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Before playing together: what needs to match?

Choose the server for the Minecraft editions your friends use. A free starting point does not demonstrate that every modpack or group size works with the included resources. Test your actual world before settling on a configuration.

  1. Java on every device: choose Java. Paper supports plugins; Java modpacks need matching Minecraft, loader and modpack versions.

  2. Bedrock only: choose native Bedrock. A mixed Java and Bedrock group needs supported Paper with Geyser and Floodgate. Java modpacks requiring client mods do not work on Bedrock through this setup.

  3. Wait until the server is ready, copy your address from the panel and test joining with a friend. Bedrock also needs the displayed port.

  4. Before a longer break, check the retention rules. Enable a suitable backup schedule and verify that a backup completed successfully.

Starting free: resources, breaks and backups

The free tier includes 2 GB RAM and requires no payment details. Suitable player counts and mods depend on the world, view distance, plugins and load. Test your actual gameplay; a RAM figure alone is not a performance guarantee.

Free servers sleep after 15 minutes without players. Load and queueing can delay waking. First setup and waking are different operations: the product facts report separate measurements, sample sizes and limitations. Allow another connection attempt after startup if your first attempt arrived while the server was still waking.

Before a longer break, read the current inactivity and retention rules. A sleeping server is not an indefinitely retained backup. Manual backups and daily schedules are included within the free tier limits. Enable the schedule you want and check the latest successful backup before relying on it.

More RAM or continuous runtime are reasons to consider a paid option. Check the actual selected configuration and final price in the configurator. Also compare runtime, renewal and included features; a price for a different RAM amount is not the price of your selection.

Current mcfreehost plan limits, retention rules and measured start times

Start with the configuration your group needs

First choose your Minecraft edition and required server software. Then test joining and your world before adding more plugins or mods. This makes it easier to identify which change caused a problem.

Choose a Minecraft edition and configure it for free

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