# Minecraft server.properties Configuration Guide (/docs/minecraft/server-properties)



import { Step, Steps } from 'fumadocs-ui/components/steps';
import { Files, Folder, File } from 'fumadocs-ui/components/files';

The `server.properties` file controls all core settings on your Minecraft Java server. It's a plain `key=value` text file in the server root.

Server File Structure [#server-file-structure]

<Files>
  <Folder name="(server root)" defaultOpen>
    <File name="server.properties" />

    <File name="ops.json" />

    <File name="whitelist.json" />

    <File name="banned-players.json" />

    <File name="banned-ips.json" />

    <Folder name="world">
      <File name="level.dat" />
    </Folder>

    <Folder name="plugins" />

    <Folder name="mods" />
  </Folder>
</Files>

How to Edit server.properties [#how-to-edit-serverproperties]

<Steps>
  <Step>
    Stop your server [#stop-your-server]

    In the [XGamingServer Panel](https://panel.xgamingserver.com), go to **Console** and stop your server.

    > Always stop the server before editing — Minecraft overwrites `server.properties` on shutdown, so changes made to a running server are lost.
  </Step>

  <Step>
    Open server.properties [#open-serverproperties]

    Click **Files** in the sidebar and open `server.properties` in the server root.
  </Step>

  <Step>
    Edit and save [#edit-and-save]

    Change the values you need, click **Save Content**, then start your server from **Console**.
  </Step>
</Steps>

> **Tip:** Many of these settings are also available as **Startup** variables in the panel sidebar — that's faster for the most common settings (server name, port, max players, gamemode, difficulty).

Server Identity [#server-identity]

| Property            | Default              | Description                                                                                                          |
| ------------------- | -------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `motd`              | `A Minecraft Server` | Message of the day shown in the server browser. Supports color codes. See [Change MOTD](/docs/minecraft/change-motd) |
| `server-port`       | `25565`              | Game port (TCP)                                                                                                      |
| `server-ip`         | *(empty)*            | IP to bind to. Leave empty to bind all interfaces                                                                    |
| `max-players`       | `20`                 | Maximum concurrent players. See [Player Limit](/docs/minecraft/player-limit)                                         |
| `white-list`        | `false`              | Enable whitelist mode                                                                                                |
| `enforce-whitelist` | `false`              | Kick non-whitelisted players when whitelist is enabled                                                               |

Gameplay [#gameplay]

| Property               | Default    | Description                                                 |
| ---------------------- | ---------- | ----------------------------------------------------------- |
| `gamemode`             | `survival` | `survival`, `creative`, `adventure`, or `spectator`         |
| `difficulty`           | `easy`     | `peaceful`, `easy`, `normal`, or `hard`                     |
| `hardcore`             | `false`    | Enable Hardcore mode (permadeath, locks difficulty to hard) |
| `pvp`                  | `true`     | Allow player vs player combat                               |
| `force-gamemode`       | `false`    | Force players to server gamemode on every join              |
| `allow-flight`         | `false`    | Allow flight mods/plugins. Disable to kick flying players   |
| `spawn-monsters`       | `true`     | Spawn hostile mobs                                          |
| `spawn-animals`        | `true`     | Spawn passive mobs                                          |
| `spawn-npcs`           | `true`     | Spawn villagers                                             |
| `allow-nether`         | `true`     | Enable the Nether dimension                                 |
| `enable-command-block` | `false`    | Allow placing and using command blocks                      |

World [#world]

| Property              | Default            | Description                                                           |
| --------------------- | ------------------ | --------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `level-name`          | `world`            | World folder name. Change to load a different world                   |
| `level-seed`          | *(empty)*          | World generation seed (only applies on first generation)              |
| `level-type`          | `minecraft:normal` | `normal`, `flat`, `large_biomes`, `amplified`, `single_biome_surface` |
| `generate-structures` | `true`             | Generate villages, temples, monuments, etc.                           |
| `max-world-size`      | `29999984`         | World border radius in blocks (max value)                             |
| `spawn-protection`    | `16`               | Radius around spawn that only OPs can modify (0 = disabled)           |

Performance [#performance]

| Property                            | Default | Recommendation  | Description                                                   |
| ----------------------------------- | ------- | --------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `view-distance`                     | `10`    | 6–10            | Chunk render distance (4–32). **Biggest performance lever**   |
| `simulation-distance`               | `10`    | 4–8             | Chunk simulation/ticking distance (4–32)                      |
| `max-tick-time`                     | `60000` | `60000` or `-1` | Milliseconds before watchdog kills the server (-1 = disabled) |
| `network-compression-threshold`     | `256`   | `256`           | Packet compression threshold in bytes                         |
| `entity-broadcast-range-percentage` | `100`   | `50–100`        | Entity visibility range. Lower = less network load            |
| `sync-chunk-writes`                 | `true`  | `true`          | Force chunk writes to flush before continuing                 |

> **Performance tip:** Lower `view-distance` and `simulation-distance` before adding RAM. View distance has more impact than any other setting. See [Performance Guide](/docs/minecraft/optimize-server).

Player [#player]

| Property                    | Default | Description                                                                             |
| --------------------------- | ------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `player-idle-timeout`       | `0`     | Minutes before AFK players are kicked (0 = disabled)                                    |
| `op-permission-level`       | `4`     | Default OP permission level (1–4). See [OP Permissions](/docs/minecraft/op-permissions) |
| `function-permission-level` | `2`     | Permission level for command functions in datapacks                                     |

Network & Security [#network--security]

| Property                    | Default   | Description                                                                                  |
| --------------------------- | --------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `online-mode`               | `true`    | **Verify player accounts with Mojang.** Set to `false` for cracked clients (NOT recommended) |
| `prevent-proxy-connections` | `false`   | Block VPN and proxy connections                                                              |
| `enable-rcon`               | `false`   | Enable remote console                                                                        |
| `rcon.port`                 | `25575`   | RCON port (TCP)                                                                              |
| `rcon.password`             | *(empty)* | RCON password — required if enable-rcon is true                                              |
| `enable-query`              | `false`   | Enable GameSpy4 query protocol (for server lists)                                            |
| `query.port`                | `25565`   | Query port (UDP)                                                                             |
| `enable-status`             | `true`    | Show server in the multiplayer browser ping list                                             |
| `hide-online-players`       | `false`   | Hide player count from server pings                                                          |

> **Warning:** Setting `online-mode=false` allows cracked clients but **also lets anyone connect with any username**, including impersonating your admins. Only disable on private servers behind a whitelist.

Resource Packs [#resource-packs]

| Property                | Default   | Description                                     |
| ----------------------- | --------- | ----------------------------------------------- |
| `resource-pack`         | *(empty)* | Public URL to a server resource pack `.zip`     |
| `resource-pack-sha1`    | *(empty)* | SHA1 hash of the resource pack for verification |
| `require-resource-pack` | `false`   | Kick players who decline the pack               |
| `resource-pack-prompt`  | *(empty)* | Custom message shown to players when prompted   |

See [Resource Packs](/docs/minecraft/resource-packs) for the full setup guide.

Misc [#misc]

| Property                | Default | Description                                 |
| ----------------------- | ------- | ------------------------------------------- |
| `level-name`            | `world` | Active world folder name                    |
| `snooper-enabled`       | `true`  | Send anonymous usage stats to Mojang        |
| `enable-jmx-monitoring` | `false` | Enable JMX monitoring for performance tools |
| `op-permission-level`   | `4`     | OP permission level                         |

Common Color Codes [#common-color-codes]

Several settings (`motd`, kick messages, etc.) support `§` color codes:

| Code | Color  |
| ---- | ------ |
| `§a` | Green  |
| `§c` | Red    |
| `§e` | Yellow |
| `§b` | Aqua   |
| `§l` | Bold   |
| `§r` | Reset  |

See [Color Codes](/docs/minecraft/use-color-codes) for the full list.

Related Guides [#related-guides]

* [OP Permissions](/docs/minecraft/op-permissions)
* [Performance Optimization](/docs/minecraft/optimize-server)
* [Whitelist Setup](/docs/minecraft/whitelist-setup)
* [Change Difficulty](/docs/minecraft/set-difficulty)
* [Change Gamemode](/docs/minecraft/set-gamemode)
* [Change MOTD](/docs/minecraft/change-motd)
* [Player Limit](/docs/minecraft/player-limit)
* [Render Distance](/docs/minecraft/render-distance)