Unleash the Potential: Downloading Minecraft Servers on Mac

Thursday, May 26, 2022

Step 1: Install Java:

Before setting up a Minecraft server, ensure that you have Java installed on your Mac. Minecraft requires Java to run, so download and install the latest version of Java Development Kit (JDK) from the Oracle website or through the Homebrew package manager if you prefer command-line installation.

Step 2: Download the Minecraft Server Software:

1. Visit the official Minecraft website (minecraft.net) and navigate to the "Download" section.
2. Scroll down to the "Multiplayer Server" section and click on the "Download" button next to the version you prefer. It's recommended to choose the latest stable release.
3. The server software will be downloaded as a JAR (Java Archive) file.

Step 3: Set Up the Minecraft Server:

1. Create a dedicated folder on your Mac where you want to store the server files.
2. Move the downloaded server JAR file to the dedicated folder.
3. Open the Terminal application on your Mac (Applications > Utilities > Terminal).
4. In the Terminal, navigate to the folder where you saved the server JAR file using the 'cd' command. For example, if the folder is on your desktop, you can navigate to it by entering the following command:

Once inside the server folder, run the following command to start the Minecraft server:

This command launches the server with 1GB of RAM allocated to it. You can modify the values 'Xmx' and 'Xms' to allocate more or less RAM to the server.

Step 4: Accept the EULA:

1. After running the server command, you will notice that a few files and folders have been generated in the server folder.
2. Open the 'eula.txt' file with a text editor.
3. Change 'eula=false' to 'eula=true' to accept the End User License Agreement.
4. Save the file and exit the text editor.

Step 5: Customize Server Settings (Optional):

If you want to customize your server settings, you can open the 'server.properties' file in a text editor. This file allows you to modify various options such as server name, game mode, difficulty level, and more. Adjust the settings according to your preferences and save the file.

Step 6: Start the Minecraft Server:

1. Return to the Terminal and run the same command used to start the server in Step 3.
2. The Minecraft server will start and display logs indicating its progress.
3. Once the server displays "Done," it is ready to accept connections from Minecraft clients.

Step 7: Connect to the Server:

Launch the Minecraft game on your Mac, select "Multiplayer," and click on "Add Server." Enter a server name and the IP address of your Mac. If you're running the server locally, you can use "localhost" or "127.0.0.1" as the IP address. Save the server details and click "Done." You can now select your server from the Multiplayer menu to join and start playing.