Setting up your own server to play Minecraft takes some time, but it’s worth it to play with your friends in a safe environment. Read on to learn how to make a Minecraft server for Mac, Windows, and Linux.

Depending on the capabilities of your computer, you may or may not be able to host a server and play Minecraft on the same device. It is recommended that you use a third-party hosting service for your server. The official Minecraft Forum has a list of free and premium hosting services. Some, like Server.pro, will let you create a Minecraft server for free, but most web hosting companies charge a monthly fee.

If you only plan on playing with friends on a local network, you can ignore this section; however, in order to give the rest of the world access to your server, you will need to enable port forwarding on your router. Since every router is different, consult your router's manual for more specific guidelines on setting up port forwarding. Nevertheless, you can follow the same steps regardless of which operating system you are using.

Go to your router's homepage by entering your default gateway IP address into a web browser's search bar. See How to Find Your Default Gateway IP Address.