Making a Hytale server only takes a few minutes once you know the traps that catch most beginners: the right Java version, server authentication, and a port that has to be opened for UDP, not TCP. This guide walks you through every step, from installation to your first player joining, and it is up to date with Chapter I (Update 7), released in October 2026, which changed several server-side rules.
What you need to know first
Hytale has been in Early Access since January 13, 2026. Hypixel Studios provides the official server for free: a Java program called HytaleServer.jar, shipped with an Assets.zip archive holding the game's assets. The current release is Chapter I "Out of the Breach", launched on October 12, 2026, followed by hotfixes 0.7.1 and 0.7.2 on October 13 and 14.
Three things set Hytale apart from other games you may have hosted:
- Java 25 is mandatory. Older versions will not start the server.
- Networking runs on QUIC over UDP, on port
5520by default. A TCP-only port forward will never work. - The server must be authenticated with a Hytale account before players can join.
Client and server must also run the exact same protocol version. Every time the game updates, your server has to be updated too, or nobody will be able to connect.
System requirements
The server runs on Windows, Linux and macOS, on x64 or arm64 CPUs. Memory is the resource under the most pressure, mainly because of view distance. Here are the commonly recommended figures, to adjust to your own use:
| Players | Allocated RAM (-Xmx) | CPU | Storage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 to 5 | 4 GB | 2 cores at 2.5 GHz | 10 GB |
| 5 to 10 | 6 GB | 4 cores | 20 GB SSD |
| 10 to 20 | 8 GB | 4 cores at 3 GHz or more | 20 GB SSD or NVMe |
| 20+ | 12 GB or more | 6+ cores | NVMe recommended |
Upload bandwidth matters too: around 10 Mbps is fine for a small group of friends, a public server needs much more.
Where to host your server
| Option | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| Your own PC | Free, perfect for testing | Goes offline when the PC is off, needs port forwarding, impossible behind CGNAT |
| VPS or dedicated server | Online 24/7, static IP, full control | You handle the Linux setup and maintenance |
| Game server host | Ready in minutes, control panel, backups, DDoS protection | Monthly subscription |
The steps below apply to a PC or a VPS. With a hosting provider, steps 1, 2 and 5 are already done for you.
Step 1: install Java 25
The most widely used distribution is Eclipse Temurin 25, published for free by Adoptium. On Windows and macOS, use the official installer. On Ubuntu or Debian, once the Adoptium repository is added, a single command does the job:
sudo apt update
sudo apt install temurin-25-jdk
java --versionThe last command must print a version starting with 25. If another Java version shows up, that is the one the server will use: change the system default or call Java 25 by its full path in your start script.
Step 2: get the server files
Quick method: copy them from the launcher
If the game is installed on the machine, the files live in the launcher folder:
- Windows:
%appdata%\Hytale\install\release\package\game\latest - Linux:
$XDG_DATA_HOME/Hytale/install/release/package/game/latest - macOS:
~/Application Support/Hytale/install/release/package/game/latest
Copy the Server folder and the Assets.zip file into a new dedicated folder, for example hytale-server. Copy them, do not run the server in place: since Chapter I, the server refuses to boot (exit code 11) if its working directory, world or backups sit inside the launcher's install folder. The --allow-install-dir flag overrides this check, but Hypixel warns that it can lead to data loss.
Recommended method: Hytale Downloader
On a VPS, use the official command-line tool, Hytale Downloader. The first time you run it, it asks you to sign in to your Hytale account in a browser to authorize the download.
./hytale-downloader -print-version # show the available version
./hytale-downloader # download the latest version
./hytale-downloader -patchline pre-release # pre-release channelYou get a dated archive. Once extracted, it contains the Server/ folder and the Assets.zip file, in the official layout the server expects.
Step 3: start the server
From the Server folder, the minimal command is:
java -jar HytaleServer.jar --assets ../Assets.zipIf your archive already includes a start.sh or start.bat script next to Assets.zip, use it first: it is the script that applies updates downloaded by the server. Otherwise, write your own script, for example run-hytale.sh, setting the memory limits and using the bundled AOT cache, which speeds up startup:
#!/bin/bash
cd Server
java -Xms4G -Xmx8G -XX:AOTCache=HytaleServer.aot \
-jar HytaleServer.jar --assets ../Assets.zip \
--bind 0.0.0.0:5520 --backup --backup-dir backupsMake it executable with chmod +x run-hytale.sh. On Windows, put the same java line in a .bat file. Adjust -Xmx using the table above, and always leave 1 to 2 GB for the operating system. The --backup flag turns on automatic backups, and --backup-frequency sets how often they run.
On a VPS, run the server inside a screen or tmux session, or better, as a systemd service, so it keeps running after you close your SSH connection.
Step 4: authenticate the server
On first boot, the server does not accept players yet. Type this in its console:
/auth login deviceThe server prints an address and a short code. Open the device activation page of the Hytale accounts website in your browser, sign in and enter the code. Be quick: the code is only valid for a limited time. Since Chapter I, the command also works when the server is already signed in, and a failed attempt keeps the existing session.
Step 5: open port 5520 for UDP
This is where most guides and players go wrong: Hytale uses UDP only. Allow the port in the machine's firewall:
# Linux with UFW
sudo ufw allow 5520/udp
# Linux with iptables
sudo iptables -A INPUT -p udp --dport 5520 -j ACCEPT# Windows (PowerShell as administrator)
New-NetFirewallRule -DisplayName "Hytale Server" -Direction Inbound -Protocol UDP -LocalPort 5520 -Action AllowAt home, then add a port forwarding rule in your router: UDP protocol, external and internal port 5520, pointing to the local IP address of the PC running the server. Your friends then connect using your public IP address.
If your ISP puts you behind CGNAT, which is common with 4G and 5G home internet and some fiber providers, no port forward will work. Your options are then a tunnel, a VPS or a hosting provider.
Step 6: configure the server
After the first launch, the Server folder contains, among other things:
| Item | Purpose |
|---|---|
config.json | Main configuration |
universe/ | Worlds and player data, back this up first |
mods/ | Mods in .jar or .zip format |
permissions.json | Groups and permissions |
logs/ | Logs, the first place to look when something breaks |
Always stop the server before editing a file: it rewrites its configuration files during play and could overwrite your changes. The most useful config.json settings are:
ServerNameandMOTD: the name and message shown to players.Password: leave it empty for an open server, or set a password players must enter to join.MaxPlayers: the player cap, to match your RAM.MaxViewRadius: view distance in chunks, the biggest driver of RAM usage. The common advice is to stay at 12 or below. Since Chapter I, any value outside 1 to 32 is clamped into that range with a warning.Defaults: the default world and game mode.
Keep the server for your friends only
For a private server, add the allowed players first, then turn on the whitelist from the console:
/whitelist add <username>
/whitelist enable
/whitelist listCommand syntax has already changed between Early Access builds: if one of these is rejected, type /help in the console to see the syntax for your build. To give yourself admin rights, see our dedicated guide on how to become OP on a Hytale server.
Add mods
Drop the .jar or .zip files into the mods/ folder, restart, then check logs/ to confirm they loaded. Only download them from well-known sources: the author's official page or a reputable mod platform. Be careful: Chapter I removed or replaced a large part of the modding API. A mod built for an earlier version must be rebuilt by its author, or it may stop the server from booting. Always test a new mod on a copy of your world.
Update without losing your world
The server has a built-in updater you can drive from the console:
/update status # current version
/update check # look for an update
/update download # download to updater/staging/
/update apply --confirm # back up, then shut the server downThe official start script then swaps in the new files when the server restarts. If you launch java directly, download the new version with Hytale Downloader instead.
Before any major update, stop the server and copy the universe/ folder somewhere safe. A world opened by a newer version is converted automatically and can no longer be opened by an older version: that copy is your only way back.
Quick troubleshooting
| Symptom | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Server exits right away with code 11 | Started inside the launcher folder | Copy Server and Assets.zip to a separate folder |
| Startup error about the class file version | Java is too old | Install Java 25 and check java --version |
| Nobody can join from outside | Port opened for TCP, or router behind CGNAT | Open 5520 for UDP, or move to a VPS |
| Players are rejected after an update | Protocol version mismatch | Update the server to the same version as the client |
| Server crashes or lags with several players | Not enough RAM, or view distance too high | Raise -Xmx and lower MaxViewRadius |
To go further on performance, our Hytale server optimization guide covers advanced settings.
The no-setup option
If you would rather not deal with Java, ports and updates, a host can do it for you. At OuiHeberg, Hytale-ready OuiBox plans begin with the OuiBox 8G (8 GB RAM, 4 cores, 50 GB NVMe) at €9.98 per month, followed by the OuiBox 12G (12 GB, 5 cores, 80 GB NVMe) at €16.79 per month and the OuiBox 16G (16 GB, 6 cores, 120 GB NVMe) at €21.59 per month. The server is ready in minutes: all that is left is to authenticate it and invite your friends.
FAQ
Is it free to make a Hytale server?
Yes, Hypixel Studios provides the server software for free. You only need a Hytale account to authenticate it. The only possible cost is the machine that runs it.
What port does a Hytale server use?
UDP port 5520 by default. You can change it with the --bind flag, as long as you open the new port for UDP.
How much RAM does a Hytale server need?
The usual advice is 4 GB for 1 to 5 players, 8 GB for 10 to 20 players, and 12 GB or more beyond that. View distance weighs as much as player count.
Can I play on my server from the same PC?
Yes. Connect to 127.0.0.1 from the game. Make sure you have enough RAM to run both the client and the server.
Why can't my friends join my server?
In most cases, port 5520 is open for TCP instead of UDP, the router forward is missing, or your connection is behind CGNAT. Also check that everyone has updated the game.