Minecraft server.properties explained
What the most important server.properties settings do, their defaults, and how to edit the file safely on your Schokr Minecraft server.
Updated · 3 min read
server.properties is the main settings file for a Minecraft Java server. It lives in the root folder of your server, and you edit it in the file manager, save, then restart the server for changes to apply.
How to edit it
- Open your server in the Schokr console and go to the file manager.
- Open
server.propertiesin the root folder. If it is missing, start the server once so it is generated. - Change the values you need. Each line is
key=valuewith no spaces around the=. - Save the file and restart the server.
Lines starting with # are comments. Values are case-sensitive, so use true and false in lowercase.
The settings people change most
| Key | Default | What it does |
|---|---|---|
motd | A Minecraft Server | Message shown in the server list. Change the MOTD |
max-players | 20 | Player limit. Change max players |
difficulty | easy | peaceful, easy, normal or hard |
gamemode | survival | Default game mode for new players |
force-gamemode | false | Put players in the default game mode every time they join |
hardcore | false | Hardcore mode. Hardcore guide |
white-list | false | Only whitelisted players can join. Whitelist guide |
enforce-whitelist | false | Kick online players who are not on the whitelist when it reloads |
online-mode | true | Verify accounts with Mojang. Why to keep it on |
spawn-protection | 16 | Radius around spawn that non-ops cannot edit. Spawn protection |
view-distance | 10 | Chunks sent to players. View and simulation distance |
simulation-distance | 10 | Chunks around players that tick |
level-name | world | Name of the world folder to load |
level-seed | blank | Seed for new worlds. Set a seed |
level-type | minecraft:normal | World type for new worlds, such as minecraft:flat |
generate-structures | true | Villages, temples and other structures in new chunks |
allow-flight | false | If false, players flying in survival can be kicked for flying |
enable-command-block | false | Allow command blocks. Command blocks |
op-permission-level | 4 | Default level for new ops. Op levels |
player-idle-timeout | 0 | Minutes before idle players are kicked (0 disables) |
resource-pack | blank | Server resource pack URL. Resource packs |
enable-rcon | false | Remote console. RCON safely |
enable-query | false | GameSpy4 query protocol. Enable query |
Which keys exist depends on your Minecraft version. Mojang occasionally moves settings into game rules (for example, newer versions handle some rules such as PvP through /gamerule), so if a key from an old guide is missing, it may have moved.
Settings managed by Schokr
server-port and server-ip are set by the server template based on your port allocation each time the server starts, so changes you make to them will not stick. See how ports work on your Minecraft server.
Settings that only affect new worlds
level-seed, level-type, generator-settings and generate-structures are only used when a world is created. Changing them for an existing world does nothing for chunks that are already generated. See generate a new world.
Example
motd=§aFriends SMP §7- survival
max-players=12
difficulty=normal
gamemode=survival
white-list=true
enforce-whitelist=true
online-mode=true
view-distance=10
simulation-distance=8
spawn-protection=0
For the full list of keys, see the server.properties page on the Minecraft Wiki.