Setting up a Minecraft server on Hostinger takes about ten minutes: you create an instance in Game Panel, choose Minecraft Java Edition, accept the EULA, and connect with the server’s IP and port. This guide covers the full setup plus the decisions that matter afterward — RAM sizing, Java vs Bedrock, mods and modpacks, and whitelisting.
What you need before you start
- A Hostinger game server plan. Any Game Panel tier works; the right size depends on your player count — see which Game Panel size fits your players before you buy.
- Your hPanel login. The whole setup happens in Hostinger’s Game Panel; no command line required.
- Minecraft Java Edition installed on your computer (for the Java path below). Console and mobile players should read the Java vs Bedrock section first.
Step 1 — Open Game Panel
Log in to hPanel, go to VPS in the left-hand menu, and click Manage on your game server plan. On the VPS Overview page, click Manage panel and log in with your Game Panel credentials. This browser-based panel is where you will create and control every game server on the machine.
Step 2 — Create the Minecraft instance
These steps follow Hostinger’s official Game Panel guide (support.hostinger.com):
1. Click Create Instance
In Game Panel, hit the Create Instance button (or the plus sign) to start a new game server.
2. Choose Minecraft Java Edition
From the application dropdown, select Minecraft Java Edition. Game Panel sets up a current stable version automatically — you can change versions later from the instance’s Configuration tab.
3. Accept the Minecraft EULA
The new instance may briefly show an “Error Running” status — that is normal. Open it with Manage and click Accept on the Minecraft Server EULA pop-up. Without this, Mojang does not allow the server to start.
4. Start the server and copy the endpoint
Once the EULA is accepted, the instance starts running. Copy the connection details from the Connection Info / Endpoint section — you will need the IP address and port in the next step.
Step 3 — Connect to your server
In Minecraft Java Edition: Multiplayer → Add Server, paste the IP and port (format your-ip:port), name it whatever you like, and hit Join Server. If it does not connect, double-check the port and make sure the instance shows as running in Game Panel before troubleshooting anything else.
Java vs Bedrock: which should you pick?
Game Panel supports both, and the choice shapes everything else:
- Java Edition — the classic PC version. Far bigger mod and plugin ecosystem (Paper, Spigot, Purpur, Forge), more server software choices, and the version most tutorials assume. Pick this unless you have a specific reason not to.
- Bedrock — the cross-play version for consoles, mobile, and Windows. Choose it if your players are on Xbox, PlayStation, Switch, or phones. Mod support is much more limited.
Java and Bedrock players cannot join the same vanilla server, so decide based on where your players actually play. You can run both editions as separate instances on the same plan if you have the resources.
How much RAM do you need?
RAM is the resource that decides how many players and mods your server handles. As a rough guide:
- A few friends, vanilla or light plugins: the smallest Game Panel tier is plenty.
- 10–25 players or a small modpack: step up a tier — this is where most growing communities land.
- 50+ players or a heavy modpack: go bigger still; large modpacks eat RAM far faster than player counts do.
When in doubt, start one tier above your estimate — upgrading later is easy, but a laggy launch week kills a community’s momentum. Our full Game Panel plans guide covers every tier in detail.
Adding mods and modpacks
Mods are the reason many people self-host instead of joining a public server. The workflow in Game Panel:
- Decide on a server type that supports mods — Forge is the standard loader for modpacks; Paper/Spigot suit plugins instead.
- In the instance’s Configuration tab, go to Minecraft → Server and Setup, select Forge as the server type, and press Download/Update.
- Download your modpack from a trusted source like CurseForge or Feed The Beast, making sure it matches your Minecraft and Forge versions.
- Upload the mod files through Game Panel’s File Manager and restart the instance.
Hostinger’s modpack installation guide (hostinger.com/support) walks through the Forge setup with screenshots. One caution: every player who joins a modded server needs the same mods installed on their own client, or they will be kicked on connect — agree on the modpack before inviting people.
Turn on the whitelist
The moment your server’s IP is public, strangers will try to join. A whitelist restricts the server to named players only:
- In Game Panel, open File Manager and navigate into your Minecraft instance’s folder.
- Open server.properties in the built-in editor and set
white-list=true, then save. - Right-click the file and choose Import Configuration so Game Panel adopts the change, then Restart the instance.
- Add players with the
/whitelist add <username>command from the server console.
While you are in server.properties, this is also where difficulty, game mode, and view distance live — worth a look before you open the doors.
FAQ
Can I switch from Java to Bedrock later?
Yes — create a new instance with the other edition in Game Panel. Worlds do not transfer cleanly between editions, though, so treat it as a fresh start rather than a migration.
Do my friends need mods installed to join?
Only if the server runs mods. Vanilla and plugin-only (Paper/Spigot) servers work with a stock client; Forge modpack servers require every player to install the same modpack.
How do I back up my world?
Game Panel includes backup options for your instances — take one before installing mods or updating versions. For extra safety, download a copy of the world folder to your own computer periodically.
Can I run more than one game server on my plan?
Yes, as long as the machine has the resources. Many hosts run a Minecraft instance alongside another game — just watch total RAM usage, since each instance reserves its own chunk.
Why does my server lag with only a few players?
Almost always RAM pressure from mods, an overloaded view distance, or a server location far from your players. Check resource usage in Game Panel first; if RAM is pegged, upgrade the tier or trim the modpack before blaming the host.
Can console players join my Java server?
Not natively — Java and Bedrock are separate ecosystems. There are bridge plugins (like Geyser) that let Bedrock clients join Java servers, but that is an advanced setup beyond this guide.
How much RAM do I need for a modded Minecraft server?
A vanilla server for a few friends runs fine on modest RAM, but modded servers generally need at least 4 GB, and heavy modpacks need more. Hostinger’s own help documentation publishes player and mod estimates per Game Panel tier — check the current numbers on the plan page before you buy.
Can I install modpacks like Forge or Fabric on Hostinger?
Yes. The Game Panel supports installing modpacks and server software such as Forge, Fabric, Paper, Spigot, and Purpur from its dashboard, and you can switch server types later. Install the loader your modpack requires first, then add the mods through the panel’s file manager or modpack installer.
How do I keep strangers off my Minecraft server?
Turn on the whitelist in your server settings and add only the usernames of people you want to allow — anyone not on the list is rejected at login. Also avoid posting your server IP publicly; share it privately with your players.
Does Hostinger protect Minecraft servers from DDoS attacks?
Hostinger includes DDoS protection on its game server plans by default, which absorbs most common attack traffic before it reaches your instance. A whitelist adds a second layer by keeping random scanners from even attempting to join.
Can I upgrade my plan later if my server grows?
Yes. You can move to a larger Game Panel tier as your player count or modpack grows, and your world files carry over. Start with the tier that matches your current group rather than paying for capacity you do not use yet.
Can I make money with my Minecraft server?
Mojang’s usage guidelines allow things like cosmetic perks, donations, and access charges, but forbid selling gameplay advantages — items, commands, or abilities — for real money. Read the current EULA before monetizing anything, since violating it can get your server blacklisted.
Next steps
With the server online, whitelisted, and backed up, invite your first players and let it run for a week before adding mods — a stable baseline makes it obvious when a new mod is the thing that broke everything. When you are ready to grow, revisit the Minecraft sizing guide for the upgrade path, and keep an eye on Game Panel’s resource graphs: RAM trending toward full is your cue to size up before lag does it for you.