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Paper is a high-performance Minecraft server that aims to fix gameplay and mechanics inconsistencies. This guide will walk you through downloading and installing Paper on your server.

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Requirements

Before installing Paper, ensure your system meets the following requirements:
Paper requires Java 21 to run. Make sure you have the correct Java version installed before proceeding.
  • Java 21 or higher
  • Minimum 2GB RAM (4GB+ recommended)
  • A supported operating system (Windows, Linux, macOS)

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Verify Java Installation

Check your Java version by running: 
java -version
You should see output indicating Java 21 or higher. If not, download and install Java 21 from Adoptium or your preferred Java distribution.

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Downloading Paper

1

Visit the Paper downloads page

Navigate to papermc.io/downloads/paper to access the official Paper downloads.
2

Select your Minecraft version

Choose the Minecraft version you want to run on your server. Paper supports multiple Minecraft versions.
3

Download the Paperclip jar

Download the latest build for your selected Minecraft version. The file will be named something like paper-1.21.11-XXX.jar.
Paperclip is a jar file that you can download and run just like a normal jar file. It handles all the setup for you automatically.

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Installation Steps

1

Create a server directory

Create a new directory for your server files:
mkdir paper-server
cd paper-server
2

Move the Paper jar

Move or copy the downloaded Paper jar file into your server directory and optionally rename it for convenience:
move Downloads\paper-*.jar server.jar
3

Run Paper for the first time

Run the Paper jar to initialize the server:
java -Xms2G -Xmx2G -jar server.jar --nogui
  • -Xms2G sets the initial memory allocation
  • -Xmx2G sets the maximum memory allocation
  • --nogui disables the graphical interface (recommended for servers)
  • Adjust memory values based on your available RAM
The server will create configuration files and then stop, prompting you to accept the EULA.
4

Accept the EULA

Open the eula.txt file that was created and change eula=false to eula=true:
eula.txt
eula=true
By changing this to true, you are indicating your agreement to Mojang’s EULA.
5

Start your server

Run the same command again to start your server:
java -Xms2G -Xmx2G -jar server.jar --nogui
Your Paper server is now running! Players can connect using your server’s IP address.

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Additional Startup Options

Paper supports various command-line options to customize your server: 
java -jar server.jar [options]

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Common Options

  • --port <port> - Set the server port (default: 25565)
  • --world <world-name> - Set the world name
  • --plugins <directory> - Set the plugins directory
  • --config <file> - Specify a custom server.properties file
  • --bukkit-settings <file> - Specify a custom bukkit.yml file
  • --spigot-settings <file> - Specify a custom spigot.yml file
  • --paper-dir <directory> - Set the Paper configuration directory
  • --nogui - Disable the graphical console
  • --noconsole - Disable the console entirely
For production servers, consider creating a startup script to manage your server more easily. See the Quick Start guide for examples.

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Next Steps

Now that you have Paper installed:

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Getting Help

If you need assistance:

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