# How to Edit Server Settings on a Minecraft Server

> Change your Minecraft server's settings in server.properties with the panel's built-in editor.

Source: https://www.beaconhosting.org/knowledgebase/how-to-edit-server-settings-on-a-minecraft-server
Category: Minecraft
Last updated: 2026-11-05

Most Minecraft server settings live in `server.properties`. The panel opens it in an editor made for it, so you don't have to edit the file by hand.

## Open the editor

1. Open your server and go to **Files**.
2. Click **`server.properties`**. It opens in the **Minecraft Server Properties** editor, with a field for each setting and switches for on/off settings.
3. Use **Search for property name...** to find a setting.
4. Change what you need and save with **Ctrl/Cmd + S**.
5. Go to **Console** and click **Restart**. Minecraft only reads the file when it starts.

## Settings people change most

| Setting | What it does |
|---|---|
| `motd` | The message under your server in the multiplayer list |
| `max-players` | The most players online at once |
| `difficulty` | `peaceful`, `easy`, `normal` or `hard` |
| `gamemode` | The default game mode for new players |
| `pvp` | Whether players can hurt each other |
| `white-list` | Only let whitelisted players join |
| `view-distance` | How far players can see, in chunks |
| `allow-flight` | Stop the server kicking players for flying |
| `spawn-protection` | Blocks around spawn only operators can change |
| `level-seed`, `level-type` | The seed and world type for a **new** world |

See the [server.properties guide](/knowledgebase/minecraft-java-server-properties-guide) for every setting.

> [!WARNING]
> Don't change `server-port` or `server-ip`. Beacon sets your server's address, and changing these stops players connecting.

## Other config files

Plugins and mods keep their settings in their own files, usually `plugins/<name>/config.yml` or the `config` folder. Click a file in **Files** to edit it in the text editor.