Server Properties Explained
The server.properties file is among the most significant configuration files for a Minecraft server. It manages gameplay, player access, world generation, networking, and performance. Gaining an understanding of what each setting entails allows you to configure your server properly, thus avoiding any unwarranted issues.
Can we change the view distance in the server.properties file?
Yes. You can change the server's default view-distance in server.properties by editing the view-distance value and restarting the server.
Where the file is and how to edit it safely
The server.properties file is located in your server's main directory, alongside files like eula.txt and your server JAR.
Before making any changes:
- Stop your Minecraft server.
- Open
server.propertiesusing a plain text editor. - Edit the values you want to change.
- Save the file.
- Start the server again.
Some settings, such as the server port or world generation options, only apply after a restart.
Gameplay Settings
difficulty
Controls how difficult your server is.
Available values:
peacefuleasynormalhard
Higher difficulties make hostile mobs stronger and introduce additional mechanics such as zombie reinforcements.
gamemode
Sets the default gamemode for new players.
Available values:
survivalcreativeadventurespectator
Existing players keep their current gamemode unless it is changed manually.
hardcore
Enables Hardcore mode.
Values:
truefalse
When enabled, the world is locked to Hard difficulty and players are banned after dying.
pvp
Determines whether players can damage each other.
Values:
truefalse
Disable this on peaceful community servers if you don't want player-versus-player combat.
Access Settings
whitelist
Controls whether only approved players can join.
Values:
truefalse
When enabled, only players added to the whitelist are allowed to connect.
online-mode
Verifies player accounts with Mojang's authentication servers.
Values:
truefalse
This should almost always remain enabled. Disabling it allows offline or cracked accounts to join and can introduce security risks.
max-players
Sets the maximum number of players that can join simultaneously.
Example:
max-players=50
Choose a value that matches your server's available RAM and hardware.
Performance Settings
view-distance
Controls how many chunks are sent to players.
Example:
view-distance=10
Lower values reduce bandwidth usage and server load, while higher values improve visibility but require more resources.
simulation-distance
Determines how many chunks around players remain actively simulated.
Example:
simulation-distance=10
Reducing this value can significantly improve performance on busy survival servers.
entity-broadcast-range-percentage
Controls how far entities are visible to players.
Example:
entity-broadcast-range-percentage=100
Lower percentages reduce the distance at which mobs, armor stands, and other entities are sent to players, improving performance on larger servers.
World Settings
level-seed
Specifies the seed used when generating a new world.
Example:
level-seed=123456789
Leave it blank to generate a random seed.
level-type
Controls the world generation style.
Examples include:
minecraft:normalminecraft:flat- Custom generator types (depending on your server version)
Changing this only affects newly generated worlds.
generate-structures
Determines whether structures such as villages, temples, monuments, and strongholds generate.
Values:
truefalse
Disable this only if you intentionally want a structure-free world.
Network Settings
server-port
Specifies the port used by your Minecraft server.
Default:
server-port=25565
Only change this if you're running multiple servers or your hosting provider requires a different port.
server-ip
Specifies the IP address your server binds to.
Most users should leave this blank.
Setting an incorrect IP can prevent your server from starting.
Settings People Change That They Shouldn't
Some settings are frequently modified without understanding their effects.
Avoid changing these unless you know exactly why:
- online-mode — Keep enabled unless you intentionally run an offline-mode server.
- server-ip — Leave blank unless your host specifically instructs otherwise.
- enable-query and enable-rcon — Only enable these if you actually use them.
- network-compression-threshold — The default value is suitable for nearly every server.
- sync-chunk-writes — Modern Paper servers handle this efficiently; changing it usually isn't necessary.
Making unnecessary changes can lead to connection problems, reduced performance, or unexpected behavior.
