With Minecraft, you may make your own server from the ground up. Who needs it if they can’t show their amazing creations to their loved ones? No one enjoys venturing out on their own to explore, mine, and craft. For situations like these, port forwarding is a lifesaver.
You can easily configure port forwarding for Minecraft servers in the router’s settings by following a few easy steps. You will learn all you need to know about Minecraft port forwarding in this comprehensive guide for your server.
Table of Contents
What Is Port Forwarding?
Port forwarding is a networking technique used to allow data packets from external sources to pass through a firewall or router to reach a specific destination within a private network. It’s like creating a pathway for internet traffic to reach a particular device or service within your network.
Every device connected to the internet has an IP address, and data packets are sent to and from these addresses using specific communication channels called ports. Port forwarding involves configuring your router to redirect incoming data packets from a specific port to a designated device or service on your network.
Port forwarding solves this problem by assigning a specific “port” to your gaming device. A port is like a numbered door in your house. When data arrives at your network, it looks at the port number to figure out where to go. By setting up port forwarding, you’re essentially telling the internet, “Hey, any data that comes to this specific port should go directly to my gaming device.”
For example, if you’re running a web server on your home network and want people on the internet to access it, you would set up port forwarding to direct incoming web traffic (typically on port 80 for HTTP or port 443 for HTTPS) to your server’s internal IP address.
Why Do You Need Port Forwarding for Your Minecraft Server?
Port forwarding is essential for hosting a Minecraft server because it allows external players to connect to your server over the internet. When you run a Minecraft server on your local network, it’s like setting up a private gaming world that only people within your network can access. However, if you want players from outside your network (such as friends from different locations) to join your server, you need to make your server accessible over the Internet.
By default, your router acts as a barrier between your local network and the internet, blocking incoming connections for security reasons. Port forwarding lets you configure your router to allow incoming connections on specific ports (e.g., Minecraft default port 25565) to reach your Minecraft server.
How to Set Up a Minecraft Server
Before port forwarding, you’ll have to set up a Minecraft server. Follow the procedures mentioned below to set up a Minecraft server:
Minecraft Server Setup for Windows 10 & 11
Follow these steps to set up a Minecraft server on your Windows 10 or 11 PC:
- Download and Install Java 17.
- Now, create a new folder on your desktop.
- Name this folder “Minecraft Server.”
- Now, copy the Minecraft server “server.jar” file from Downloads into the new folder.
- Now open the file to start the server.
Requirements to Port Forward Minecraft
Before forwarding a port for your Minecraft server, it’s essential to ensure that you meet certain requirements to ensure a smooth and secure setup. Here are the key requirements:
- The static IP address of your router.
- The IP address of your gaming machine.
- TCP and UDP ports that need to be forwarded.
How to Port Forward a Minecraft Server?
Step #1: Configure Your Minecraft Port Number
- Open the Minecraft server directory and locate the server.properties file.
- Right-click on it and open it with a text editor.
- Find the server-port line.
Here are the default port numbers for Minecraft:
- 25565 – for Java Edition.
- 19132-19133 – TCP and UDP ports for Bedrock.
Users can change the port by changing the server-port value to any within the range from 1 to 65535, although we recommend sticking with the default one.
Step #2: Allow the Minecraft Port on Your Firewall
- Open Windows Defender Firewall.
- Click on Advanced Settings from the left-hand column.
- Click on Inbound Rules and select New Rule.
- Choose Port and click Next.
- Select TCP, and enter the Minecraft port number. In this case, it’s 25565. Once done, click Next.
- Select Allow connection and keep clicking Next until you reach the final step. Before hitting Finish, don’t forget to give your rule a name.
- After you have created the rule, make a new one using the same configuration, but this time for UDP.
Step #3: Find Default Gateway Address
- Type cmd in the start menu search bar and hit enter to open the command prompt.
- Then type: ipconfig in the command line and hit enter.
- Your router’s IP address will appear in front of the Default Gateway row.
Step #4: Set Up a Static IP Address
- Open Command Prompt again by typing CMD and pressing enter.
- Type this in the command line: ncpa.cpl and hit enter.
- Network Connections window will open.
- Right-click your network connection, and select Properties.
- Now click on Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IP), and hit Properties.
- Choose a static IP address, enter 255.255.255.0 as the subnet mask, and enter the router’s IP address that you obtained before.
- After adding the Subnet mask, click OK.
Step #5: Forward the Port on Your Router
The port forwarding procedure may be different for every router. The one we’ve discussed below is for the TP-Link router.
- Open Chrome, paste your default gateway address bar and hit enter.
- Now log in to your router’s dashboard.
- Go to the Advanced tab.
- Select NAR Forwarding from the sidebar and then go to Virtual Servers.
- Click on the Add icon and enter these details:
- Next, enter the details as follows:
- Service Type: Minecraft Server
- External Port: 225565
- Internal IP: Your IPv4 address
- Protocol: ALL (UDP + TCP)
That’s it, you’re all set!
Step #6: Connect to the Minecraft server
- Run the server again, like we did in the previous heading.
- Now open Minecraft.
- Select the Multiplayer option and click Proceed.
- Click Direct Connection.
- Now go to Google, type “What’s my IP address,” and copy the IP address on your screen.
- Now, enter your IP address in the Minecraft app and tap on Join Server.
Minecraft Port Forwarding for Different Devices
Minecraft Server Ports to Forward on PC – Windows
- TCP: 25565
- UDP: 19132-19133, 25565
Minecraft Ports To Forward On PlayStation 4
- TCP: 1935, 3478-3480
- UDP: 3074, 3478-3479, 19132-19133
Minecraft Ports To Forwarding On Xbox One
- TCP: 3074
- UDP: 88, 500, 3074, 3544, 4500, 1935, 3478-3480
Minecraft Ports To Forward On Xbox 360
- TCP: 3074
- UDP: 88, 3074
Minecraft Ports To Forward On PlayStation 3
- TCP: 3478-3480, 5223, 8080
- UDP: 3074, 3478-3479, 3658
Minecraft Ports To Forward On Switch
- TCP: 6667, 12400, 28910, 29900, 29901, 29920
- UDP: 1-65535
Can I host a Minecraft server with a VPN?
Yes, you can host a Minecraft server using a VPN like AstrillVPN, and doing so has some significant benefits!
Network Stability
AstrillVPN offers stable and reliable connections, which can be beneficial for hosting a Minecraft server. By routing your server’s traffic through VPN servers, you may experience fewer latency issues and smoother gameplay for your players.
Flexibility
With a VPN, you have the flexibility to host your Minecraft server from anywhere with an internet connection. Whether at home, traveling, or using a public Wi-Fi network, you can securely host your server and manage it remotely.
Should I use a VPN for Minecraft?
Yes, it enhances online security by encrypting your internet connection and protecting your personal data and server information from threats and cyberattacks. This added layer of security can give you peace of mind, especially when hosting a Minecraft server, as it reduces the risk of unauthorized access or DDoS attacks.
Additionally, a VPN ideal for gaming, like AstrillVPN, provides privacy by masking your actual IP address, preventing others from tracking your online activities, including gaming sessions. This can be particularly beneficial if you’re concerned about privacy while playing Minecraft or hosting a server from a residential location.
Furthermore, AstrillVPN allows you to bypass certain restrictions imposed by your ISP, such as bandwidth throttling or limitations on hosting servers. By rerouting your server’s traffic through VPN servers, you can overcome these restrictions and ensure a smoother gaming experience for you and your players.
How to Prevent Double NAT
Preventing double NAT (Network Address Translation) can help ensure a smoother network experience and avoid complications, especially when hosting servers or using certain applications that require direct access to the internet. Here’s how to prevent double NAT:
Use Bridge Mode
If you have multiple routers or modem/router combos in your network setup, consider setting one of them to bridge mode. Bridge mode turns off the routing capabilities of the device. It allows it to function purely as a modem or bridge, passing the external IP address directly to your primary router. This eliminates the possibility of double NAT.
Enable DMZ (Demilitarized Zone)
Some routers allow you to designate a specific device on your network to be placed in the DMZ, effectively bypassing NAT and firewall protections. While this may not be as secure as other methods, it can be a quick solution for hosting servers or applications requiring unrestricted internet access.
FAQs
To allow friends to connect to your Minecraft server, you need to provide them with your external IP address. They can use this IP address to connect to your server outside your local network.
You can host a Minecraft server without port forwarding by using a hosting service or a virtual private server (VPS) that provides a public IP address and handles the port forwarding and networking configurations.
Minecraft primarily uses TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) for communication. However, some aspects of the game may also utilize UDP (User Datagram Protocol), especially for features like voice chat or multiplayer interactions.
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