Settings · 8 min read

server.properties explained: every setting that matters

What each Minecraft Java 26.x server.properties setting does, its default and safe values, plus recipes for whitelists, hardcore and build servers.

Last checked 11 November 2026

Short answer

server.properties is the settings file of a Minecraft Java server: plain key=value lines in the server's main folder, next to the server jar. Stop the server, change a value, save, and start it again. Most servers only ever touch a dozen keys, all listed below. Two things changed in 26.x: new servers start with the whitelist on, and four old keys became game rules.

Where the file is

On your own PC: in the folder you run the server from. It appears after the first start, along with eula.txt and the world folder.
On a Galeforce server: the panel's Game page has the common settings as switches and boxes, and All settings has the rest. The whole file is also there over SFTP.
On another host: usually a settings page or a file manager in its panel. Some hosts manage the port and address lines themselves.

How the file works

One setting per line, as key=value. Lines starting with # are comments.
The server reads it at startup, so changes need a restart.
It follows Java's properties format, so a colon is written with a backslash: level-type=minecraft\:normal. Our generator handles the escaping for you.
The server rewrites the file every time it starts: keys sorted A to Z, comments removed and the date stamped at the top. Keep your notes somewhere else.
A key the server doesn't recognise stays in the file but does nothing, so a typo fails silently.

Which setting do I need?

The common jobs, and the one line for each. Lines that start with gamerule are typed in the console instead.

Common server.properties changes and the line for each
You want to	Set this
Let anyone with the address join	Set this`white-list=false`
Kick people as soon as you take them off the whitelist	Set this`enforce-whitelist=true`
Allow more players	Set this`max-players=40`
Change the line under the server's name	Set this`motd=Friday survival`
Start a fresh world and keep the old one	Set this`level-name=world2` (a new folder)
Use a seed	Set this`level-seed=` your seed, new worlds only
Make everyone creative	Set this`gamemode=creative`
Turn off PvP	Set this`gamerule pvp false`
Stop monsters spawning	Set this`gamerule spawn_monsters false`
Close the Nether	Set this`gamerule allow_entering_nether_using_portals false`
Let people fly with mods without being kicked	Set this`allow-flight=true`
Kick players who go idle	Set this`player-idle-timeout=15`
Keep the world running when nobody is on	Set this`pause-when-empty-seconds=0`
Let people build at spawn	Set this`spawn-protection=0`
Ease lag on a busy server	Set this`view-distance=8`

Settings that became game rules

Four settings you'll still find in older guides no longer do anything in server.properties. They live in the world as game rules now, so you change them with a command in the console. On a new world all four are on, which means command blocks now work unless you switch them off.

server.properties keys that moved to game rules in Minecraft 26.x
Old key	Game rule	To switch it off
`pvp`	Game rule`pvp`	To switch it off`gamerule pvp false`
`spawn-monsters`	Game rule`spawn_monsters`	To switch it off`gamerule spawn_monsters false`
`allow-nether`	Game rule`allow_entering_nether_using_portals`	To switch it off`gamerule allow_entering_nether_using_portals false`
`enable-command-block`	Game rule`command_blocks_work`	To switch it off`gamerule command_blocks_work false`

A game rule belongs to the world, so it survives restarts and travels with the world folder. Type it without the leading slash in the server console, or with one in the game chat as an operator.

World

World settings in server.properties
Setting	Default	What it does
`level-name`	Default`world`	What it doesThe name of the world folder the server saves to; change it to start a brand-new world.
`level-seed`	Default`(empty)`	What it doesA number or word that decides how the world is generated; leave it empty for a random world.
`level-type`	Default`minecraft:normal`	What it doesThe kind of world to generate, and it only matters when a world is first created.minecraft:normal · minecraft:flat · minecraft:large_biomes · minecraft:amplified · minecraft:single_biome_surface
`generate-structures`	Default`true`	What it doesWhether villages, temples and other buildings appear in new parts of the world.
`max-world-size`	Default`29999984`	What it doesHow far from the centre the world border is allowed to stretch, in blocks.1 to 29999984
`spawn-protection`	Default`16`	What it doesThe radius in blocks around the world spawn where only operators can build; 0 turns it off.

Players

Players settings in server.properties
Setting	Default	What it does
`max-players`	Default`20`	What it doesHow many players can be on the server at the same time.
`white-list`	Default`true`	What it doesWhen this is on, only players on the whitelist can join. It is on by default from Minecraft 26.3 and off before that. Add a friend with whitelist add <name> in the console.
`enforce-whitelist`	Default`false`	What it doesKicks players missing from the whitelist as soon as the whitelist changes.
`online-mode`	Default`true`	What it doesChecks every player against Minecraft's account servers so nobody can pretend to be someone else.
`gamemode`	Default`survival`	What it doesThe game mode that new players start in.survival · creative · adventure · spectator
`force-gamemode`	Default`false`	What it doesPuts players back into the default game mode every time they join.
`allow-flight`	Default`false`	What it doesLets players fly in survival mode with mods; without it, anyone who floats too long is kicked.
`player-idle-timeout`	Default`0`	What it doesMinutes a player can do nothing before being kicked; 0 means never.
`hide-online-players`	Default`false`	What it doesHides the names of who is online in the server list.
`enforce-secure-profile`	Default`true`	What it doesOnly lets players with a Mojang-signed chat key join; turn it off if plugins change chat messages.

Difficulty & rates

Difficulty & rates settings in server.properties
Setting	Default	What it does
`difficulty`	Default`easy`	What it doesHow hard the game is: peaceful has no monsters and hard has the toughest ones.peaceful · easy · normal · hard
`hardcore`	Default`false`	What it doesPlayers are put into spectator mode when they die, and the game is always on hard. Only a new world can be made hardcore; an existing world keeps its own setting.

Network

Network settings in server.properties
Setting	Default	What it does
`motd`	Default`A Minecraft Server`	What it doesThe text shown under the server name in the multiplayer list.
`server-port`	Default`25565`	What it doesThe port that players connect to; the usual one is 25565.1 to 65534
`enable-query`	Default`false`	What it doesTurns on a small extra service that tools and websites use to read server info.
`query.port`	Default`25565`	What it doesThe port the query service listens on.1 to 65534

Admin

Admin settings in server.properties
Setting	Default	What it does
`enable-rcon`	Default`false`	What it doesLets you send commands to the server from outside the game, using a password.
`rcon.port`	Default`25575`	What it doesThe port that RCON listens on.1 to 65534
`rcon.password`	Default`(empty)`	What it doesThe password needed to use RCON, so keep it long and secret.
`op-permission-level`	Default`4`	What it doesHow much power operators have, from 0 (none) to 4 (everything).0 to 4

Performance

Performance settings in server.properties
Setting	Default	What it does
`view-distance`	Default`10`	What it doesHow many chunks around each player the server sends; higher looks better but costs more CPU and bandwidth.3 to 32
`simulation-distance`	Default`10`	What it doesHow many chunks around each player stay active, so mobs move and crops grow.3 to 32
`pause-when-empty-seconds`	Default`60`	What it doesSeconds with nobody online before the server pauses the world to save CPU; 0 or less means it never pauses.

Resource pack

Resource pack settings in server.properties
Setting	Default	What it does
`resource-pack`	Default`(empty)`	What it doesA direct download link for a resource pack that players are offered when they join.
`resource-pack-prompt`	Default`(empty)`	What it doesA message shown to players when they are asked to accept the pack.
`require-resource-pack`	Default`false`	What it doesKicks players who refuse the resource pack.

Recipes

Friends only (the default from 26.3)

A new server on Minecraft 26.3 or later starts with white-list=true: only players on its whitelist can join, and everyone else sees “You are not white-listed on this server!”. Add each friend from the console with whitelist add <name>. To kick anyone you take off the list straight away, add:

enforce-whitelist=true

Open to anyone with the address

white-list=false

On a Galeforce server that's the Whitelist switch on the panel's Game page. Anyone who has the address can then join, so leave online-mode=true to stop people using someone else's name.

Hardcore survival

hardcore=true
difficulty=hard

Hardcore always plays on hard, and a player who dies becomes a spectator. It only takes on a new world: an existing world keeps its own setting, so change level-name too if you want a fresh hardcore world.

Creative build server

gamemode=creative
force-gamemode=true
difficulty=peaceful

gamemode alone only applies to players joining for the first time; force-gamemode puts everyone back into it each time they join.

Busy server, smoother ticks

view-distance=8
simulation-distance=6

Players see slightly less far; the server does a lot less work per tick. For memory, see how much RAM a Minecraft server needs.

When a change doesn't work

Nothing changed. The server was running when you saved. Stop it, check your line is still there, and start it.
The line is still there but does nothing. Check the spelling against the tables above: a misspelt key is kept and ignored. pvp, spawn-monsters, allow-nether and enable-command-block are game rules now.
The seed, world type or hardcore didn't take. They only apply when a world is made. Set a new level-name to make one.
Players kept their old game mode. Add force-gamemode=true.
Friends can't join a new server. From 26.3 a new file starts with white-list=true (an older server you update keeps its own line). Add them, or set it to false.
server-port keeps changing back. On our servers, and on many hosts, the panel sets server-ip, server-port and query.port at every start, so players use the address the panel shows.
Players get “Failed to verify username!” and you are tempted to set online-mode=false. Don't: with it off, anyone can join under any name, whitelist or not.

Build your own file, or paste an existing one to check it, with the server.properties generator. Setting up from scratch? Start with how to host a Minecraft server.

Checked against Minecraft Java Edition 26.3.