Skip to main content
The server.properties file contains the standard Minecraft server configuration options. This file is located in your server’s root directory and is shared across all server implementations.

​
Location

server-root/
└── server.properties

​
Core Settings

​
server-port
integer
default:"25565"
The port number the server listens on for incoming connections.
​
server-ip
string
default:""
The IP address the server should bind to. Leave empty to bind to all available interfaces.
​
max-players
integer
default:"20"
Maximum number of players that can connect simultaneously.
​
network-compression-threshold
integer
default:"256"
Packets larger than this size (in bytes) will be compressed. Set to -1 to disable compression.
Lower values increase CPU usage but reduce bandwidth. Higher values do the opposite.
​
online-mode
boolean
default:"true"
Whether to authenticate players with Mojang’s authentication servers.
Only disable this if you’re using a proxy with its own authentication (BungeeCord/Velocity).
​
level-name
string
default:"world"
The name of the world folder. The server will create this folder if it doesn’t exist.
​
level-seed
string
default:""
The seed for world generation. Leave empty for a random seed.
​
level-type
string
default:"minecraft:normal"
The type of world to generate. Options:
  • minecraft:normal - Standard world generation
  • minecraft:flat - Superflat world
  • minecraft:large_biomes - Larger biome sizes
  • minecraft:amplified - Extreme terrain generation
​
generator-settings
string
default:""
JSON settings for custom world generation. Used with custom world types.
​
allow-nether
boolean
default:"true"
Whether the Nether dimension is enabled.
Paper also provides a global configuration option misc.enable-nether for this setting.
​
spawn-protection
integer
default:"16"
Radius in blocks around spawn where only operators can place/break blocks. Set to 0 to disable.
​
difficulty
string
default:"easy"
The world difficulty level: peaceful, easy, normal, or hard.
​
hardcore
boolean
default:"false"
If true, players are banned upon death and the difficulty is locked to hard.
​
pvp
boolean
default:"true"
Enable player versus player combat.
​
gamemode
string
default:"survival"
Default gamemode for new players: survival, creative, adventure, or spectator.
​
force-gamemode
boolean
default:"false"
Force players to join in the default gamemode.
​
max-world-size
integer
default:"29999984"
Maximum radius of the world border in blocks. The diameter will be 2x this value.
​
view-distance
integer
default:"10"
The number of chunks sent to players (radius around the player). Higher values increase server load.
For better performance, use values between 6-10. Players can set lower values in their client.
​
simulation-distance
integer
default:"10"
The number of chunks around players where mobs spawn and entities tick. Cannot exceed view-distance.
​
entity-broadcast-range-percentage
integer
default:"100"
Percentage to scale entity tracking range. Lower values reduce bandwidth but may cause entities to disappear.
​
resource-pack
string
default:""
URL to a resource pack. Players will be prompted to download it.
​
resource-pack-sha1
string
default:""
SHA-1 hash of the resource pack for verification.
​
resource-pack-prompt
string
default:""
Custom message shown to players when prompted to download the resource pack.
​
require-resource-pack
boolean
default:"false"
If true, players must accept the resource pack to join the server.
​
max-tick-time
integer
default:"60000"
Maximum time (in milliseconds) a single tick can take before the server watchdog triggers.
Set to -1 to disable the watchdog. Only do this if you understand the implications.
​
sync-chunk-writes
boolean
default:"true"
Whether chunk writes should be synchronous. Disabling may improve performance but risks data loss.
​
enable-command-block
boolean
default:"false"
Enable command blocks on the server.
​
function-permission-level
integer
default:"2"
Permission level for functions. Levels: 1-4 (1=bypass spawn protection, 2=use command blocks, 3=operator commands, 4=all commands).
​
motd
string
default:"A Minecraft Server"
Message of the day displayed in the server list. Supports color codes with §.
​
server-name
string
default:"Unknown Server"
The name of the server shown in various contexts.
​
enable-status
boolean
default:"true"
Whether the server appears in the server list and responds to status requests.
​
hide-online-players
boolean
default:"false"
Hide player list from server queries.
​
enforce-secure-profile
boolean
default:"true"
Require players to have signed chat messages (1.19.1+).
​
prevent-proxy-connections
boolean
default:"false"
Block players connecting through proxies.
Do not enable if using BungeeCord or Velocity!
​
enforce-whitelist
boolean
default:"false"
Kick players not on the whitelist immediately.
​
white-list
boolean
default:"false"
Enable the whitelist system.
​
enable-jmx-monitoring
boolean
default:"false"
Enable JMX monitoring for advanced server metrics.
​
enable-rcon
boolean
default:"false"
Enable remote console (RCON) for server management.
​
rcon.port
integer
default:"25575"
Port for RCON connections.
​
rcon.password
string
default:""
Password for RCON authentication.
Use a strong password and restrict access to trusted IPs only!
​
broadcast-rcon-to-ops
boolean
default:"true"
Send RCON output to online operators.
​
broadcast-console-to-ops
boolean
default:"true"
Send console command output to online operators.

​
Example Configuration

# Network
server-port=25565
max-players=100
online-mode=true
network-compression-threshold=256

# World
level-name=world
difficulty=normal
gamemode=survival
allow-nether=true

# Performance
view-distance=8
simulation-distance=8
max-tick-time=60000
sync-chunk-writes=true

# Server Info
motd=Welcome to my Paper server!
enable-status=true

Paper Global Config

Server-wide Paper-specific settings

World Configuration

Per-world Paper configuration
Changes to server.properties require a server restart to take effect, except for certain settings that can be changed with commands (like difficulty).

Build docs developers (and LLMs) love

Get started for freeTalk to us