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Run your first server

Get a basic Minecraft server running in under 5 minutes using Docker run commands.
1

Accept the Minecraft EULA

Before running any server, you must accept the Minecraft EULA by including -e EULA=TRUE in all commands.
The server will not start without EULA=TRUE set. This is a requirement from Mojang/Microsoft.
2

Run the basic server

Execute this command to start a server with the latest Minecraft version:
docker run -d -it -p 25565:25565 -e EULA=TRUE itzg/minecraft-server
This command:
  • Downloads and runs the latest vanilla Minecraft server
  • Exposes port 25565 for player connections
  • Runs in detached mode (-d)
  • Enables interactive terminal (-it) for console access
3

Connect to your server

Open Minecraft, go to Multiplayer, and connect to:
  • localhost:25565 (if playing on the same machine)
  • your-ip-address:25565 (if connecting from another machine)
The server data is stored in an anonymous Docker volume. To persist your world and configuration, see the persistent data section below.

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Persistent data

The Minecraft server stores all its data in the container’s /data directory. To keep your world and configuration when the container is removed, mount a volume or directory.

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Using a host directory

Mount a directory from your host machine to persist the server data: 
docker run -d -it -p 25565:25565 \
  -e EULA=TRUE \
  -v /path/on/host:/data \
  itzg/minecraft-server
Replace /path/on/host with the actual path where you want to store the server data, such as:
  • Linux/Mac: /home/user/minecraft-data
  • Windows: C:\Users\username\minecraft-data
For rootless containers (Podman) or systems using SELinux/AppArmor, append :Z to the volume mapping:
-v /path/on/host:/data:Z

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Using a named volume

Create and use a named Docker volume: 
# Create a named volume
docker volume create minecraft-data

# Run the server with the named volume
docker run -d -it -p 25565:25565 \
  -e EULA=TRUE \
  -v minecraft-data:/data \
  itzg/minecraft-server

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Common configurations

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Specific Minecraft version

Run a specific version instead of the latest: 
docker run -d -it -p 25565:25565 \
  -e EULA=TRUE \
  -e VERSION=LATEST \
  itzg/minecraft-server

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Different server types

Run Paper, Spigot, Forge, or other server types: 
docker run -d -it -p 25565:25565 \
  -e EULA=TRUE \
  -e TYPE=PAPER \
  itzg/minecraft-server

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Server properties

Configure server settings using environment variables: 
docker run -d -it -p 25565:25565 \
  -e EULA=TRUE \
  -e MEMORY=4G \
  -e MAX_PLAYERS=100 \
  -e VIEW_DISTANCE=15 \
  -e LEVEL_TYPE=LARGEBIOMES \
  -e MOTD="Welcome to my server!" \
  -e DIFFICULTY=hard \
  -e MODE=survival \
  -v minecraft-data:/data \
  itzg/minecraft-server
All standard server.properties entries can be set via environment variables. The variable names match the property names in uppercase.

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Managing your server

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View server logs

Follow the server console output: 
docker logs -f <container-name-or-id>

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Stop the server

Gracefully stop the server: 
docker stop <container-name-or-id>

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Start the server

Start a stopped container: 
docker start <container-name-or-id>

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Access server console

Attach to the server console for commands: 
docker attach <container-name-or-id>
Press Ctrl+P, Ctrl+Q to detach without stopping the server.

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Restart for updates

When using VERSION=LATEST or VERSION=SNAPSHOT, simply restart the container to upgrade: 
docker restart <container-name-or-id>

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Common environment variables

Here are the most commonly used environment variables:
VariableDefaultDescription
EULA-Must be set to TRUE to accept the Minecraft EULA
VERSIONLATESTMinecraft version: LATEST, SNAPSHOT, or specific version like 1.20.4
TYPEVANILLAServer type: VANILLA, PAPER, SPIGOT, FORGE, FABRIC, etc.
MEMORY1GJVM memory allocation, e.g., 2G, 4G, 8G
MAX_PLAYERS20Maximum number of players
VIEW_DISTANCE10Server view distance in chunks
DIFFICULTYeasyGame difficulty: peaceful, easy, normal, hard
MODEsurvivalGame mode: survival, creative, adventure, spectator
MOTDAuto-generatedServer message of the day
LEVEL_TYPEDEFAULTWorld type: DEFAULT, FLAT, LARGEBIOMES, AMPLIFIED
SEED-World generation seed
PVPtrueEnable player vs player combat
ALLOW_NETHERtrueEnable the Nether dimension
For a complete list of available environment variables and server types, see the full documentation.

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Example: Complete server setup

Here’s a complete example with common settings: 
docker run -d \
  --name minecraft \
  -p 25565:25565 \
  -e EULA=TRUE \
  -e TYPE=PAPER \
  -e VERSION=1.20.4 \
  -e MEMORY=4G \
  -e MAX_PLAYERS=50 \
  -e VIEW_DISTANCE=12 \
  -e DIFFICULTY=normal \
  -e MODE=survival \
  -e MOTD="My Awesome Minecraft Server" \
  -e ENABLE_COMMAND_BLOCK=true \
  -e SPAWN_PROTECTION=0 \
  -v ~/minecraft-data:/data \
  --restart unless-stopped \
  -it \
  itzg/minecraft-server
This configuration:
  • Runs a Paper server on Minecraft 1.20.4
  • Allocates 4GB of RAM
  • Supports up to 50 players
  • Persists data to ~/minecraft-data
  • Automatically restarts unless manually stopped
  • Uses normal difficulty and survival mode

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Next steps

Docker Compose setup

Learn how to use Docker Compose for easier management

Full documentation

Explore advanced features like mods, plugins, and backups
Remember to regularly backup your /data directory to prevent world data loss. Consider using automated backup solutions or volume snapshots.

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