whitelisted
Check max-players limit
Ensure correct server-port

Can't Break Blocks at Spawn:

Set spawn-protection to 0
Or give players op status

Command Blocks Not Working:

Set enable-command-block to true
Restart server

Additional Configuration Files

Loafhosts also provides easy access to:

config/neoforge-server.toml - NeoForge server settings
config/neoforge-common.toml - NeoForge common settings
Other mod configuration files (shown in dropdown)

Need Help?

If you need assistance configuring your server:

Live Chat: Available on Loafhosts.com
Discord: Join us at discord.gg/loafhosts
Support Center: Visit our Support Center for additional guides

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Updated on: 10/11/2025

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