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Set up a Minecraft server with friends

From ordering to playing together in five steps: choose a plan, share the address and let your friends join, on Java or Bedrock.

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Updated 4 November 2026

In this guide you set up your own Minecraft server to play on with your friends, in just a few minutes. All you need is Minecraft Java Edition.

1. Pick a plan

For a few friends on a regular (Paper) server, 2 GB is enough. Playing with more than 5 people or lots of plugins? Pick 4 GB. Modpacks need 6 to 8 GB.

2. Order and pay

  1. Go to Minecraft server hosting and click Order on your plan.
  2. Create an account in the customer portal and confirm your email address.
  3. Pay with one of the available payment methods.

Your server is created automatically after payment. You'll get an email as soon as it's ready.

3. Open your server in SparkPanel

Go to cp.serverspark.nl and click Log in with ServerSpark, using the same email address and password as the customer portal. Click your server under My services.

4. Start your server

  1. The first time, you'll be asked to accept the Minecraft EULA. That's Mojang's license and it's required. Click accept, and your server starts automatically.
  2. At the top of the Overview you'll find the server address for your friends, for example g-de-08.serverspark.nl:25565. Click Copy.
  3. Wait until the status says Running. The first start takes a little longer because the world is being generated.

5. Play together

  1. Open Minecraft and go to Multiplayer → Add Server.
  2. Enter the address from step 4 under Server Address, including the port number.
  3. Send the same address to your friends. Done!

Set it up in one click

Under Settings → Quick setup, choose Survival with friends: survival, normal difficulty, the whitelist on and only official Minecraft accounts. On a Paper server it also installs CoreProtect, so you can undo griefing. Restart your server afterwards.

Only your friends (whitelist)

Open the Players tab, type your friend's Minecraft name, choose Add to whitelist and click Do it. Add yourself too. Make yourself an operator (admin) the same way with Make operator. The whitelist blocks other players once it's switched on under Settings.

Prefer the console? whitelist on, whitelist add FriendsName and op YourName work too.

Run the server together

Want a friend to be able to start the server when you're not online? On the Players tab, under Share access, enter your friend's email address. They log in at cp.serverspark.nl with their own free ServerSpark account and can start and stop the server, use the console and manage players. They can't see your files, settings, backups or invoices.

Let your Discord know

Under Settings → Discord notifications, paste a webhook link from your Discord channel. Your channel then gets a message with the address whenever the server comes online.

Plugins and your own world

On the Plugins tab you install plugins like EssentialsX or WorldEdit in one click. Want to continue a singleplayer world? Upload it as a zip under Files → Upload your own world.

Friends can't join? Use our free Minecraft server status check to see whether your server is reachable from the internet.

Planning to play together for months? Turn it into a proper SMP with the plugins and rules in Make a Minecraft SMP server.

Need help?

Stuck? Email info@serverspark.nl and include the name of your server.